This Cream Cheese Danish offers an enticing combination of sweetness, creaminess, and flakiness, making it the perfect pairing for your morning coffee or a delightful dessert option. It’s not only easy to whip up but also provides a satisfying pastry experience.
Recipe Details
There’s nothing like savoring a Cream Cheese Danish with a tranquil morning coffee. This homemade delight is quick and easy to make, surpassing any store-bought options in taste. Its adaptable nature allows for various fillings, giving you the chance to explore numerous variations. They also store well, making them ideal for welcoming spontaneous guests.
- TASTE: The filling achieves a harmonious balance of sweetness and tang, perfectly complementing the lightly sweet pastry and the sugary glaze above.
- TEXTURE: Featuring flaky puff pastry, a velvety cream cheese center, and a luscious drizzle of icing, these danishes are utterly delightful.
- TIME: The complete process takes roughly 40 minutes.
- EASE: While danishes may seem elaborate, they are surprisingly simple to make. This recipe calls for just a few ingredients and utilizes frozen puff pastry, making it accessible for everyone.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Puff pastry sheets- These ready-made pastry sheets make creating the danish easier, although you can opt to make your own dough if desired.
- Cream cheese- This sweet and tangy element is key for the filling; full-fat cream cheese is recommended for the best flavor.
- Granulated sugar- This ingredient adds a hint of sweetness to the filling.
- Eggs- The yolk provides extra creaminess to the filling, while the remaining egg is used for an egg wash, giving it a lovely shiny finish.
- Vanilla extract- This adds a subtle vanilla essence to the filling.
- Lemon zest- This includes a citrusy note that enhances the cream cheese’s flavor.
- Powdered sugar- This fine sugar helps create a smooth and thick icing for drizzle over the pastries.
- Heavy cream- This ingredient combines with powdered sugar to create the icing base; whole milk can be substituted as well.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Add fruit to the filling- Elevate this danish recipe with raspberry preserves, strawberry jam, peach preserves, lime zest and juice, or fresh blueberries.
- Make it sweet and savory- Mix crispy bacon bits and pure maple syrup with the cream cheese filling for a delicious twist.
- Add chocolate- Transform this treat by adding chocolate chips, melted chocolate, or Nutella.
- Add nuts- Incorporate slivers of almonds or chopped pecans or walnuts for extra crunch.
How to Make Cream Cheese Danish
- Prepare the cream cheese filling. In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Use an electric mixer on high speed until you achieve a completely smooth mixture.
Pro Tip: Be sure to only use the yellow part of the lemon peel, as the bitter white pith underneath can be unpalatable.
- Roll out puff pastry. On a floured surface, roll each thawed puff pastry sheet to a size of 9×11 inches.
- Cut each sheet. With kitchen shears, trim off the top two corners of each sheet and set them aside. Then, make 9-10 slits into each side, stopping about one-third of the way from the edge. Remove the remaining two bottom flaps and set those aside, too.
- Fill the pastries. Distribute the cream cheese filling in the center of each pastry.
- Braid the Danish. Begin at the top and alternately cross the strips over one another from left to right. When you reach the last two strips, fold up the bottom flap and cross those two strips over it. Carefully transfer the prepared danishes to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Create the egg wash. In a small bowl, whisk the egg with 1 teaspoon of water. Use a pastry brush to apply this mixture over the tops of the danishes.
- Bake. Bake the danishes in a preheated oven at 400°F for 20-25 minutes until they are golden brown. Afterward, let them cool to room temperature.
- Prepare the icing. Combine powdered sugar with heavy cream to make icing, which you can then drizzle over the cooled danishes. These pastries can be enjoyed on their own or paired with other sweet treats, like Napoleon cake topped with vanilla custard and Chantilly cream.
Helpful Recipe Tips
- Thaw the puff pastry adequately. Ensure the puff pastry is completely thawed before use.
- Ensure thorough thawing: It’s essential for the puff pastry to be fully thawed to facilitate shaping and folding. If it’s still partially frozen, it might crack.
- Cut strips with intent: Create preliminary marks on the puff pastry to ensure uniformity in width and spacing when cutting the strips.
- Utilize kitchen shears for precision: For clean edges on your pastry strips, kitchen shears are a great option, yielding sharper lines without frayed edges.
- Don’t skip the egg wash: Applying an egg wash to the tops of the danishes before baking is vital for achieving a rich golden color and a shiny finish.
- Save the trimmed puff pastry scraps: Rather than throwing them away, bake the scraps on the same sheet as the cheese danishes. After they cool down, spread some Nutella or jam on top for a delightful snack!
Frequently Asked Questions
Should cream cheese Danishes be refrigerated?Absolutely, it’s best to keep your cream cheese danishes in the fridge, as the dairy components can spoil if left out at room temperature. While they can be stored at room temp for one day if wrapped, refrigeration helps preserve their freshness.
