Crescent Bear Claws

Submitted by SkinnyMinnie

"The almond flavor highlights the special filling in these delights - the bread crumbs are the secret ingredient. From cookingclub.com NOTE: I just made these and I only used 1 tsp. of almond extract - this was PLENTY I find! And they are yummy...DSS is on his second one!"

 

• Ready In: 50mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Yields: 6 bear claws

ingredients

• FILLING

• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1⁄4 cup water
• 2 teaspoons almond extract

• GLAZE

• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup

• ROLLS

• 1 (8 ounce) can refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
• 1⁄3 - 1⁄2 cup sliced almonds

• ICING

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons water

directions

1. Heat oven to 375ºF. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, beat egg lightly with whisk. Place 1/2 of the egg (about 1 1/2 Tbs.) in a custard cup and beat in the milk until well blended. Set this aside, it will be used as a wash later.
3. To the remaining egg in the bowl, stir in the remaining filling ingredients until well blended.
4. Meanwhile, in 1-quart heavy saucepan, mix glaze ingredients. Heat to boiling and remove from heat; cool while making rolls.
5. On a lightly floured work surface, unroll dough; press into a 12x8-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal.
6. Spoon filling into a 12x2-inch strip lengthwise down the center 1/3 of the dough.
7. Fold 1/3 of dough over filling. Then fold the filling-topped section over the last 1/3 of dough so the seam is on the bottom.
8. With hand, gently flatten 1-inch wide strip of dough along one long side of folded dough.
9. Cut folded dough crosswise into 6 (2-inch) pastries. Along flattened edge of each pastry, cut 1-inch long cuts about 1/2 inch apart.
10. Lightly brush the egg-milk mixture from earlier over each pastry. Place almonds on a plate and invert each pastry onto almonds. Press gently so almonds stick to dough.
11. Place almond side up on the cookies sheet, spreading each cut slightly to form claw like shape. Sprinkle remaining almonds over top of pastries.
12. Bake for 15-18 min or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack and cool for 5 minute.
13. Drizzle cooled glaze over each pastry.
14. In another small bowl, mix icing ingredients until smooth - if too thick, add 1/2 teaspoons water at a time until drizzling consistency. Drizzle icing over cooled pastries.

Reviews

[Benthe Danish]

Execellent short-cut recipe. Try 7 oz "Anton Berg" Marzipan, or Almond paste in stead of the breadcrumb, and almond paste. That is what Danish bakers use.

 

[CIndytc]

These look like you spent hours making them...I made them to take to work....I am sure I will be making these often...

 

[callemoo]

The egg wash is too much. I would just use 1 tablespoon of milk with 1/2 the egg. For the filling, I used 1/2 bread crumbs and 1/2 cup ground sliced un blanched almonds, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 2 tablespoons white sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. I suggest chilling the filled dough before cutting it. I was able to cut 8 pieces rather than just 6. Suggest also reducing sugar corn syrup glaze and powdered sugar in half. Added a dash of almond extract and pinch of salt to powdered sugar icing.

 

[askinnycook]

My husband said these were better than Panera's, and that's quite a compliment coming from him. I used the full amount of extract- they were gone in a heartbeat. A definite keeper.

 

[JOY1998]

I added 1/4 cup of crushed almonds to the filling (I crushed them in my food processor). Other than that I followed the recipe. Everyone at work went CRAZY for these. They were fighting over them. I will definitely need to make more of these. I was told that they were better than any store bought crescent bear claws.