Danish Puff

Oh sweet holy goodness. Do I really need to say more?
There are several things that my mom made growing up that scream HOME to me. This is one of them. My mom only made it once or twice a year, usually on Christmas morning. I always thought that it must be a huge production and be so time consuming to make because of this. And I remember thinking that she always got up super early to make it. (Now I realize that she always got up super early.) The first time I decided to make this for someone, I got up at 5 AM thinking it was going to take me hours. I was fooled. This recipe is so easy and delish. My mom always topped hers with slivered almonds. I have recently taken to topping mine with fresh sliced strawberries. I think it makes it a little more refreshing and tones down the richness. Jason thinks the strawberries make it taste more like a dessert and I think it makes it taste more like a breakfast ... so do with it what you will. With no further ado, the recipe.

Danish Puff
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup flour
2 Tbs. water

1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1 tsp. Almond extract
1 cup flour
3 eggs

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbs. butter
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1-2 Tbs. warm water

Heat over to 350. Cut 1/2 cup butter into 1 cup flour until particles are the size of small peas. Sprinkle 2 Tbs. water over flour mixture, mix. Gather pastry into a ball and divide in half. Pat each half into a rectangle, 12x3" on a cookie sheet. Rectangles should be 3" apart.

Heat 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water to a rolling boil, remove from heat. Quickly stir in almond and 1 cup flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add eggs, beat until smooth and glossy. Spread half of the topping over each rectangle. Bake until topping is scrip and brown, about 1 hour. Cool slightly. Topping with shrink and fall, forming the custardy top.

Mix powdered sugar, butter and almond extract together. Stir in warm water, 1 tsp. at a time until glaze is of desired consistency. Spread over top of pastry. Top with desired toppings.