"Danish" is not only the word for the people and language of Denmark; it is also the name of a pastry sold in bakeries everywhere. Let's get to know this pastry a little better.
What Is a Danish?
A Danish is a type of pastry that originated in Denmark. Its full name is Danish pastry, but most people simply call it a Danish. Like croissants, puff pastries and pies, it belongs to the pastry family; it just differs in origin, ingredients and character.
Danish pastry is made from wheat flour, milk, eggs, sugar and butter (margarine can also be used). There is no fixed shape, but most Danishes are flat, round spirals, and they may be topped with extras such as chocolate, pearl sugar, icing, jam or custard, which are usually spooned into the centre of the pastry.
The Origins of the Danish
The Danish is believed to have come out of a strike among bakery workers in Denmark in 1850. During the strike, one bakery owner had to hire foreign workers to replace the strikers. These Austrian workers brought their baking traditions and new pastry recipes with them, and the pastry quickly became popular in Denmark.
Once the labour dispute ended, Danish bakers adapted the Austrian recipes to local tastes and culture, for example by adding more eggs and fat, and the result eventually became the Danish pastry we know today.
Another legend says the very first Danish came from Claudius Gelee, a French apprentice baker who forgot to add butter to his dough. To hide his mistake, he folded the dough into smaller pieces. Instead of being fired for the error as he feared, he was praised by his colleagues, who said his dough was the lightest French bread had ever seen. The pastry was not given a name at the time, however.
How the Danish Reached America
The Danish was brought to the United States by Danish immigrant Lauritz C. Klitteng from Læsø, who championed "Danish pastry" there around 1915–1920. According to Klitteng, he made Danish pastries for President Woodrow Wilson's wedding in December 1915. Klitteng travelled the world to promote his products and was featured in magazines in 1920, which helped spread the Danish and make it hugely popular in the United States.
