Almond Danish Coffee Cake

A special breakfast pastry for any occasion!

This Almond Danish Coffee Cake recipe is almost as old as I am...haha! I can't even remember where I got it, but I do remember how delicious it was for a special breakfast treat, with a cup of coffee.

I think the last time I made this was many years ago for our Bible Study meeting one morning and it disappeared in minutes! Oh yes, and I also remember how really easy it was to put together.

A little fun fact is that even though the name is "Danish," this pastry has Austrian origins.  Using butter, cold water, almond extract, flour and eggs makes a Danish Almond Puff, which is a delicate pastry with a choux filling and an almond glaze. Some recipes even add cream cheese to the filling for a rich, tangy flavor. I just think this recipe has plenty of richness (and calories) already...LOL! 

  

Ingredients:

For the base layer:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup (1 stick)butter, chilled and cut into pieces

2 Tbsp. cold water

Mix with fork or pastry cutter, as for pie dough; form into a ball and divide in half. Pat each ball into an ungreased cookie sheet, making two 3x12" strips. Set aside.

For the choux topping:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup water'1 cup all-purpose flour

3 large eggs, beaten

1 1/2 tsp. almond extract

Place water and butter in 4 qt. saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. Remove, add 1 1/2 tsp. almond extract and 1 cup flour. Stir into a ball, add 3 eggs, one at a time. Beat well between each addition. Spoon evenly on precious dough; carefully spread and seal edges.

Bake at 350'F. for approximately 50-60 minutes or until golden and puffed. Do not open the oven door during baking to prevent the pastries from deflating. May collapse as it cools. Frost when fully cooled.

Frosting:                                               

1/3 cup butter

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 tsp almond extract

2-4 Tbsp. hot water

Mix well until smooth. spread on coffee cake and garnish with slivered almonds and cut cherries (if desired).

Yields: 2 coffee cakes

Be encouraged!

Take delight in the good things God gives you. Don't be too preoccupied to "smell the roses"!