Step 1

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment combine the warm milk and yeast. Let sit for 15 minutes until the yeast gets foamy and frothy on the top of the milk. Add in the flour, egg and sugar and run the machine for several minutes on low until combined. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let sit for 10 minutes. Add the salt and run the machine medium for about 10 minutes. The dough will be a bit stiff at this stage as the butter hasn’t been added yet. Place the dough in a lightly oiled lidded container and store in the fridge for at least 1 hour or until chilled through.

Step 2

Grate your cold butter with a cheese grater and stash in lidded container in the fridge to keep chilled.

Step 3

Once the dough is cool to the touch, roll it out to a rectangle about ¼ inch thick on a smooth, clean surface. No need to be perfect. Sprinkle half of the chilled grated butter over the dough and place the remaining butter back in the fridge. Fold the top third of the dough over the middle third and then fold the bottom third over the two layers. Take the open end of the dough and fold it over the middle third; grab the remaining open end and fold it over the two layers. Place the dough back in the lightly oiled, lidded container and place back in the fridge to cool completely. Read note in the blog text titled Freezer Method if you’d like to expedite the time between folds. Otherwise, allow several hours for the dough and butter to chill completely.

Step 4

Take the dough from the fridge and place on the counter with the open edge facing you. Roll the dough out to a rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Sprinkle the remaining grated butter; fold like above and place back in the fridge to chill. Follow the same timeline as Turn One.

Step 5

Roll the dough out to a rectangle, like Turns One & Two. Make sure that each time you place the dough on the counter with the open edge of the dough packet facing you; this will ensure that you have been ‘turning’ the dough properly with each roll. You won’t add any butter to these turns, but you roll out and fold the dough as you did for Turns One & Two. Let the dough chill for at least several hours or ideally overnight.

Step 6

Add the prunes, water, orange zest and juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and almond extract to a high-speed blender or food processor and mix until it becomes coarse and jammy. How delicious does this smell? Scoop into a lidded container and store on the counter if you’re using the same or in the fridge if longer.

Step 7

If using the cream cheese filling, whisk together the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, egg yolk and almond extract. For an especially smooth filling give it a quick blitz in the blender. Stash in the fridge until ready to use.

Step 8

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and cream. Set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside as well. Bring the jam to room temperature. If it’s been refrigerated.

Step 9

Take the dough out of the fridge and set on a clean, light floured surface. Lightly flour the rolling pin (you can also use a wine bottle in a pinch) and your hands as well. Roll the dough into a large square about ½ inch thick (don’t go thinner). Try to make this the sides as straight as possible; pull the dough a bit at the corners to get crisp angles (as best you can).

Step 10

Cut out 12 square pieces of dough of about the equal size. Working quickly, roll each square out to be 4- to 5-square inches; taking care not to roll the dough thinner than ¼ inch thickness. Use additional dough as needed to keep the dough from sticking. Place the squares on the prepared baking sheet, leaving 2-3 inches between each danish. Brush the corners with the egg wash and press the corners towards the middle to seal (see video). Reserve the egg wash for brushing the danishes just prior to baking. Cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap and let sit for about 90 minutes. The danishes will be puffed up and light to the touch.

Step 11

Preheat your oven to 400F (200C).

Step 12

Press the center of each danish down in the middle, re-securing the edges to the middle. Brush the outer edges of the danish with the remaining egg wash and sprinkle with the sparkling sugar. Place 2 teaspoons of cream cheese filling (if using) in the center of the danish and then top with 2 teaspoons of the prune jam. If just using the prune jam, then just place it in the middle…and consider adding another teaspoon if you’re feeling it.

Step 13

Bake in the center of the oven for 12-15 minutes and the edges are nicely bronzed; we’re talking a nice, George-Hamilton-at-the-start-of-summer bronze. Immediately transfer the danishes to a rack to cool a bit. These are delicious warm, fabulous at room temperature…I can’t think of an occasion where they wouldn’t be next level amazing? Enjoy friends!

Step 14

If you like this recipe, please give it a star rating and let me know how it went and if there are any tips or variations that we can share with others. Have fun!! xo