Easy Homemade Cream Cheese Danish: Flaky, Fruity & Ready in 30 Minutes
Indulge in a truly delightful breakfast or snack with our Easy Cream Cheese Danish recipe. These handheld pastries are a testament to the fact that impressive doesn’t have to mean complicated. Crafted in just 30 minutes, they transform simple store-bought puff pastry into a bakery-worthy treat, complete with a luscious, lemony cream cheese filling and your choice of fresh fruit. Forget the long bakery lines; you can now whip up these buttery, flaky delights right in your own kitchen with minimal fuss and maximum flavor.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Adore These Danishes
- Essential Ingredients for Your Danish
- Crafting Your Homemade Cream Cheese Danish
- Expert Tips & Tricks for Perfect Danish
- Creative Variations for Your Danish
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Beloved Breakfast Pastries You’ll Crave
- Easy Cream Cheese Danish Recipe Card
Some pairings are simply divine: peanut butter and jelly, strawberries and chocolate (hello, chocolate-covered strawberry brownies!), or a perfectly aged cheese with a fine wine. But allow me to introduce another harmonious duo that deserves a spot on that list: puff pastry and cream cheese. When these two come together, magic happens, especially when elevated by the vibrant touch of fresh fruit.
Imagine golden, gloriously flaky, and buttery layers of puff pastry, cradling a rich, velvety cream cheese filling, all crowned with the sweet burst of fresh fruit. It’s a sensory experience that promises pure delight. In fact, these fruit and cream cheese danishes are so irresistible, you might find yourself reaching for a second, or even a third, straight off the baking sheet!
Whether you’re seeking a sophisticated accompaniment for your morning coffee, a stunning addition to a brunch spread, or a quick, elegant treat to satisfy an afternoon craving, this easy cheese danish recipe is destined to become a cherished staple in your home baking repertoire. It’s a simple pleasure that delivers gourmet results every time.
Why You’ll Adore These Danishes
- Effortless Elegance: This recipe uses just 8 straightforward ingredients, proving that you don’t need a pantry full of specialty items to create something truly special.
- Buttery Perfection: The foundation of these pastries is a store-bought puff pastry, delivering those coveted flaky, golden layers without the painstaking effort of making it from scratch. This is complemented by a rich, creamy, and perfectly sweetened cream cheese filling.
- Lightning Fast: From prep to plate, your delicious danishes will be ready in 30 minutes or less. Perfect for those mornings when you want something impressive without the time commitment.
- Infinitely Customizable: While we love sliced strawberries, the choice of fruit topping is entirely yours. Adapt it to your personal taste or whatever fresh, seasonal produce you have on hand.
- Looks Complex, Bakes Simple: Don’t be fooled by their sophisticated appearance! These danishes boast an impressive shape, but the step-by-step process is incredibly simple. If you can slice a strawberry and make a few easy folds, you can create these bakery-worthy beauties. Detailed photos are included to guide you every step of the way!
Essential Ingredients for Your Danish
Gathering the right ingredients is the first step to creating perfect cream cheese danishes. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is crucial:
- Cream Cheese: For a truly decadent and smooth filling, always opt for full-fat cream cheese. The key to a lump-free, silky texture is ensuring it’s completely softened to room temperature. This allows it to blend seamlessly with other ingredients. Pro Tip: To accelerate the softening process, unwrap the cream cheese and cut it into smaller cubes. Let these pieces sit at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes.
- Fresh Lemon Juice and Zest: These bright citrus elements are indispensable. The lemon juice provides a refreshing tang that beautifully balances the sweetness of the cream cheese, while the zest infuses the filling with a vibrant aromatic essence. Use a microplane grater for the zest, carefully grating only the bright yellow outer layer to avoid the bitter white pith beneath.
- Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla elevates the entire flavor profile of the cream cheese filling. For the finest taste, we highly recommend using pure vanilla extract or even homemade vanilla extract.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar provides the perfect level of sweetness, transforming the tangy cream cheese into a delightful dessert-like filling that still feels appropriate for breakfast.
- Frozen Puff Pastry: This is your secret weapon for quick, impressive pastries! I always keep a box (or several) of this incredibly versatile ingredient in my freezer, ready for spontaneous baking or last-minute entertaining. Remember to thaw it thoroughly according to the package instructions before you begin. Cold or partially frozen puff pastry is notoriously difficult to handle and prone to tearing, which can compromise the flakiness of your danishes.
