Easy Apple Danish

Danish pastries are delicious but so very time consuming to make with all of that laminating of the dough.  With my version it's a simple as just making bread. I have used a butter & egg enriched dough that saves hours of buttering, folding & resting the dough. Purists won't like it but believe me the result is just fabulous and slightly less calorific using less butter than the traditional method.

If you want to make a savoury version with say cheese & ham just omit the sugar from the list of ingredients. This recipe will make around 10/12

For the enriched dough
1lb/ 450g strong white flour
½ tsp salt
1 sachet of dried yeast
2oz/55g caster sugar
3oz/90g unsalted butter
8 fl oz/250ml  mixture of milk & water heated to blood heat
1 beaten egg

for the filling
1oz /30g melted unsalted butter
2 eating apples peeled & diced and poached lightly in a drop of water
1 tsp cinnamon (optional) or the grated zest of a lemon (optional)
2oz/55g brown sugar

for the icing
around 3tbsp icing sugar mixed with a tiny amount of warm water to a running consistency

you will need a large oven tray  1" /2.5cms deep ...greased

Method,
1. sift the flour and salt into your mixing bowl,  add the caster sugar & yeast and mix to incorporate.
2. Rub in the butter
3.Make a well in the centre, drop in the egg
4. Using your dough hook or by hand add most of the milk & water
5. If it produces a nice soft but not too sticky dough then don't add the rest of the liquid. If a little dry add the rest. (certain flours seem to absorb liquids at a different rate)
6. Mix for around 5 mins or if you're doing it by hand 10 mins
7. Cover the dough with a clean damp tea towel in a warm place for around an hour or until it has doubled in size.
8. Place it on your work surface and knock it back
9. Roll out to form an oblong approx 9x12 inches  23/30 cms
10. Brush over with the melted butter then scatter the apples, the brown sugar and cinnamon/lemon zest if using.
11. Roll up tightly like a Swiss roll from the long side of the rectangle
12.Cut into half, then each half into 5 making 10 Danish in all.
13. Place them cut sides down on the greased tray leaving a good space between each
14. Leave to prove again for around 20 mins.
15. Bake in a moderate/hot oven 190c/375f/5 for around 12mins until golden brown and baked through.
16. While they are still hot drizzle over the icing and leave to cool on the tray for around 10 mins
17.Cool completely on a wire rack