Is it essential to heat a cheese Danish?You can enjoy a cheese danish warm, cold, or at room temperature—it’s delightful at any temperature. For a warm option, indulge in one right out of the oven or heat it in the microwave for about 20 seconds before savoring.
Serving Suggestions
This scrumptious homemade Cream Cheese Danish serves as a delightful option for breakfast or dessert. Pair it with muffins, pancakes, eggs, bacon, and more.
- Muffins: Serve alongside Blueberry Muffins (VIDEO), Cinnamon Apple Muffins (VIDEO), or Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins.
- Proteins: Enhance this delicious dish with Easy Poached Eggs with Caramelized Onions, Crispy Air Fryer Bacon, Shakshuka, or Savory Crepes filled with Chicken and Mushrooms.
- Pancakes/Waffles: These Cream Cheese Danishes can be complemented with Buttery Belgian Liege Waffles, Cottage Cheese Pancakes, or Blueberry Breakfast Crepes.
- Other Pastries: Enjoy treats such as Cherry Danish, Peach Galette, the Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (VIDEO), and Apricot Walnut Rugelach (VIDEO) alongside this pastry.
Prepare This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: Remove the puff pastry from the freezer and place it in the fridge prior to use. You can also prepare the filling and store it covered in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble and bake your danishes.
Storing: These Cream Cheese Danishes can be refrigerated for up to 7 days, either wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil or stored in an airtight container.
Freeze: After the danishes have completely cooled, wrap them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place them in a ziplock freezer bag. They can be kept in the freezer for around 2 months.
More Delicious Pastries!
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Cream Cheese Danish
This easy Cream Cheese Danish Pastry offers a wonderfully flaky and creamy experience. You’ll love the pleasing sweet-tart taste of the filling paired with the delightful drizzle of icing over the crust.
out of votesPrint
Course: DessertCuisine: DanishPrep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Servings: 8Calories: 463kcal
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Danish Dough and Filling
- 5 from votes
Print
Course: DessertCuisine: DanishPrep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Servings: 8Calories: 463kcal
Pin
RateIngredients
Danish Dough and Filling
-
1 lb puff pastry -
8 oz cream cheese -
Dough Ingredients
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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 Ingredients
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1/2 cup powdered sugar -
2 Tbsp heavy cream
Directions
- Begin by mixing 8 oz of softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, 1 large egg yolk, 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract, and the zest of 1 lemon in a large bowl. Be sure to only use the yellow portion of the lemon and not the bitter white rind.
- Once all the ingredients for the filling are in the bowl, utilize a hand mixer on high speed to beat the mixture until it reaches a smooth and creamy consistency.
- After preparing the mixture, set it aside and lightly dust your work surface with flour. Then, take the 1 lb package of thawed puff pastry and roll out each sheet lengthwise by about 2 inches until they measure approximately…
Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the provided steps while preserving the original information:
1. **Dimensioning**: Use a 9×11 inch piece of puff pastry.
2. **Corner Trimming**: Trim the upper two corners of the puff pastry, saving them for later. These can be baked alongside the danish for enjoyment with some jam or Nutella.
3. **Making Slits**: With kitchen shears, carefully create slits along both sides of the dough, aiming for about 9-10 slits on each side. Take care not to cut beyond the fold where the pastry is divided into thirds.
4. **Removing Flaps**: Upon reaching the final strip at the bottom, you will find two flaps left. Cut these off and keep them to bake along with the corner pieces.
5. **Filling the Pastry**: Spread your cream cheese filling evenly across both danishes, ensuring it remains within the central third of the puff pastry.
6. **Braiding**: Fold the top flap down and start to cross the strips for a braided look. Alternate crossing from right to left until just two strips are left. Then, lift the bottom flap and cross these last two strips to complete the braid.
7. **Transferring to Baking Sheet**: Carefully transfer the braided danishes to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
8. **Egg Wash Preparation**: Whisk together 1 egg and 1 tsp of water to create an egg wash. Brush this mixture over the tops of the danishes using a pastry brush.
9. **Baking**: Place the assembled danishes into a preheated oven, baking at 400°F for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until they reach a golden brown color. Once baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool to room temperature.
10. **Glazing**: In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Once the pastry has cooled to nearly room temperature, drizzle the glaze over the top.
Feel free to ask if you need any further changes or additional sections!
### Notes
– **Storage Duration:** Cheese danishes can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. If wrapped and stored at room temperature, they are recommended to be eaten within 1-2 days.
– **Freezing Options:** Yes, these danishes can be frozen. Once they are completely cooled, wrap them in foil or plastic wrap, then place them in a ziplock freezer bag. They can be kept in the freezer for around 2 months.
### Nutrition Information
– **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—
This summary captures the essential details about preparing, storing, and the nutrition insights related to Cream Cheese Danish.
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