Cherry-Almond Danish Braid

This recipe is a staple of mine, making a few appearances at parties recently where it was quickly gobbled up, reminding me how much it should be shared. This recipe is delicious. Easy. Deliciously easy, and easily customizable. This recipe came from a Better Homes and Gardens Off the Shelf Baking cookbook. Why off the shelf? This recipe uses storebought puff pastry dough, as well as almond paste and cherry preserves… makes me feel just a tiny bit guilty posting this when I try to specialize in homemade goodies, but it is so good it must be shared, especially for the options in personalizing it!

Cherry-Almond Danish Pastry Braid
2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 8 oz can almond paste
¼ cup sugar
1 egg, separated (I use the equivalent egg white substitute for the entire recipe)
½ Cup cherry preserves
almond slices for decorating
raw, course sugar, for decorating

Per Puff Pastry Sheet:
Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Unfold the pastry sheet. Prepare the almond filling by beating almond paste with sugar and egg white with an electric mixer until combined. Spread the almond paste mixture (about half, although I find that half is a little much) on the center panel of the unfolded pastry sheet, staying away from the edges of this panel by approximately half of an inch on all sides. Spoon and spread cherry preserves over the top of the almond filling to your liking (recipe calls for approximately ¼ cup per pastry, but a little more is always a good thing!). Using kitchen shears (so easy with these!), cut strips approximately 1 inch wide towards the center filling in the two outside panels. Starting at one end, fold the cut strips in over the center filling, alternating between sides. Using the egg yolk or more egg substitute, brush over braids. Sprinkle course sugar and sliced almonds over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand for approximately 15 or 20 minutes. Bake in an oven preheated to 375 for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
Customizing options:
*Use fresh fruit instead of preserves
*Instead of almond paste, spread lemon curd and top with raspberries or blackberries
*Instead of almond paste, use a cream cheese filling topped with fresh fruit or preserves
*Slice apples and toss with sugar and cinnamon before filling danish