This Cream Cheese Danish offers a wonderful combination of sweetness, creaminess, and flakiness, making it the perfect accompaniment to your morning coffee or a tempting dessert. Not only is it easy to make, but it also provides a delightful pastry experience.
Recipe Details
There’s truly nothing like savoring a Cream Cheese Danish with a serene morning coffee. This homemade pastry is both quick and simple to create and far tastier than anything from a bakery. Its adaptability lets you switch up the fillings, providing endless possibilities. Additionally, they store nicely, ensuring you have them on hand for surprise visitors.
- TASTE: The filling achieves a delightful harmony of sweetness and tang, perfectly complementing the subtly sweet pastry and the sugary icing on top.
- TEXTURE: Featuring flaky puff pastry, a creamy center, and a luscious icing drizzle, these danishes are simply irresistible.
- TIME: The entire preparation process takes about 40 minutes.
- EASE: Despite their elegant appearance, these danishes are incredibly simple to make. This recipe requires only a few ingredients and utilizes frozen puff pastry, making it beginner-friendly.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Puff pastry sheets- These ready-to-use sheets simplify the process of making the danish, although you can choose to create your own dough if desired.
- Cream cheese- This essential ingredient provides the filling’s sweet and tangy flavor; full-fat cream cheese is ideal for maximum richness.
- Granulated sugar- This element adds a hint of sweetness to the filling.
- Eggs- The yolk contributes to a creamier filling, while the remaining egg is used for an egg wash, giving the pastries a beautiful glossy finish.
- Vanilla extract- This enhances the filling with a subtle vanilla note.
- Lemon zest- This adds a citrusy twist that brightens the flavor of the cream cheese.
- Powdered sugar- This fine sugar creates a smooth and thick icing to drizzle over the pastries.
- Heavy cream- This combines with the powdered sugar to form the icing base. Whole milk can also be used as an alternative.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Add fruit to the filling- Enhance this danish by incorporating raspberry preserves, strawberry jam, peach preserves, lime zest and juice, or fresh blueberries.
- Make it sweet and savory- Blend crispy bacon bits and pure maple syrup with the cream cheese filling for an enticing twist.
- Add chocolate- Elevate this dessert by mixing in chocolate chips, melted chocolate, or Nutella.
- Add nuts- Boost the flavor with almond slivers or chopped pecans or walnuts for an enjoyable crunch.
How to Make Cream Cheese Danish
- Prepare the cream cheese filling. In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Use an electric mixer on high speed until the mixture is fully blended and smooth.
Pro Tip: Be sure to use only the yellow part of the lemon peel, as the white pith can be quite bitter.
# How to Make Cream Cheese Danish
This Cream Cheese Danish Pastry is incredibly flaky and indulgent. You’ll love the sweet tang of the filling combined with the drizzle of frosting.
## Ingredients & Preparation
### Steps to Create the Cream Cheese Filling:
1. **Roll Out Puff Pastry**: On a floured surface, roll out thawed puff pastry to dimensions of 9×11 inches.
2. **Cut Each Sheet**: With kitchen shears, trim the top two corners of each sheet (reserve these), and make 9-10 slits on each side, stopping about one-third from the edge. Cut off the bottom flaps and set aside.
3. **Add the Filling**: Place the cream cheese mixture in the center of each pastry.
4. **Braid the Danish**: Begin at the top, alternating to cross the strips over each other from left to right. When you reach the bottom, fold the last flaps over and cross the final two strips. Carefully move the danishes to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. **Create the Egg Wash**: In a small bowl, combine an egg with 1 teaspoon of water and brush this mixture over the danish tops with a pastry brush.
### Baking and Icing:
6. **Bake**: Place the danishes in a preheated oven at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, or until they turn golden brown. Allow them to cool to room temperature after baking.
7. **Prepare the Icing**: Mix powdered sugar with heavy cream to create an icing that can be drizzled over the cooled danishes. Enjoy these pastries standalone or alongside other sweet treats, such as Napoleon cake topped with vanilla custard and Chantilly cream.
## Recipe Tips
– **Thaw the Puff Pastry Thoroughly**: Ensure that the puff pastry is completely thawed before rolling it out for best results.
- Ensure puff pastry is fully thawed: Allow it to completely thaw for easier shaping and folding; if not, it may risk cracking.
- Prepare your cutting plan: Make light indentations in the puff pastry to ensure uniformity in width and spacing of the strips.
- Utilize kitchen shears for cutting: For cleaner edges on the pastry strips, kitchen shears are preferable as they produce smooth lines without frayed edges.
- Remember the egg wash: Applying an egg wash to the danishes before baking is important for achieving a glossy finish and a beautiful golden color.
- Save the trimmed puff pastry scraps: Instead of throwing them away, bake the scraps alongside the cheese danishes. Once cooled, top them with Nutella or jam for an enjoyable snack!
Frequently Asked Questions
Should cream cheese Danish be kept in the fridge?Yes, it’s recommended to refrigerate your cream cheese danish because it contains dairy that can spoil when left unrefrigerated. While they can safely sit at room temperature for a day if wrapped, refrigeration helps preserve their freshness.
