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Memories… All Alone in the Moonlight….

This Daring Baker challenge brought back memories of working at the Four Seasons Hotel in Houston. Waking up at 3:00, (yes, that is AM) being alone in the huge kitchen at 4:00 and baking off the Danish and muffins for the day. Good times… good times. Well, not so much. I can honestly say I don’t miss that! Plus I had to listen to the creepy overnight cook ask for the 100th time… Time to make the donuts? No you idiot. I don’t make donuts. Stop asking me that! Sheesh!
This challenge from Kelly and Ben was to make the infamous laminated Danish Dough and shape it into a braid. It’s extremely time consuming, and perhaps a little difficult, but not impossible. The outcome however, is worth the time invested, as its fabulously delicious. Luckily, I have experience making Danish Dough from my year of working the morning shift. Of course, I had a sheeter (dough roller) at my disposal, which makes the job so much easier.

This was my first time making laminated dough at home, and it wasn’t as easy as when I made it in the hotel. The hardest part was keeping my dough cool enough. I tried to work as quickly as possible to ensure the butter block wouldn’t melt.  I also found it better to let it rest between turns for 45 minutes instead of 30.


As for the braid, I chose to do the exact recipe given, apple filling. What a good choice. It was fantastic… The apples still had texture, and the caramelized sugar worked nicely with it.

I split the work into three days. The first weekend, I made the dough and froze it. The second weekend, I assembled and baked the braid on Saturday and the remainder of the assorted pastries on Sunday. I can tell you my husband is one happy man right now! I told him not to get used to this… we’re back to dry wheat toast next weekend Mister!

The small danish were an assortment of flavors and fillings. The spirals were smeared with a little pastry cream, sprinkled liberally with cinnamon sugar and chopped almonds before rolling. The squares are filled with pastry cream (after baking) and topped with fresh raspberries. All pastries were brushed with apricot glaze afterwards to give them a little sweetness, make them shiny and keep them moist.

Check out the other Daring Bakers posts here. Also, to see my past daring baker posts, go here. Lastly, to find the recipes, go to Kelly or Ben’s blogs.

54 Critiques to “Memories… All Alone in the Moonlight….” ... Read them below and/or add one!
  1. Your pastries look wonderful. But that last picture with those four bad-ass looking pastries lookin’ like little works of art? Well now you’re just showin’ off. haha

    Reply to TaratheFoodie

  2. Claire says:

    Great job! Glad the hubby enjoyed it. BTW…I just saw CATS (the weekend I made this, actually!) and enjoyed it, though it’s not my favorite.

    Reply to Claire

  3. lauren says:

    your little pastries look so cute and yummy!

    Reply to lauren

  4. rachel says:

    Love all your danishes..they look gorgeous..A challenge done well and photgraphed real well…

    Reply to rachel

  5. ashley says:

    as usual, it looks amazing! i’d expect nothing less of you :-) when you make stuff look so pretty like this you should make videos so we can learn from your skills :-)

    Reply to ashley

  6. Gabi says:

    Absolutely lovely pastry work you’ve done there!

    Reply to Gabi

  7. katy says:

    oh my goodness — those look amazing! this is the perfect recipe for a good glaze too — which i only realized after mine was done and eaten!

    Reply to katy

  8. Dolores says:

    Your braid is absolutely beautiful.

    I found 45 minutes between turns worked the best too… largely because I’d get caught up in something else during the rest periods.

    Reply to Dolores

  9. Rebecca says:

    OMG, I had the same schedule baking croissants at 4 a.m. every morning for a German bakery. And if one more person had asked me if it was time to make the damn doughnuts … Like you said, good times.

    Reply to Rebecca

  10. breadchick says:

    Absolutely gorgeous! Well done.

    Reply to breadchick

  11. Ashley says:

    All your pastries look amazing. I had no idea you worked at the Four Seasons in Houston! I am from the Houston area.

    Reply to Ashley

  12. mindy says:

    gorgeous! i need a braiding tutorial from you. :)

    Reply to mindy

  13. renee says:

    Your braid and danishes look awesome. I love your photos. Wonderful.

    Reply to renee

  14. Jescel says:

    can i have some? pls. tell stephan not to eat them all.. it’ll go to his waist! LOL.. beautiful job, wish I can do the same thing!

    Reply to Jescel

  15. Gorgeous shapes. Your time at the Four Seasons was not wasted – that muscle memory will last you a life time!

    Reply to Dana McCauley

  16. Susan says:

    I am so psyched I stumbled onto your blog from the Db blogroll! You are AMAZING…I’ve never seen anything like it! Just gorgeous…
    -Susan of http://doughmesstic.blogspot.com

    Reply to Susan

  17. Katie B. says:

    Stunning pastries! I am completely smitten with them – Bravo!

    Reply to Katie B.

  18. I love the shapes you made. They are so cute!

    Reply to Patricia Scarpin

  19. Apple filling will be my next choice for sure! Gorgeous danishes and stunning photos .. as usual!

    Reply to sandra avital

  20. Aparna says:

    Gorgeous is what I said when I saw the first picture. And then there’s more!
    Love your Danishes. And the pictures are wonderful.

