Cheese Danish

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup water (lukewarm)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup butter (melted)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup feta cheese (shredded)
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 4 tablespoon blueberry jam (optional)
• 1 egg (for brushing)

Instructions

1. 1

   In a small bowl, combine the water, sugar and yeast together and let it sit until the yeast bubbles.

2. 2

   In another small bowl mix the egg and the butter.

3. 3

   In the bowl of your mixer, add the flour, salt and mix. Add the butter/egg mixture and the yeast mixture and using the paddle attachment, mix it all together until everything is well incorporated. The dough will be fairly soft.

4. 4

   Place the dough into an oiled bowl and rub some of the oil all over the dough. Let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size.

5. 5

   In the meantime combine the ricotta cheese and feta cheese together.

6. 6

   Divide the dough into 4 pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Flatten each ball so that it's about 4 inches in diameter. Place a quarter of the cheese mixture in the middle then fold up the sides of the dough to fully cover the cheese. Flatten the dough, so that it's about 4 inches in diameter again. Using a knife cut the dough, leaving about one inch in the middle, making about 12 slits all the way around.

7. 7

   Repeat with remaining dough and filling.

8. 8

   Preheat oven to 375℉.

9. 9

   Let the pastries rise a bit for another 30 minutes.

10. 10

    Brush the pastries with egg wash and add a tbsp of blueberry jam in the middle of each pastry.

11. 11

    Bake for about 45 minutes, or until golden brown.