Danish Cherries Recipes

CHERRY DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat softened cream cheese, sugar and almond extract until smooth. Use a rubber spatula to clean the sides of the bowl as you are mixing. Set cream cheese mixture aside.
• Open only one package of crescent rolls and remove them from the tube. Do not unroll them, instead keep them in a long cylinder shape and place on a cutting board. (The crescent rolls will dry out and not shape easily if left on the counter. This is why we recommend freezing them and then cooking in batches).
• Using a sharp knife, cut the long cylinder into 12 equal pieces.
• Using your fingers and thumbs, flatten each round circle in the middle. Place each circle on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper about 2 inches apart. With a pastry brush, wash the edges and sides of the crescent rolls with egg wash.
• Using a small spoon, place a small amount of cream cheese in the center of each crescent roll.
• Using a small spoon, place a small amount of cherry pie filling on top of the cream cheese filling. Make sure to have at least 3 cherries on each danish or they will look flat and not full of fruit.
• Bake in the oven for 10-11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Whisk together powdered sugar and milk to create glaze. Drizzle each danish with glaze and serve warm.
• Open your second tube of crescent rolls and repeat.

CHERRY DANISH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the milk, 1/4 cup shortening, sugar, 2 eggs, salt, mace, extracts and 2 cups of flour; beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. On a large floured surface, roll dough out to a 24x16-in. rectangle. Dot half of the dough with 1/4 cup shortening; fold dough lengthwise. Fold the dough 3 times lengthwise, then 2 times widthwise, each time dotting with some of the remaining shortening. Place dough in a greased bowl; cover and let rise 20 minutes., On a floured surface, roll dough into a 16x15-in. rectangle. Cut into 8x3/4-in. strips; coil into spiral shapes, tucking ends underneath. Place in 2 greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Beat remaining egg. Make a depression in the center of each roll; brush with egg. Fill with 1 tablespoon pie filling. Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.Combine confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk; drizzle over rolls. Sprinkle with almonds.

DANISH CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Wash and pit cherries (if you don't have a pitter, a sturdy straw works).
• In a large saucepan combine sugar, cinnamon sticks, almond extract, water and corn syrup.
• Over medium high heat bring to a boil, stirring often to prevent scorching.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and add cherries.
• Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove cinnamon sticks.
• Ladle hot sauce into hot sterile jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space.
• Wipe rims and adjust 2 piece caps.
• Process 10 minutes in a boiling water canner.
• **To thicken sauce for serving, combine 1 T cornstarch and 2 T's water in a medium saucepan.
• Whisk well to remove any lumps.
• Add 1 pint Danish Cherry Sauce and bring to a boil, cooking until sauce reaches desired thickness.

DANISH CHERRIES

Steps:

• Place cherries in a heavy medium-sized saucepan, and cook over medium heat, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine cornstarch and sugar in a small bowl. Add lemon juice and whisk until smooth. Stir this into the hot cherries, and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thick, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest, almond extract, and slivered almonds.
• Serve hot, warm, room, temperature, or cold, top with whipped cream, whipped ricotta, or yogurt. Enjoy!

OVERNIGHT CHERRY DANISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add yeast mixture, cream and egg yolks; stir until mixture forms a soft dough (dough will be sticky). Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 4 portions. Roll each portion into an 18x4-in. rectangle; cut into 4x1-in. strips. , Place 2 strips side by side; twist together. Shape into a ring and pinch ends together. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Repeat with remaining strips. Cover with kitchen towels; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make a 1/2-in.-deep indentation in the center of each Danish. Fill each with about 1 tablespoon pie filling. Bake 14-16 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool., For icing, in a bowl, beat confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla, salt and enough cream to reach desired consistency. Drizzle over Danish.

CHERRY CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Lightly butter 15 1/2" by 10 1/2" jelly-roll pan (cookie sheet with sides).
• In medium bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla with mixer until smooth.
• Remove dough from one tube of crescent rolls.
• Unroll and place in middle of pan.
• Pat out with fingers, pressing perforations together, until dough completely covers bottom of pan.
• Place in oven 4 minutes, or until slightly dry.
• Cool slightly and spread cream cheese mixture evenly over dough.
• Spread pie filling over cheese.
• Unroll remaining sheet of crescent rolls and separate into 8 triangles along perforations.
• Arrange triangles on top of cherries, spaced evenly (will not cover surface completely).
• Brush with egg glaze.
• Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown and cheese mixture is set.
• Let cool and dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
• Cut into squares and refrigerate until serving.