Apple Pastries Recipe

This apple pastries recipe requires a bit of time as you make the pastry and apple filling from scratch, but the flavor and appreciation of all those that eat them is worth the effort!

Ingredients

Danish Pastry
2 cups unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup all purpose flour
8 cups all purpose flour
4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

Apple Filling
6 - 9 apples
1/3 cup butter
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
3 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt

Glaze

1 cup of apricot jam
4 Tbsp water

Simple White Icing
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 Tablespoon half-and-half cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Makes about 3 dozen

Directions

Danish Pastry (This requires quite a bit of rolling)

Cream together butter and 2/3 cups or the flour. Once incorporated, roll out in 2 equal parts between 2 pieces of parchment paper (the size 6 x 12 inches). Place in refrigerator.

Using 3 cups of flour whisk dry yeast into flour. Set aside.

In a medium pot heat up milk, sugar and salt until it's just warm to touch and sugar and salt has dissolved.

In a large bowl mix together flour mixture hot milk, eggs, lemon extract and almond extract until its incorporated.

Knead the dough with the remaining flour (1/2 cup at a time) until well incorporated and dough is firm and pliable. Cover dough and let rise till it double in volume (about 1 - 2 hours).

Cut the dough into 2 equal parts and roll both pieces to 14 inch squares. Place slab of butter onto each dough and fold dough over top and seal the dough.

Roll each piece out to to form a rectangle about 20 x 12 inches. Then fold in thirds. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Repeat process 2 more times. Make dough stays cold.

Apple Filling

Quarter, peel, core and slice the apples thinly.

In a medium sized saucepan, melt the butter and add the apples, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.

Heat the mixture and cook the apples for 20-25 minutes until they soften. Stir while they are cooking.

Once done, turn off and set aside to cool before making the apple pastries.

Glaze

In a small pot heat up apricot jam and water until smooth and liquid form. Set aside.

Simple White Icing

In a small bowl mix sugar, cream and vanilla until smooth.

Assembly

Preheat oven to 450F

Line a couple of baking trays with parchment paper.

Roll dough out to a 20 x 12 rectangle. Cut into 4 inch square pieces. Spoon apple filling into middle of square and fold over to form a triangle.

Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Brush apricot glaze over hot pastries.

Let cool on a wire rack.

Once pastries are cooled drizzle icing over pastries and serve.