Is it necessary to heat up a cheese Danish?You can enjoy a cheese danish warm, cold, or at room temperature. This delightful pastry is delicious regardless of the temperature. For a warm option, serve fresh from the oven or warm it in the microwave for about 20 seconds before eating.
Suggestions for Serving
This delightful homemade Cream Cheese Danish makes for a perfect breakfast or dessert option. Pair it with muffins, pancakes, eggs, bacon, and more.
- Muffins: Serve your danish alongside Blueberry Muffins (VIDEO), Cinnamon Apple Muffins (VIDEO), or Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins.
- Proteins: Enjoy this sweet treat with Easy Poached Eggs with Caramelized Onions, Crispy Air Fryer Bacon, Shakshuka, or Savory Crepes filled with Chicken and Mushrooms.
- Pancakes/Waffles: Pair these Cream Cheese Danishes with Buttery Belgian Liege Waffles, Cottage Cheese Pancakes, or Blueberry Breakfast Crepes.
- Other Pastries: Indulge further with Cherry Danish, Peach Galette, the Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (VIDEO), or Apricot Walnut Rugelach (VIDEO) to enjoy alongside your danish.
Preparing This Recipe in Advance
Preparation: Remove the puff pastry from the freezer and ideally place it in the fridge ahead of time. You can also pre-make the filling and store it in the fridge, covered, until you’re ready to assemble and bake the danishes.
Storage: Keep the Cream Cheese Danishes refrigerated for up to 7 days in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or an airtight container.
Freezing: After the danishes have cooled completely, wrap them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and store them in a ziplock freezer bag. They can be frozen for about 2 months.
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Cream Cheese Danish
This easy Cream Cheese Danish Pastry features a wonderfully flaky and creamy texture. You’ll love the delightful balance of sweetness and tartness in the filling, complemented by the delicious icing drizzled over the crust.
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Dessert Cuisine:
Danish Prep Time:
15 minutes Cook Time:
25 minutes Servings: 8 Calories:
463kcal
Ingredients
Danish Dough and Filling
-
1 lb puff pastry -
8 oz cream cheese -
[amount] [unit] [ingredient name]
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk + 1 egg for egg wash
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2-1 tsp fresh lemon zest
Icing
-
1/2 cup powdered sugar -
2 Tbsp heavy cream
Instructions
- In a sizable bowl, mix 8 oz of soft cream cheese, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, 1 large egg yolk, 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract, and the zest from 1 lemon, taking care to use only the yellow part and not the bitter white rind.
- With all the filling components in the bowl, employ an electric hand mixer on high speed to whip the mixture until it achieves a smooth and creamy consistency.
1. **Dimensions**: The puff pastry should be sized at 9×11 inches.
2. **Corner Trimming**: Remove the top two corners of the puff pastry, ensuring to keep those cut pieces for later. Bake them alongside the danish for a tasty treat with jam or Nutella.
3. **Making Slits**: Utilize kitchen shears to create slits along each side of the dough, aiming for about 9-10 slits per side. Be careful not to cut beyond the area where the puff pastry is folded into thirds.
4. **Final Cuts**: Once you reach the last strip at the bottom, there will be two flaps left. Trim these away and set them aside to bake with the corner pieces.
5. **Filling Preparation**: Evenly spread the cream cheese filling across both danishes, making sure the filling remains within the middle third of the puff pastry.
6. **Braiding**: Fold the top flap down and begin overlapping the strips in a crisscross manner. Alternate the strips from right to left until only the final two strips remain. Then lift the bottom flap and cross these last two strips to complete the braid.
7. **Transferring**: Gently place the assembled danishes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
8. **Egg Wash Preparation**: Mix 1 egg with 1 teaspoon of water to create an egg wash. Brush this mixture over the tops of the danishes with a pastry brush.
9. **Baking**: Place the danishes in the preheated oven, baking at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until they are a golden brown. Once done, remove from the oven and let them cool to room temperature.
10. **Glaze Preparation**: In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 cup of powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. After the pastries have cooled to nearly room temperature, drizzle the glaze over the top.### Notes
**Storage Duration:**
Cheese danishes can stay fresh in the refrigerator for **up to 7 days**. When wrapped and stored at room temperature, they are best enjoyed within 1-2 days.
**Can I freeze it for later use?**
**Yes, you can freeze these danishes.** Once they are completely cooled, wrap them in foil or plastic wrap, and place them in a ziplock freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for around 2 months.
### Nutrition Information
| Nutrient | Value |
|——————-|————–|
| **Calories:** | 463 kcal |
| **Carbohydrates:**| 40 g |
| **Protein:** | 6 g |
| **Fat:** | 31 g |
| **Saturated Fat:**| 11 g |
| **Cholesterol:** | 31 mg |
| **Sodium:** | 233 mg |
| **Potassium:** | 74 mg |
| **Fiber:** | 1 g |
| **Sugar:** | 15 g |
| **Vitamin A:** | 381 IU |
| **Calcium:** | 33 mg |
| **Iron:** | 2 mg |
### Final Thoughts
Enjoy your cream cheese danish fresh or freeze them for a delightful treat later on. These pastries are not just delicious; they also pack in a thoughtful amount of nutrients.
