Grandma's Danish Kringle

My Grandma

My Grandmother Marie was a was a fabulous cook, a gracious hostess, a lovely mother, and a fiercely brave, funny and humble Lady. My Mom often makes my Grandma's famous Shrimp Salad and I like to make Grandma's Danish Kringle (okay, truth be told...we are French and German). This is like nothing you have ever had, it is best eaten the same day. Don't even try to buy something in the store called Kringle....it won't taste even remotely close to this....even the ones made in Racine (gasp) don't taste this good. You will find this to have a thin delicate flaky crust with a sublime almond flavored cream puff like layer and finished with a sweet almond frosting and toasted almonds.


Grandma's Danish Kringle


First Bite

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Flour
• 1/2 Cup Butter, cold
• 1 -2 Tablespoon Water
• 1/2 Cup Butter
• 1 Cup Water
• 1Cup Flour
• 3 Eggs
• 1 Teaspoon Almond Extract
• Almond Frosting
• Toasted Almonds

Directions:

• Preheat Oven to 350 (I always use a oven thermometer)
• Pastry Dough
• Mix 1 Cup Flour, 1/2 Cup Butter with pastry blender, add 1-2 Tablespoon Water to combine pastry. It may feel dry, just press and massage the pastry into a ball until it sticks together.
• Divide Pastry Dough into 2 pieces
• Put the divided Pastry Dough onto 2 baking sheets, wrap in plastic wrap and flatten into disks and refrigerate.
• Remove from fridge and roll out into 14x5 ovals (or so) and set aside

Pastry Wrapped in Plastic and Flattened

Cream Puff Layer (Pate A Choux)

• Mix 1/2 Cup Butter, 1 Cup Water in saucepan and bring to boil.
• Remove from heat and add 1 Cup Flour and stir/whisk until smooth.
• Beat in Eggs one at a time, beat until smooth
• Add Almond Extract and stir to incorporate
• Divide Dough in half and Spread dough over 2 unbaked pastry strips

Pastry topped with Pate a Choux

Bake until top is crisp, puffed and golden 50-55 Minutes (don't over or under bake...use your oven thermometer to make sure the oven is the right temp, you are looking for it to be puffed, golden and crisp looking)

• As it cools, the puffy layer will settle and become custard like.

Baked Danish

Fraternal Twins

After it has cooled a bit and drizzle almond frosting over the top and finish with toasted almonds

Grandma's Danish

Almond Butter Frosting

Almond Butter Frosting

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 2 Tablespoon Softened Butter
• 1/4 Teaspoon Almond Extract
• 3 Tablespoons Cream or Half and Half

Directions

• Mix all ingredients until smooth





Toasted Almonds

Toasted Almonds

Directions:

• Spread 1/2 Cup Slivered Almonds on baking sheet
• Toast in 350 degree oven until golden (5-10 minutes), watch closely