Bear claws

Though they don't get a lot of fanfare, bear claws are exceptional pastries that rival almond croissants in crispy-creamy texture and delicious buttery-almondy flavor. In this recipe they're filled with an almond cream made from almond paste, which cuts down on their sweetness, and assembled using a homemade Danish dough. Preparing the dough ahead of time requires some patience and planning, but it's less technical and more forgiving than croissant dough, so don't be afraid to give it a try.