Cherry Danish Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
• 1 cup warm milk (110° to 115°)
• 3/4 cup shortening, divided
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon each ground mace, lemon extract and vanilla extract
• 4 to 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
• GLAZE:
• 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/3 cup chopped almonds

Directions

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the milk, 1/4 cup shortening, sugar, 2 eggs, salt, mace, extracts and 2 cups of flour; beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
• Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down. On a large floured surface, roll dough out to a 24-in. x 16-in. rectangle. Dot half of the dough with 1/4 cup of shortening; fold dough lengthwise. Fold the dough three times lengthwise, then two times widthwise, each time dotting with some of the remaining shortening. Place dough in a greased bowl; cover and let rise 20 minutes.
• On a floured surface, roll dough into a 16-in. x 15-in. rectangle. Cut into 8-in. x 3/4-in. strips, coil into a spiral shape, tucking end underneath the coil. Place in two greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Beat remaining egg. Make a depression in the center of each roll; brush with egg. Fill with 1 tablespoon of pie filling. Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Combine the first three glaze ingredients; drizzle over rolls. Sprinkle with almonds. Yield: 40 rolls.

Cherry Danish published in Country Woman March/April 1998, p29