Best Bear Claws Pittsburgh Style Recipes

BEAR CLAWS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• In a small bowl, combine apple pie filling and 1 teaspoon cinnamon and set aside.
• On a floured surface, roll out each biscuit to a 6" long oval.
• Spoon apple mixture into the center of each and fold the dough over top to bottom and pinch the edges to seal.
• At even intervals, cut three 1" long slits toward the center of each biscuit from the rounded edge.
• Arch the tops of the biscuits just enough to open the slits.
• In small bowl, combine granulated sugar and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
• Sprinkle evenly over biscuits.
• Place on lightly greased baking sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
• Combine powdered sugar and milk and drizzle over the bear claws.
• Can be served warm or cooled completely.

CINNAMON BEAR CLAWS (ONCE A MONTH COOKING)

Steps:

• On a lightly floured pastry cloth or floured board, roll dough to an 18x9-inch rectangle.
• Brush with half of butter, then sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar mixture, leaving a 1/4-inch edge all around. Combine nuts, raisins and peel.
• Sprinkle evenly over sugared surface.
• From longer side, fold one third of dough over.
• Then bring opposite side over this, to make a three layer strip 18x3-inches.
• Pinch together, to seal. With a sharp knife, cut strip crosswise into 6 sections.
• On folded side of each, make 3 1-inch cuts, evenly spaced TO FREEZE: Arrange on tray.
• Separate "claws" slightly.
• Brush tops with rest of butter. Wrap tray with foil; seal, label and freeze TO BAKE: Line a cookie sheet with brown paper.
• Arrange "claws" 2 inches apart on ungreased brown paper.
• Let rise in warm place until double in bulk about 1- 1 1/4 hour. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Mix the ingredients for the sugar glaze together in a small bowl.
• Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Let cool slightly on wire rack.
• Drizzle glaze over warm rolls.
• Note: You can serve these in the morning for breakfast by pulling them out of the freezer the night before and let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight on a brown paper lined sheet.

ALMOND BEAR CLAWS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat almond paste with an electric mixer to break it apart. Add the almonds, sugar, and salt; continue to mix until the almond paste is no longer lumpy. Stir in the butter, egg whites, almond extract and amaretto liqueur on high speed until its as fluffy as you can get it. Set aside.
• Using half of the dough at a time, roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle that is about 8 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick. Trim the edges of the dough. Cut the dough in half lengthwise to make two 4 inch wide strips.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Fill a pastry bag halfway with the almond filling and pipe a stripe of filling down the center of each strip. Whisk together the egg and water. Brush onto one edge of each strip. Fold each strip over the filling and press gently to seal it. Brush each piece with egg wash and sprinkle sliced almonds over the top. Cut into 3 to 4 inch pieces, then cut 1/2 inch slits into the sealed edge to make the ''claws''. Place the bear claws at least two inches apart on baking sheets. Refrigerate and repeat with the second half of the dough.
• Bake in the preheated oven until almonds are toasted and pastry is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool and dust with confectioners' sugar right before serving.

HUCKLEBERRY BEAR CLAWS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat 4 tablespoons sugar and the butter and almond paste until crumbly. Gradually add crushed wafers and milk; mix well. Set aside., Prepare hot roll mix batter according to package directions, adding the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar before mixing batter. On a floured surface, roll dough into a 24x8-in. rectangle. Crumble almond paste mixture to within 1/2 in. of edges; top with berries. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. Cut into 8 pieces., Place 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets, seam side down. With scissors, cut each piece 4 times along a long side to within 1/2 in. of edge; curve and separate strips slightly. Cover and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled, about 1 hour. , Preheat oven to 400°. Brush rolls with beaten egg. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. For icing, combine confectioners' sugar, water and lemon juice until smooth; drizzle over rolls. If desired, sprinkle with almonds. Let stand until set.

