Danish Puff Pastry

This is an family oldie but goodie.  So for any of you young'uns that don't have it ..here it is!  It is super easy, tastes delish, looks like you slaved, and uses minimal ingredients!  Win!


Ingredients in order of use:

1/2 cup butter or margarine softened
1 cup flour
2 T water
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup water
1 tsp almond extract
1 cup flour
3 eggs
Icing sugar glaze
Chopped nuts

Heat oven to 350F.  Cut 1/2 cup butter into 1 cup flour. Sprinkle 2 T water over mixture, mix and round into a ball then divide that ball in half.  On an ungreased baking sheet, pat each strip into about a 12x3" strip.  Strips about 3" apart.

Next, heat 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan.  Remove from heat and quickly stir in almond extract and 1 cup flour.  Stir vigorously over low heat until the mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute.  Remove from heat, quickly stir in the eggs(all at once) until the batter is smooth and glossy--couple of minutes.

Spread approximately half of this mixture on top of each strip. It will be quite thick.  Then bake for 60 minutes or until the topping is crisp and brown.  Cool. The topping will shrink and fall, forming a custardy filling.  Frost with icing sugar glaze(recipe below) and sprinkle generously with nuts.  Cut on the diagonal for a fancier presentation.  Serves 10-12.

Glaze:  1 1/2 cups icing sugar, 2 T butter or marg. softened, 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla and 1 to 2 T warm water--mix until smooth and of spreading consistency.

Note: you can also make individual Danish Puffs, just pat dough in 3" circles etc.   Should cook a little faster so decrease cooking time.