Danish Cream Cheese Wreath Food

EASY CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking pans with parchment paper.
• Beat the whole egg with 1 teaspoon of water in a small bowl; set aside.
• Beat the egg yolk, cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth.
• Lay out the 2 sheets of puff pastry and cut each into 4 squares. Fold the corners of the squares over by about 1 inch to make octagon shapes. Spoon the cream cheese mixture evenly into the center of each (about 2 tablespoons per); do not spread the cream cheese. Brush all of the exposed pastry with the egg wash, then dust generously with sugar.
• Bake until puffed and golden brown all over, about 18 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

RASPBERRY DANISH WREATHS

Steps:

• Make the filling: Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy, about3 minutes. Add 1 egg and beat until incorporated; set aside. Butter 2 baking sheets. Lay out a large piece of parchment paper and dust with flour. Cut the dough in half. Place 1 piece on the parchment and roll into a 16-by-6-inch rectangle. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs, then spread half of the cream cheese filling over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides. Sprinkle 1/2 cup raspberries lengthwise down the middle. Use the parchment to lift the dough and roll it around the filling into a 16-inch log. Transfer the log to one of the prepared baking sheets, seam-side down, and form into a wreath, pinching the ends together to seal. Repeat to form a second wreath. Cover the wreaths loosely with buttered plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Uncover the wreaths. Use kitchen shears to cut long vents crosswise into the tops of the wreaths at 1-inch intervals, using your fingers to gently separate the dough at each cut. Beat the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl; brush the tops of the wreaths with the egg wash. Transfer to the oven and bake until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes, switching the position of the baking sheets halfway through. Let cool to room temperature on the baking sheets. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.
• Warm 1/2 cup water and the milk in a saucepan over low heat until a thermometer registers 100 degrees F to 110 degrees F. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the yeast on top, then sprinkle with a pinch of the sugar; set aside, undisturbed, until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the melted butter, egg yolk and vanilla into the yeast mixture until combined. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, the remaining sugar, the salt and nutmeg. Make a well in the center, then add the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to make a thick and slightly sticky dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape into a ball.
• Brush a large bowl with butter. Add the dough, turning to coat lightly with the butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until the dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour, 15 minutes.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl and knead briefly to release excess air; re-form into a ball and return to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap and lay it directly on the surface of the dough. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.

HEAVENLY CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water. In another bowl, mix flour, sugar and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Add milk, egg yolks and yeast mixture; stir to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). Cover and refrigerate 8-24 hours., To assemble, punch down dough; divide into 4 portions. On a lightly floured surface, pat each portion into a 9x4-in. rectangle; sprinkle each with 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut each rectangle lengthwise into four 9x1-in. strips. Twist each strip, then loosely wrap strip around itself to form a coil; tuck the end under and pinch to seal. Place 3 in. apart on greased baking sheets., Beat cream cheese, sugar and egg yolk until smooth. Press an indentation in center of each roll; fill with 1 rounded tablespoon cream cheese mixture. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°., Whisk egg white with water; brush over rolls. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove to wire racks; brush with syrup. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

EASY CREAM CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• Line bottom of baking pan with 1 can of crescent rolls. Pinch all seams together to seal.
• In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, white sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract and sour cream. Spread filling on top of rolls. Place second can of rolls on top of filling.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes.
• In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar, milk and butter. After Danish has cooled, drizzle with icing.

DANISH CREAM CHEESE WREATH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Cut 1/2 cup butter into 1 cup flour.
• Sprinkle 2 T. water over flour mixture; mix with a fork.
• Shape into roll with floured hands.
• Pat and shape into wreath shape, 11 1/2 inches in diameter with 4 inch wide side and 3 1/2- inch hole in center on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar and egg yolk in small bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Spread evenly over wreath to within a 1/4-inch of edges.
• Heat 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water to rolling boil in a 2 quart saucepan, remove from heat and quickly stir in the almond extract and 1 cup flour.
• Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute, remove from heat.
• Add eggs, beat until smooth and glossy.
• Spread evenly over cream cheese mixture.
• Bake until topping is crisp and lightly browned, 40 to 45 minutes; cool (topping will shrink and fall).
• Drizzle with glaze and garnish with cherries.
• Glaze: Mix 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 to 2 tablespoon hot water until smooth and desired consistency.

HOLIDAY CHEESE BALL WREATH

Steps:

• Line the inside of a 6-cup Bundt pan with plastic wrap. Process the cream cheese, shredded cheese, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt and few grinds of pepper in a food processor until smooth. Empty the mixture into a medium bowl, and fold in all but 2 tablespoons of the chopped peppers.
• Spoon the cheese mixture into the prepared Bundt pan; pack it in, spread into an even layer and cover (or simply form the cheese mixture into a ball and wrap tightly with plastic wrap). Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour up to 2 days.
• Uncover and invert the cheese mold (or unwrap and transfer the ball) onto a serving platter. Sprinkle with the chives and parsley to completely coat the wreath, and garnish with the reserved 2 tablespoons peppers. Serve with crackers, sliced bread or crudites.