Bear claw (pastry) facts for kids
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| Type | Pastry, doughnut or fritter |
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| Place of origin | United States |
| Main ingredients | Dough, almond paste |
| Ingredients generally used | Raisins |
A bear claw is a yummy, sweet pastry. It is made with yeast and is a type of Danish. This tasty treat first appeared in the United States around the mid-1920s. In Denmark, a similar pastry is called kamme. People started using the name "bear claw" for this pastry in 1936. This name is especially popular in the western parts of America.
Contents
What is a Bear Claw?
Most Danish pastries use basic ingredients like eggs, yeast, flour, milk, sugar, and butter. The bear claw is also made with a "sweet dough." This dough is like bread dough but has more shortening, which makes it richer.
Its Unique Shape
One cool thing about a bear claw is its special shape. It's often filled with sweet almond paste. Sometimes, it also has raisins inside. The pastry is usually shaped like a half-circle. It has small cuts along its curved edge. As the dough bakes and gets bigger, these cuts open up. This makes the pastry look a bit like a bear's toes, which is how it got its name!
Bear Claw Doughnuts
Sometimes, a bear claw can also be a type of yeast doughnut. These doughnuts have a shape similar to the pastry. They might be filled with flavors like apple pie, butter pecan, dates, cream cheese, grape, or cherry.
How Bear Claws Are Made
You can make a bear claw either by hand or with a machine. In 1950, a special tool called a bear claw cutter was invented by James Fennell to help make them by hand.
The Baking Process
A patent from 1948 describes how bear claws are put together. First, the dough is rolled out flat. Then, a yummy filling is spread over it. The dough is folded over the filling. Next, small cuts are made along one side to create the "claw" look. Finally, the dough is cut into separate pastries. At this point, the pastry can be curved into a half-circle. This curving helps the "toes" separate even more as it bakes.
Nutrition Information
Just like many other sweet pastries, bear claws usually have a good amount of carbohydrates and fats. For example, a bear claw from a restaurant chain like Panera Bread would have this kind of nutrition.
See also
In Spanish: Bear claw para niños
