Cream Cheese Strawberry Danish

Ingredients

• 1 batch homemade Danish pastry
• 125 g full-fat cream cheese, softened ((4oz))
• 1 tablespoon granulated white sugar ((notes 1))
• 2 teaspoons milk
• Zest of half a small lemon
• 1/4 cup good quality strawberry jam
• 12 small fresh strawberries
• 1 egg yolk mixed with a dash of water
• 1 teaspoon demerara (turbinado) sugar

Instructions

1. 1

   DAY BEFORE: Make the Danish pastry.

2. 2

   Preheat the oven to 200C / 395F / 180C fan forced. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

3. 3

   SHAPE THE DANISHES: On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to just over 30x40cm (about 12×16 inches). Trim the edges from the rolled dough, then cut into 12 even squares about 10cm / 4in square (4 from the long side, 3 from the wide side). For smaller pastries, cut them into 20 pieces rough 8cm square (so cut the dough 5 squares long x 4 squares wide)

4. 4

   Place the squares of dough onto the baking sheet / trays (6 on each), dot just a touch of water in the centre, then fold each of the corners into the centre. Press the centres down a little to make a dent. Let them rest for 10-15 minutes

5. 5

   THE FILLING: Wash, dry and cut the strawberries into small pieces and set aside.

6. 6

   Add the cream cheese, sugar, milk and lemon zest to a medium bowl and beat together until smooth. You can use an electric mixer or just a spatula.

7. 7

   FILL THE PASTRIES: The following quantities are written for 12 or 20 pastries respectively.

8. 8

   Place ½ -1 teaspoon of jam into the dent of each pastries, pressing it in slightly.

9. 9

   Top the jam with 1 - 2 teaspoons of cream cheese mixture, then use a spoon to gently fan out the edges, so that it covers the jam (this just helps to keep the jam in place when they bake).

10. 10

    Scatter the tops with the fresh strawberry pieces.

11. 11

    Brush the exposed pastry areas with the egg wash and sprinkle the demerara sugar around the edges.

12. 12

    Bake for 18-22 minutes (depending on size) or until golden brown, turning the trays after 10 minutes.

13. 13

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