Danish pastries are early morning staples for many people. The laminated dough with multiple layers is a sweet treat to start the day. Here is a deeper dive into the history behind this popular pastry and different types to try at your local bakery.

What You Should Know About Danish Pastries

Although the much-loved baked good is called a Danish, it was created during the early 17th century by a French apprentice baker named Claudius Gelee. His tasty creation was an accident, as the baker forgot to add butter to flour when making bread dough. He kneaded cold pieces of butter into the dough instead, resulting in a noticeably light bread. 

Gelee featured his creation on the menu at his Paris café in 1622 and introduced the pastry to Italians with his cafe opening in Florence later. Italians introduced Austrians to the baked good. When Danish bakers went on strike in 1850, Austrian bakers took their place and brought the pastry with them. 

The pastry became a fixture at local bakeries. Danish bakers modified the original recipe, adding more fat and eggs to the dough and folding jam and chocolate into the layers. Danes brought the popular treat stateside in the early 1900s. 

A Guide to Different Types

There might be a variety of Danish pastries available at your local bakery. The spandauer, for instance, is a popular type of Danish offering in American restaurants. The circular pastry is laminated dough and yeast. The center is filled with marzipan and a fruit jam or cream topping. Almond paste and cream cheese are also popular fillings in the United States.  

Tebirkes is a popular type of Danish pastry that combines sweet and savory. It contains sugar, salt, milk, yeast, eggs, butter, and flour. Marzipan gives the baked good its creamy texture, while the poppy seed coating provides a crunch.

If reading about the history of the Danish pastry has you craving the ubiquitous baked good, visit Emerson's Bakery in Florence, KY. With over 50 years in business, the bakery is known for its selection of cheese Danishes, donuts, pies, cakes, cookies, and additional pastries. See pictures of the mouth-watering options online, and check out announcements on Facebook. Call (859) 371-9228 to place an order.