Description
This Apple Kringle with Vanilla Glaze is a classic Danish-inspired pastry featuring a flaky, buttery dough filled with tender cinnamon-spiced apples. Baked to golden perfection and topped with a smooth vanilla glaze, this dessert offers a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors, making it an ideal treat for brunch, dessert, or a special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Filling
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Egg Wash
- 1 egg, beaten
Vanilla Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and sugar to create a uniform dry base for the dough.
- Cut in Butter: Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut the chilled butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, creating a flaky texture for the dough.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Stir in sour cream and vanilla extract until the dough just comes together, ensuring not to overmix for a tender pastry.
- Chill Dough: Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up and enhance flavor.
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Roll Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a 12×16 inch rectangle, providing ample space for filling and folding.
- Add Filling: Arrange the thinly sliced apples evenly down the center of the dough, leaving a 2-inch border on all sides for sealing.
- Sprinkle Spices: Combine brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle the mixture over the apples to impart warm, sweet flavors.
- Fold Dough: Fold the short sides of the dough over the apple filling, then fold the long sides with a slight overlap to fully enclose the filling and form the kringle shape.
- Prepare for Baking: Place the kringle seam-side down on the parchment-lined baking sheet and brush the top with beaten egg to achieve a glossy, golden crust.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and the apples are tender, indicating it’s fully cooked.
- Cool: Remove from oven and allow the kringle to cool slightly on a wire rack before glazing to set the structure and flavors.
- Make Glaze: While cooling, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable for a sweet finish.
- Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the vanilla glaze evenly over the warm kringle to add sweetness and visual appeal. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- For best results, use tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp to balance the sweetness.
- Make sure the butter is very cold before cutting into the flour to achieve a flaky dough.
- You can prepare the dough a day ahead and keep it refrigerated for even better flavor development.
- If desired, add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the filling for extra texture.
- Store leftover kringle in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
