Which Danish pastry shares its name with the country in its English name?

Danish pastry is the laminated sweet pastry whose English name identifies it with Denmark.

In Denmark, the pastry is generally called wienerbrød, meaning “Viennese bread.” Its Danish form developed after Austrian bakers came to Denmark during a bakers' strike in the 1850s, bringing techniques for laminated yeast dough.

The dough is layered with butter and yeast, then shaped and baked with fillings such as custard, fruit, remonce, or almond paste. Different countries developed their own versions, so an American Danish pastry may look very different from a Danish wienerbrød.

The English name reflects the pastry's international reputation rather than its full culinary history. Its connection to Vienna is preserved in the Danish name, while its worldwide English label points to Denmark.