Apple danish!

Fall is about here and I wanted to get a warm feeling in the house. I am not quuuite ready for pumpkin yet so an apple dessert it was!  Nothing says a warm inviting house like an apple cinnamon smell.
 Before you get started on this, know it takes time.  It took me a few hours AFTER the dough chilled for 2 hours.  Next time I make these it may go faster, but these are going to be a rare treat in our house. Heeere we go!

This recipe is in 3 parts; dough, filling, and glaze. Last time I had a recipe with 3 parts I split up the ingredient list, this time I will put it all together ;)

Ingredients:

Dough:

1 package (14 oz.) active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (100 to 115 degrees)
5 C. all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 C. COLD butter cut into cubes
1 C. warm milk (110 to 115 degrees)
2 legs lightly beaten

Filling!!

2 cups chopped peeled tart apples
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp melted butter

Glaze!

2 cups confectioners' sugar

3 Tbsp milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Alright! time to start with the dough. No need to preheat oven quite yet as the dough will need to be refrigerated for at least 3 hours. 


In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. I just did mine in the measuring cup.

 

 

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and lemon peel

cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in the yeast mixture, milk and eggs until blended.

 

Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead about 20 times (dough will be slightly sticky).

 Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.  I let mine set overnight, and it was fine.

You can make the filling while the dough is cooling, it will be fine setting out, while you roll out the dough.



For filling, combine the apples, sugar and cinnamon; set aside.  Go ahead and preheat the oven at this point to 400 degrees.

Punch dough down. Divide the dough into half. Put dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll each portion into a roughly 18-in. x 15-in. rectangle;

brush with butter. Sprinkle filling to within 1/2 in. of edges.

NOW comes the fun part!!!
you need to fold the dough into thirds. Take the shorter side and fold 1/3  then the other side and fold it over the last fold... yeah I know sounds super complicated, maybe just look at the picture...

see that isn't so bad!!

Now you can cut it into about 15 slices. (you will be doing this with both halves of the dough)

Take the slice and twist it and pinch the ends together, making a small circle.

 

 

bake in the preheated oven for about 12 to 15 minutes. Until golden brown.While that is cooking, make the glaze to drizzle over the top.

looks good no??  Enjoy them!!  Let me know what you think :)