Easiest Overnight Maple-Nut Danish or Croissant Pastry

It's half term at last! Two weeks of uninterrupted freedom, the only time I have to properly relax until the summer. Mock exams, A-level choices and GCSEs are just round the corner, makes me stressed just thinking about it!

So little time, so much to bake.

Most things I'll probably be able to fit in: breads, layer cakes, macarons, but complex recipes with a multitude of steps? (yeah, I'm talking about you danish pastries), that's a no...

...or so I thought!

This dough is so easy to make and use! It's buttery and light, with a crisp, slightly flaky crust. It provides infinite possibilities; the dough can be rolled into croissants, spiralled into cinnamon rolls or filled and shaped into a coffee cake / danish. 

I chose my filling in a heart beat - a nostalgic supermarket classic, maple-nut plaits; and some two-bite croissants. 

Sun streaming in through the windows and a warm, yeasty, maple smell  filling the kitchen, completed my ideal lazy sunday morning, as it could yours:

Easiest Overnight Danish or Croissant Pastry

makes enough for 3-4 medium plaits (6-8 servings)

1 1/2 cups (6.9 oz) all purpose flour

1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

1 tbsp granulated sugar

1/4 tsp baking powder

6 tbsp salted butter

2 tbsp cream cheese (low fat is fine)

a small squeeze of lemon juice

1/2 cup (125 ml) milk

more a.p. flour and  granulated sugar for rolling

1. In a food processor, mix the first 6 ingredients until fully combined. Add the lemon juice and milk, blend again for about 2 minutes until you get a soft, sticky dough. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with oiled cling film. Refrigerate overnight.
2. In the morning, 1 1/2 hours before you plan to bake these, take the dough out the fridge and leave in a warm place to rise for 45 minutes . 
3. Lightly flour your counter top and sprinkle about 2 tbsp of granulated sugar evenly over the flour. Pour the dough out onto the prepared surface and sprinkle it with flour and some sugar too. 
4. Roll the dough out into a rectangle, sprinkle on 1 tbsp of sugar and press it in with your rolling pin. Fold dough into thirds like a business letter (this is called a 'turn')* . Flip dough over.
5.  repeat step 4 twice more.
6. Roll dough out and cut into shapes, fill, roll, whatever you're doing with it.
7. Leave shaped/filled dough to rise on a lined cookie sheet for 30 minutes.
8. Preheat oven to 150 degrees C. 
9. Brush risen pastries with an egg beaten with some milk.
10. Bake for 20-40 minutes depending on size of pastry.

*Credits to Nad's Bakery for this really useful picture. 

Maple Filling 

makes enough to fill 3-4 plaits

2 oz demerara sugar

50 ml maple syrup/ corn syrup**

1 tbsp salted butter

2 tbsp milk

1 tbsp cornstarch

2 tbsp polenta

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Boil sugar and syrup in a small pan over a medium heat for 2 minutes, take off the heat. Stir in butter. 

Mix milk with cornstarch, then add to sugar mixture. 

Return to medium/low heat for 3 minutes. 

Take off the heat and stir in vanilla and polenta. Let cool before using.

** If using corn syrup or a mixture of the two syrups, add some maple extract to taste.