Apple Cheese Danish

Print Save Apple Cheese Danish Recipe Embed Ingredients For the Dough: 2 1/4 teaspoons Active Dry Yeast, 1/4 ounce package 1/4 cup Warm Water, read the yeast package for exact temp recommendations 5 cups All-Purpose Flour, plus additional for the work surface 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar 1 teaspoon Salt 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest 1 cup Cold Butter, 2 sticks 1 cup Milk, warmed to the same temp as the water 2 Eggs, lightly beaten For the Apple Filling: 2 cups Chopped Apples, preferably a tart variety 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar 1 teaspoon Cinnamon 2 tablespoons Melted Butter For the Cream Cheese Filling: 8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened 3/4 cup Powdered Sugar 1 Large Egg Yolk 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract 1/8 teaspoon Salt For the Egg Wash: 1 Egg 1 tablespoon Water Directions In a liquid measuring cup, measure out the warm water and dissolve the yeast In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and lemon zest. Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture. Then incorporate the butter into the flour with your fingers until coarse crumbles form. Stir in the yeast/water mixture, the warmed milk, and the eggs. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead for about 2 minutes. The dough will be tacky. Add a little flour as needed while you knead the dough. Form the dough into a ball, place in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Make your filling by stirring together the chopped apples, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400°F and butter a baking sheet, or line with parchment paper. Make the cream cheese filling by beating together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, egg yolk, vanilla, and salt. Punch down the dough and divide it in half. Cover the half you aren't working with. On a floured surface, stretch and roll the dough into a rectangle that's about 1/4-inch thick. Cut the dough down the middle lengthwise, and then cut it into 8 squares. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each square. Add a spoonful of the apples on top of the cream cheese. Pinch the 4 corners of the dough towards the center and press them together. They will expand when baked but this gives each piece an edge and some shape. Brush each piece with the egg wash, place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet, and bake for 12-15 minutes. Repeat with the 2nd half of the dough. Cool the danish completely on a wire rack before serving.  Recommended Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls OXO Good Grips 9-Inch Whisk 360 Bakeware Jelly Roll Pan Demarle Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat via Food Fanatic http://ift.tt/2wBHmEG Food Fanatic