    Reply to Aparna

  21. katie says:

    Your braid looks wonderful. I love the mini pastries you made too. I haven’t seen the cut swirl shape before.

    Reply to katie

  22. Mrs Ergül says:

    Indeed the work of a pastry chef! They are all so gorgeous!

    Reply to Mrs Ergül

  23. Rosa says:

    Everything looks wonderful and delicious! I love your Danish Pastries! Very cute!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply to Rosa

  24. onespicymama says:

    Oh my word! Those pastries look absolutely amazing! Fabulous photographs too!

    Reply to onespicymama

  25. brownie says:

    Wow! Your photos are gorgeous. Looks delicious!

    Reply to brownie

  26. Lorrie says:

    oh my! your pastries are beautiful!

    Reply to Lorrie

  27. Anne says:

    This is really beautiful! I’m glad to have found someone else who has experience with this. Great challenge!

    Reply to Anne

  28. Amber says:

    Your pastries look amazing! Great job.

    Reply to Amber

  29. June says:

    Beautiful, as always!

    Reply to June

  30. Vera says:

    All pastries are absolutely gorgeous! And, of course, photography is stunning!

    Reply to Vera

  31. peabody says:

    Yes, a sheeter would have been nice, eh?
    When people always ask me why I don’t work in a bakery or own one I tell them…3am is when I go to bed…not get up. :)
    All of your pastries turned out beautiful.

    Reply to peabody

  32. giz says:

    …the moon is smiling at you. What a gorgeous job of danish – both the braid and the smaller ones. The picture of the danish with the strawberries – oh goodness.

    Reply to giz

  33. Angela says:

    Your photography is as stunning as your Danish pastries and braid are!

    Reply to Angela

  34. VeggieGirl says:

    This was only your first time making lamented dough?? Could have fooled me – your danishes look EXQUISITE!! Nice work!!

    By the way, I just discovered your blog today, and I’m awestruck by your uncanny photography and cooking skills – I have added you to my blogroll, and look forward to reading more posts :0)

    Reply to VeggieGirl

  35. farida says:

    So beautiful! So creative! And I am sure extremely delicious too:) Nice job!

    Reply to farida

  36. marika says:

    Stunningly beautiful job!!

    Reply to marika

  37. I too had to get up at 3am at some point. That was NOT fun! I love love love those cute pastries with the raspberries!

    Reply to Clumbsy Cookie

  38. Amanda says:

    the shapes are really cute. tiny and dainty!

    Reply to Amanda

  39. belle says:

    wow your little danishes look amazing! I like the apricot glaze idea. I have half the dough still in the freezer ao I’m excited for your influence, hopefully my next ones will be as beautiful as yours, great job!

    Reply to belle

  40. CookiePie says:

    WOW – your braid is beautiful, and your pastries look amazing!

    Reply to CookiePie

  41. Mom Quixote says:

    Oh and Candace: this month, parchment paper was my friend! Made moving the braid a breeze!

    Reply to Mom Quixote

  42. Tartelette says:

    Gorgeous! I love all your shapes, they are so inviting! I did a batch while working overnight at the restaurant this time. 125F in the kitchen, I rolled my dough while in the walk-in :)

    Reply to Tartelette

  43. Tanya says:

    Wow…those smaller danishes look gorgeous! They are so perfect. Amazing work!

    Reply to Tanya

  44. bunny says:

    if i had your job making pastires they would have had to roll me out of that kitchen in a year!! your pastries look beautiful!!

    Reply to bunny

  45. Landa says:

    Absolutely beautiful.

    Reply to Landa

  46. pea and pear says:

    Your braids look so deliciously scrumptious… I am new to the daring bakers and loving the introduction to so many great blogs as much as the challenges. Now I am off to salivate over your other DB challenges.
    Ali
    http://www.peaandpear.com

    Reply to pea and pear

  47. Mom Quixote says:

    Ooh…your braid looks delish but it’s the miniature danish I’m going ga-ga over. Just precious!

    Reply to Mom Quixote

  48. Jeanine says:

    Wow!!! Absolutely beautiful braid & danishes. What a great job!

    Reply to Jeanine

  49. JennyBakes says:

    Nice job here. I’m still adjusting to at-home baking too, mainly the lack of space!!

    Reply to JennyBakes

  50. Aran says:

    candance… i know what you are saying about 3am!!! I remember that too but I worked at the Ritz Carlton!! Beautiful danish you made and the photos atunning!

    Reply to Aran

  51. Wow these looks fantastic, and the fresh berries were wonderful I’m sure, absolutely divine!!!

    Reply to Rachel@fairycakeheaven

  52. Zita says:

    Aww..the mini breads look so cute… can I have one? ;)

    Reply to Zita

  53. Ann says:

    Your braid and smaller pastries are absolutely gorgeous!

    Reply to Ann

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