ALMOND BEAR CLAWS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat almond paste with an electric mixer to break it apart. Add the almonds, sugar, and salt; continue to mix until the almond paste is no longer lumpy. Stir in the butter, egg whites, almond extract and amaretto liqueur on high speed until its as fluffy as you can get it. Set aside.
• Using half of the dough at a time, roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle that is about 8 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick.
• Trim the edges of the dough. Cut the dough in half lengthwise to make two 4 inch wide strips.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Fill a pastry bag halfway with the almond filling and pipe a stripe of filling down the center of each strip.
• Whisk together the egg and water.
• Brush onto one edge of each strip. Fold each strip over the filling and press gently to seal it.
• Brush each piece with egg wash and sprinkle sliced almonds over the top.
• Cut into 3 to 4 inch pieces, then cut 1/2 inch slits into the sealed edge to make the ''claws''.
• Place the bear claws at least two inches apart on baking sheets Refrigerate and repeat with the second half of the dough
• Bake in the preheated oven until almonds are toasted and pastry is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Cool and dust with confectioners' sugar right before serving.

PUFF PASTRY BEAR CLAWS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Beat 1/3 cup superfine sugar and butter together in a bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs yolks and beat well; beat in almond extract. Stir ground almonds and flour into butter mixture until mixture has a thick paste-like consistency.
• Cut puff pastry into 8 equal pieces. Place 1 tablespoon almond mixture in the lower center of each piece. Fold top of puff pastry down over the filling and press edges together to seal. Make three 1/2-inch cuts equal lengths apart on the bottom edge to make the "claws". Transfer pastries to a baking sheet.
• Whisk egg and water together in a bowl. Brush each bear claw with egg mixture and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons superfine sugar and sliced almonds.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

ALMOND BEAR CLAWS

Steps:

• In a bowl, toss butter with 3 cups flour until well coated; refrigerate. In a large bowl, combine yeast and remaining flour. , In a saucepan, heat cream, sugar and salt to 120°-130°. Add to yeast mixture with 1 egg. Beat until smooth. Stir in butter mixture just until moistened., Place dough onto a well-floured surface; roll into a 21x12-in. rectangle. Starting at a short side, fold dough in thirds, forming a 12x7-in. rectangle. Give dough a quarter turn; roll into a 21x12-in. rectangle. Fold into thirds, starting with a short side. Repeat, flouring surface as needed. (Do not chill dough between each rolling and folding.) Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours or until firm., For filling, in a bowl, beat egg white until foamy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar and almond paste; beat until smooth. Cut dough in half widthwise. Roll each portion into a 12-in. square; cut each square into three 12x4-in. strips. Spread about 2 tablespoons filling down center of each strip. Fold long edges together over filling; seal edges and ends. Cut into 3 pieces., Place on parchment-lined baking sheets with folded edge facing away from you. With scissors, cut strips 4 times to within 1/2 in. of folded edge; separate slightly. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Lightly beat water and remaining egg; brush over dough. Sprinkle with sugar and almonds. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

BLUE RIBBON ALMOND BEAR CLAWS

Steps:

• In a bowl, toss butter with 3 cups flour until well coated; refrigerate. In a mixing bowl, combine Fleischmann's yeast and remaining flour. In a saucepan, heat cream, sugar and salt to 120 to 130 degrees. Add to yeast mixture with 1 egg; mix well. Stir in butter mixture just until moistened.
• Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 10 times. Roll into a 21x12-inch rectangle. Starting at a short side, fold dough in thirds, forming a 12x7-inch rectangle. Cover and chill for 1 hour.
• For filling, in a mixing bowl, beat egg white until foamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and almond paste; beat until smooth. Cut dough in half widthwise. Roll each portion into a 12-inch square; cut each square into three 12x4-inch strips. Spread about 2 tablespoons filling down center of each strip. Fold long edges together; seal edges and ends. Cut into three pieces.
• Place on greased baking sheets with folded edge facing away from you. With scissors, cut strips four times to within 1/2-inch of folded edge; separate slightly. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Lightly beat water and remaining egg; brush over dough. Sprinkle with sugar and almonds. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.