Pastry dough is one of the most popular and often rather essential ingredients when it comes to making a variety of interesting and delicious pastry-based recipes. From breakfast pastries and braids to both sweet and savory fillings, you can honestly let your creativity flow freely as you get to try and perfect different pastry dough recipes.

How to Make Danish Pastry?

The most popular type of pastry dough is undoubtedly the so-called Danish pastry. The main ingredients for the dough include flour, yeast, eggs, milk, as well as butter – a lot of it. What makes Danish pastry relatively unique and interesting to taste is the fact that the dough has to be rolled thinly at first and then folded with a butter layer.

However, the good news is that you don’t have to go through the process of rolling and folding with butter to create an equally tasty homemade dough. The short version, which honestly isn’t all that short, involves working the butter into the dough without having to create additional butter layers. But, to get the best dough consistency, you’ll still need to spend about 5-6 hours on it, including twice the refrigeration.

Homemade Pastry Dough Ingredients

Before you start working on your recipes, it’s essential that you find your pastry supplies near you so that you can commit to working without additional distractions. The following list includes the must-have ingredients for your pastry dough.

  • ¼ cup of warm water
  • ½ cup of whole milk
  • A standard packet of yeast
  • ¼ cup of granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 egg
  • 2 and ½ cup of all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup of cold butter

How to Make Pastry Dough?

Start by mixing warm water with yeast and granulated sugar in a bowl. Don’t just pour the water, do this step slowly and gradually, while mixing. Cover the bowl and wait for a little while to see a foamy reaction at the top. You can use either instant or active dry yeast; it makes no difference.

Once you notice the reaction, you can add your egg, more sugar if necessary, a pinch of salt, and milk. In a different bowl, mix the all-purpose flour and cold butter and knead until you form the dough. The process will be sticky, so add more flour as you go. This practice takes a while as you need to break the butter pieces and knead the dough until it’s not too sticky anymore.

Now it’s time to combine the wet and dry ingredients. As you put the flour-butter mixture into the liquid, mix slowly with a spatula or hands. Continue the process of rolling and folding for a while until you’re satisfied with your dough. Sprinkle some flour as you go to reduce the stickiness.

Now, it’s time for the first refrigeration. Cover your dough and leave it in a refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Then take it out once again and repeat the process of rolling and folding. Wrap up your dough again and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour for the second time. Once you complete these steps, your dough is ready to be used for easy pastry recipes! Don’t forget that your recipes will need to be brushed with an egg wash, which is typically a mixture of egg and water/milk.

Tasty and Simple Pastry Dough Recipes

Pastry Dough Recipes

  • Ham and Cheese Roll-Ups

Let’s start with some savory pastry delights. For this simple recipe, you’ll need:

  • 6-8 slices of cooked ham
  • 1 1/4 cups of shredded cheese of your choice
  • Your pastry dough, of course

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Take your dough from the fridge and cut it into rectangles, around 10×14 inches. Cover the rectangle dough pieces with ham and cheese, and roll everything tightly. Brush the edges with the egg wash, wrap up in plastic, and put it into the fridge for about half an hour. When you get your pastry out, slice it up into pieces and place on a baking sheet. Apply another coat of egg wash and top off with extra cheese. Bake your ham and cheese roll-ups for about 20 minutes.

  • Double Cheese Twists

Cheese-enthusiasts are bound to love this recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup of shredded cheese
  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1-2 tablespoons of freshly chopped parsley
  • Pastry dough

Take a small bowl where you’ll mix your parmesan cheese and parsley and set it aside. Take your dough out of the fridge and roll it into a 1/8″ thick oval. Place your shredded cheese on one half of the oval and then cover it with another half. Brush the dough with the egg wash and top it off with the parmesan and parsley mixture. Cut the dough into strips of about half an inch, twist them a bit, and place onto the baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes.

  • Pear, Walnut, and Chocolate Crescents

Let’s move onto the sweet pastry dough recipes.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 – 1 sliced pear sliced
  • 1/4 cup of finely chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips
  • Pastry dough

Roll the dough into a large circle and make about 8-10 triangles out of it. Take 1-2 slices of your pear and place it on the larger area of the triangle, together with a handful of walnuts and chocolate chips. Roll your triangles carefully, starting from the larger part and place on the baking sheet. Brush with the egg wash. You can also sprinkle some sugar on top of the crescents if you like. Bake for about 15 minutes. Dust your pastry with powdered sugar once done.

  • Apple Cinnamon Filling

If you’re looking for a quick and easy fall treat, this is it!

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons of brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
  • 1 peeled apple peeled, thinly sliced
  • Pastry dough

Take a small bowl and mix sliced apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Get your dough out from the fridge and roll it into the shape of a square or a rectangle. Cut the dough into smaller 6-8 squares. On each small square, place the sliced apples that are covered in sugar and cinnamon. Use the egg wash to brush the edges of the squares and then fold them over to seal the apple slices inside the dough. Brush the tops with the egg wash again and top off with sugar. Bake for about 20 minutes. When done, you can dust some powdered sugar or use a frosting of your choice.

The key to the perfect pastry dough is not only in the making technique but also in the quality of the ingredients and supplies you get to use. If you want to monetize your pastry-making talent through a business, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Medina Baking & Powder Supply. Regardless of whether you’re just starting or are already an established enterprise, we’ve got you covered for all your bakery needs. We supply the markets in South Florida, the Caribbean, South America, and Central America, and promise a fast, reliable, and affordable service.