I'm going to start out by saying right off that baking with yeast is not my favorite thing to do. Oh I have made bread in a bread machine with no problem. But this recipe for the June challenge, chosen by our hosts, Kelly of Sass and Veracity and Ben of What's Cooking started out scary because you do not proof the yeast. And it appears to be a recipe that requires patience, of which I have none. This recipe calls for making a dough, laminated with a butter block. No, I have not had the pleasure before.
I made my danish on a Saturday and baked it for a Sunday breakfast. I made the dough recipe as written. It gave me a chance to try my mortar and pestle that my friend Kim picked up for me during an Ikea trip. I opened the cardamon pods and tried to crush the seeds but couldn't get them fine enough so I used my coffee grinder first and then used the mortar and pestle. I didn't have an orange left in my fridge like I thought, so I used water and orange extract instead of orange juice and zest. I had a little fun incorporating the butter into the dough, because it actually seemed to come together like it was supposed to! I did sneek little unbaked bits and it seemed tasty enough.
For my filling I used 8 oz of cream cheese, 1 egg and 1/2 cup sugar. Next time if I fill with cream cheese I will double the filling as it seemed not enough for our tastes.
I think I may have voodooed the dough into not rising to my satisfaction or maybe I was hasty and baked too soon. I also think my dough could have used more flavoring, but maybe more filling would help. I have the second slab of danish dough in my freezer to try again later. I'l try to be more patient!
Daring Bakers are such a fun group. Always something to learn and stretch our cooking skills. Anyway, you can find the long recipe at the hosts' blogs.
27 comments:
Yeah, this one requires some patience and some planning for sure. But you didn't give up and it sounds like you learned from the experience... that's a huge part of these challenges, at least for me. Great job!
dolores is right, you didn't give up. your first try looks pretty darn good!! i know your second try will be more to your liking as now you know what you want to do to make it that way, but again, that first try looks good to me!!!
Sorry it didn't turn out as you wanted, hopefully you will like your other half better!
My dough didnt rise like it should have nut it sure was tasty. Good luck with round #2
You did it! This was defiantly a learning experience. It looks really good though. I'm so impatient, this challenge taught me to slow down a bit.
The final result looks good anyway. I wouldn't have known that you had trouble by looking at it. Good for you for sticking to it and looking forward to doing it again with the other half of your dough. That's what it's all about.
Kudos for getting through it!
Sorry it didn't rise as much as you'd have liked. Next time, though!!
Kudos to you for doing the challenge! It looks like the yeast didn't beat you - your braid looks delicious! Doesn't look like you had any leaks of cream cheese! (I had some!)
As they say...try , try again. My first go round wasn't a smashing success but round 2 was and now I am planning round 3 for a little later this eve. The yeastie beastie can be tamed!!! Success isn't always winning the game but often rising to the challenge...which you most certainly did!!!
For someone who doesn't like yeast, I hope you're proud of what you accomplished@ Not many people ever make homemade Danish pastry@ And I agree about the filling - my husband said he'd like it to be more gooey, meaning, more filling!
This recipe was tough, but I definitely learned a lot. Look forward to hearing what you do with the rest of your dough.
Sorry it didn't work out, but I bet it will next time. I still think it looks lovely!
Despite your inhibitions the braid looks good
i cheated and proofed my yeast before creating the dough! i was too afraid not to. your braid looks great - if you didn't get a lot of rise before baking, try proofing the braid in the oven first :)
Your "before" braid does look like you did things in a bit of a rush. But after seeing the "after" braid, no one's ging to believe they're one and the same. Looks pretty good. And I do like cream cheese.
Looks absolutely delicious!
Well I think it looks great! Awesome job. wasn't this one fun?
I am sure your braid was so good!
Darink Bakers get real challenges. It's why it is a fun and lovely group!
I was worried about yeast as well. Not having baked much with, I'm glad this challenge forced it! Your braid looks yummy!
Cream cheese with blueberries would be yummy too if you want to have a bulkier filling. Or, you could add a fruit drizzle to your next one that has more cheese filling. That would look (and taste) stunning!
This does take patience, but if you have it, you will have such a treat! Nice job.
I really haven't worked with yeast either and it was itimidating. I'm glad you perservered. Your braid looks great!
another raw dough eater!
I don't have much patience either when it comes to figgity things but I don't think there's a whole lot you can do to this to take away from it's deliciousness (is that even a word)
WOW! Amazing
fran it's me again! i have just tagged you for a meme! come to my blog to find out the rules.
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