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Strawberry Custard Danish Pastries Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 81 reviews

These Strawberry Custard Danish Pastries combine a tender, buttery dough with a rich homemade custard filling, topped with fresh strawberries and a sweet glaze. Perfectly golden and delightfully flaky, they make a charming treat for breakfast, brunch, or any sweet craving.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 2 ¾ cups (340g) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 2 ¼ tsp (7g) instant yeast
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup (180ml) warm milk (about 40°C)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened

Custard Filling

  • 1 ½ cups (360ml) milk
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or extract)
  • 1 tbsp butter

Toppings and Glaze

  • 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, halved or quartered
  • ½ cup (60g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1–2 tbsp milk or cream (for glaze)

Instructions

  1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, instant yeast, and salt to evenly distribute all dry components.
  2. Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in the warm milk, add the egg, and vanilla extract, mixing until all ingredients are well combined forming a sticky dough.
  3. Knead Dough: Gradually incorporate softened butter into the dough by kneading for 8–10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
  4. First Rise: Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 to 1½ hours until it has doubled in size.
  5. Prepare Custard – Heat Milk: In a saucepan, heat the milk until steaming but do not boil, preparing it for the custard base.
  6. Whisk Egg Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together egg yolks, granulated sugar, and cornstarch until smooth and free of lumps.
  7. Combine Milk and Egg Mixture: Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture while whisking constantly to temper and combine without scrambling the eggs.
  8. Cook Custard: Transfer the mixture back to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until it thickens to a pudding-like consistency.
  9. Finish Custard: Remove from heat, stir in vanilla bean paste (or extract) and butter, then let the custard cool completely before use.
  10. Shape Dough: Punch down the risen dough and divide into 8 to 10 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and flatten the center slightly to form a small well for filling.
  11. Prepare for Second Rise: Place shaped dough pieces on a parchment-lined baking tray, cover, and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
  12. Preheat Oven: Set oven to 375°F (190°C) to be ready for baking.
  13. Fill with Custard: Spoon about a tablespoon of cooled custard into the center well of each dough piece carefully.
  14. Bake Pastries: Bake the pastries in the preheated oven for 15–18 minutes until they turn golden brown and puffed.
  15. Cool Pastries: Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.
  16. Add Strawberries: Arrange the fresh strawberry pieces attractively on top of each pastry once cooled.
  17. Prepare Glaze: Mix confectioners’ sugar with milk or cream until smooth to create a glaze.
  18. Apply Glaze: Drizzle the glaze generously over the strawberries and pastries for a shiny, sweet finish.
  19. Optional Garnish: Dust with additional powdered sugar if desired for extra sweetness and presentation.

Notes

  • Ensure the milk for the dough is warm (about 40°C) to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
  • Kneading the dough sufficiently develops gluten, contributing to a tender yet sturdy pastry.
  • Do not let the milk boil when heating for custard to prevent curdling.
  • Whisking constantly when combining hot milk with eggs is essential to prevent scrambled eggs in the custard.
  • Allow the custard to cool completely before filling the dough to maintain pastry structure and prevent sogginess.
  • You can substitute fresh strawberries with other berries or stone fruits for variation.
  • Glaze consistency can be adjusted by adding more milk or powdered sugar as needed.

Keywords: Strawberry Danish, Custard Pastry, Breakfast Pastry, Sweet Pastry, Homemade Danish

Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/strawberry-custard-danish-pastries-recipe/