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Beautiful Danish Pastry Braid!


This is my 5th Daring Bakers Challenge, and I have to say that this was my favorite! I've always wanted to try baking a pastry, so when I found out what this month's challenge was, I was pretty excited! After completing this challange, I've added a few new words to my baking vocabulary such as "butter-laminated dough", "Beurrage", and "Detrempe."

FYI:
Laminated Dough - layered dough created by sandwiching butter between layers of dough
Beurrage – butter block (this is the butter that is sandwiched in the dough)
Detrempe – ball of dough
Interesting, huh?
I only wish that the process of making these braids and pastries were faster...it ended up being a 2-day process. I can't complain though, because that only makes you savor the final product more! This was my first attempt at laminated dough. I found completing the "turns" and folds to be fun. My butter block stayed in place, which made the process pretty easy. It just takes a lot of patience.
The cardamom and orange zest added such a wonderful, authentic flavor to these danishes. The original recipe called for an apple filling, but we were allowed to choose our filling as long as it was homemade. I chose to make a mixed berry filling for the Danish Braid, and I drizzled a hazelnut-coffee glaze over the top. Both of these ideas came from this very helpful video:
Instructional Video - Just click on "Danish Pastry Braid" after following the link.
Another great idea would be to make a savory filling instead of sweet, such as cheese, spinach, etc.
Our gracious hosts this month were Kelly of Sass & Veracity and Ben of What's Cookin'?.

You can find the entire recipe HERE

I think I'm going to let these photos do the rest of the talking...this braid was SO good...I will no doubt be making this time and time again. Sorry there are so many photos...can you tell I had fun with this challenge??
After cutting the strips...
Close-up of the mixed berry filling (raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, and strawberry)
After completing the braiding...
After the final rise...ready for the oven!
A croissant ready for the oven...
Hot and fresh out of the oven!
With the hazelnut coffee glaze...my favorite! I made it by mixing a little coffee with confectioner's sugar.
Fresh croissant...
Just look at those layers inside!
A platter of goodies...
Labels:

Comments

Sarah said…
Looks like you could have bought it from a bakery! Very nicely done.
June 29, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Melanie Anne said…
Beautiful!! Great job! This was a really fun challenge, I agree!
June 29, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Anonymous said…
your mixed berry filling looks delicious! congrats on a successful challenge!
June 29, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Melanie said…
Oooh, I wish my braid turned out as lovely as yours. Really, it looks fantastic!
June 29, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Anonymous said…
It looks delicious, and the little croissants are soooo cute!
June 29, 2008 at 6:59 PM
Brownie said…
Pretty, pretty! Those photos are good enough to eat!
June 29, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Meredith said…
Those croissants look absolutely amazing. perhaps I'll make some with the extra dough...
June 29, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Anonymous said…
looks scrumptious ... and a great job done. nice pics as well.
June 29, 2008 at 7:48 PM
steph- whisk/spoon said…
wow--it is beautiful those croissants are cuties, too!
June 29, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Ally said…
Your braid looks fantastic! Great job!
June 29, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Tarah at Genesis of a Cook said…
Gorgeous photos! Looks fantastic!
June 29, 2008 at 9:50 PM
Anonymous said…
Very beautiful indeed!
June 29, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Sarah said…
Yum! Those look gorgeous! The hazelnut coffee glaze sounds fantastic, as does the mixed berry . . . can I have a slice for tea?

Best,
Sarah
June 29, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Rosa's Yummy Yums said…
Beautiful! Your braid and Danish Pastries look delicious! Great job!

Cheers,

Rosa
June 30, 2008 at 4:59 AM
Patti said…
Great looking braid. I loved this challenge, too.
June 30, 2008 at 8:58 AM
Anonymous said…
Oh how delicious looking....love the danishes, great job!
June 30, 2008 at 9:06 AM
Anonymous said…
wow your pictures are gorgeous. I loved this challenge as well!

xx fanny
June 30, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Amelia said…
Hazelnut coffee glaze??? You had me at hazelnut. That sounds amazingly good! Your braids and croissants look heavenly!
June 30, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Renee said…
Your braids look awesome. I love the mixed berry filling. Yummy.
June 30, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Lunch Buckets said…
Nice job! Your filling and glaze sounds really good :)
June 30, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Deborah said…
Beautiful job! It all looks so wonderful!
July 1, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Anonymous said…
Lovely!
July 1, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Y said…
Love your photos and all the different types of danishes you created. Especially the hazelnut coffee glaze!
July 2, 2008 at 7:59 AM
Anonymous said…
The mixed berry filling sounds delightful; especially right now at height of berry season.

Well done on your challenge.
July 8, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Anonymous said…
Your braid looks so good! I made a mixed berry filling too, but just for some of the little danishes I made. Your croissant is too cute.
August 7, 2008 at 11:07 PM
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