Braided Cherry Danish

By jeenikeen

Nothing looks more impressive on a breakfast table than a braided Danish. It’s easier than it looks: simply cut strips into prepared dough, scoop the filling down the center, and criss-cross the strips of dough over the top. No one has to know it wasn’t a chore!

Ingredients

• 1 box (2 pastries) frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 cups sweet cherries (fresh or frozen) pitted
• 2/3 cup extra fine granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375°F.

FILLING:
In a small saucepan, heat butter, cherries and sugar over medium low heat until sugar has dissolved. Stir in cornstarch, and continue to cook over low heat until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and allow to cool to room temperature.

BRAIDING:
Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, unroll the pastry dough from the packaging, as stated on box,1/4 inch thick. Place the dough on the baking sheet.

Along one long side of the pastry make parallel cuts with a knife or rolling pastry wheel, each about 1/2 inch apart, coming in towards the center of the dough, stopping 1 inch from the center lines. Repeat on the opposite side, making sure to line up the cuts with those you’ve already made.

Spoon cherries into the braid, omitting any non-thickened juices and fill braid down the center of the rectangle. Starting with the top and bottom “flaps”, fold the top flap down over the filling to cover. Next, fold the bottom “flap” up to cover filling. This helps keep the braid neat and helps to hold in the filling. Now begin folding the cut side strips of dough over the filling, alternating first left, then right, left, right, until finished. Trim any excess dough and tuck in the ends.

Whisk together the whole egg and yolk in a bowl and with a pastry brush, lightly coat the braid. Repeat with second pastry sheet.

Bake the braid for 25 to 30 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown. Remove from oven. Serve warm, or allow to cool. Keep stored in air-tight container.