16.2.11

The Danish Puff Tea Party



A tea party!  Gabby needs to try Danish Puff. And the rest of us simply needed to have some. Poor Gabby, the sweetest niece -ever- had never had one of our family's favorite treats (her mom can't eat wheat or dairy so....). The two of them were going through some old recipes and Gabby wondered about that one. Shannon loved it well (enough so that she knows she has no control when it is around - nor do I or anyone else I know for that matter!) and wanted Gab to try it. So we had a tea party - for sisters (and little girls cousins).


The perfect excuse to get together, use pretty things, drink teas and eat yummy treats in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week - just because. Doesn't get much better than that.




The recipe has been around forever and I don't know where it came from. What I do know is that it is a great combination of flavours and textures. The crust is nice and short. The middle settles to a nice, slightly chewy -almost custardy- texture with a crisp light top and the almond butter icing is the perfect irresistible finish. I am seriously craving some now!




Danish Puff


 1/2 cup  unsalted butter cut into 1 cup flour
blend in 2 Tbsp water
- pat mixture evenly onto 10x15" baking sheet.
(It will be a thin layer and takes a bit of patience to get there.)


Bring to boil:
1 cup water
1/2 cup unsalted butter
Remove from heat and add 2 tsp almond extract. Add 1 cup flour and 1/4 tsp of sea salt, beating well. Add 3 eggs, one at a time, beating well. Spread over dough on cookie sheet.


Bake at 425 F. for 12 minutes then lower the temperature to 350 F. and continue baking for another 15 minutes. Do NOT open the oven door during baking.


While the pastry is still warm finish with the almond butter icing. It will melt, yes, but that's what you want. While the icing is warm, sprinkle with flaked almonds. Cut into thin rectangles to serve - or just sit down with the pan and have at it!! lol


Almond Butter Icing


2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter
2 Tbsp cream
1 tsp almond extract


Beat together until smooth. It may be necessary to add a little cream if the icing is too stiff.



Gabby made these adorable tea bags with an assortment of her favorite loose-leaf caffeine free teas. I love the way they look and, oh my, they were delicious. My personal favorite teas come from The Secret Garden in Vancouver. It is an absolutely perfect little tea house and they sell some of their teas. I love any of their Rooibos 'teas' and always bring some home or beg them from Jonathon.

5 comments:

ec said...

i'm so excited to make this. and soon ...

Eden Lang said...

ok. this really is the. best. ever!

Twyla said...

I was looking for this recipe the other day. So glad you posted it as i didn't find it. i love this and was craving it as well! I remember you making this when we lived in calgary. Thanks for posting your recipes. We loved the meatloaf and the fish with quinoa and my kids will love this danish puff. I will have to make 2 batches as the first will be gone in no time!

mike said...

This has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. Do you remember that Mom would make half of it without the almonds on top just for me (I still don't like nuts in things)? I don't know where the recipe came from originally, but I was very surprised (and pleased) to find this exact recipe in the 1978 Betty Crocker Cookbook. (about the BEST cookbook ever made, I might add)

Allie Russell said...

Jonny just made this yesterday and I've snuck across the hall at least 3 times since then to ask for more. It is SO good. I'm actually eating my 3rd piece at I write this! As I've said, I'm so grateful to have him as my neighbour, but I'm also grateful that you are his mother and have taught him well! : )