- Fruit: While sliced strawberries are a personal favorite year-round, the beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability. Feel free to use any fresh fruit that’s in season – think juicy peaches, crisp apples, sweet pears, or a medley of berries like raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries. However, a word of caution: I strongly advise against using frozen fruit. As it thaws during baking, it releases excessive moisture, which can lead to soggy pastries and a loose, separated cream cheese mixture.
- Egg: A single large egg is whisked to create an egg wash. Brushing this over the puff pastry before baking is what gives your danishes that gorgeous golden-brown color and a subtle, appealing sheen, just like those from a professional bakery. Swap: If you prefer, you can brush the pastry with melted butter or a little cream for a similar rich color and finish.
- Sanding Sugar: This coarse sugar is an optional but highly recommended addition. Sprinkled over the egg-washed puff pastry edges before baking, it provides a delightful crunchy texture and a sparkling, bakery-quality finish that makes your danishes truly shine.
For precise measurements and quantities, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card below.
Crafting Your Homemade Cream Cheese Danish
The intricate diamond shape of these danishes might seem daunting at first glance, but rest assured, the process is surprisingly simple. I’m here to guide you through each cut and fold, promising an outcome that’s far easier to achieve than it looks! Let’s get started:
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling: Begin by creating the heart of your danishes – the luscious cream cheese filling. In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the completely softened cream cheese, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and sugar. Using an electric mixer or a sturdy whisk, beat these ingredients together until the mixture is wonderfully creamy and perfectly smooth, with no lumps. Once combined, carefully transfer this delightful filling into a sealable plastic bag or a dedicated piping bag. Set it aside for a moment while you prepare your puff pastry.
- Cutting and Shaping the Pastry: Lightly dust your clean work surface with all-purpose flour. Carefully unfold each sheet of thawed puff pastry and gently roll it out into an even 10-inch square. With a sharp knife or pastry wheel, cut each large square into four smaller, equal-sized squares. To achieve the distinctive diamond shape, take each small square and fold it in half diagonally, forming a perfect triangle. Now, using your knife, cut a 1-inch border around the perimeter of the triangle, but here’s the crucial part: do not cut all the way through at the very tip of the folded triangle. This attached corner is essential for the next step.
The key here is to not cut all the way through the pastry. We need that attached corner to use as our base for folding the squares into decorative diamonds, creating a beautiful well for the filling.
- Folding to Form the Danish: Once all your cuts are made, the magic of folding begins. Gently unfold each pastry square. Then, take one of the cut border strips and fold it across the center of the square. Repeat with the opposing border strip, folding it across the center as well, effectively criss-crossing the two pieces. This clever technique creates a defined border around a central well, ready to receive your delicious filling.
See what we did there? With just a few simple cuts and folds, we transformed a plain square of puff pastry into a gorgeous, diamond-shaped Danish, complete with a perfect center well and beautifully defined borders. It’s a trick that looks intricate but is surprisingly easy!
- Add the Filling and Fruit: Now comes the fun part – filling your pastries! With your prepared cream cheese filling in a piping bag (or simply spooned in), pipe a generous dollop into the center well of each diamond-shaped pastry. This is where your creativity shines: top the creamy filling with your chosen fruit. My go-to is always vibrant sliced strawberries, but feel free to let your seasonal fruit flag fly! Ripe pears, juicy peaches, crisp apple slices, or an assortment of colorful berries are all fantastic choices. Embrace what’s fresh and in season for the best flavor.
- Brush and Sprinkle: In a small bowl, whisk one large egg to create an egg wash. Using a pastry brush, generously apply the egg wash to the exposed puff pastry edges of each danish, being careful to avoid the cream cheese filling itself. This will give your danishes that coveted golden-brown, glossy finish. For an extra touch of bakery-worthy sparkle and a delightful crunch, sprinkle coarse sanding sugar over the egg-washed borders. While optional, this step truly elevates the appearance and texture of your homemade pastries.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Place your prepared danishes in the preheated oven. Bake them for approximately 15 to 18 minutes, or until the puff pastry is beautifully golden brown, visibly puffed up, and delightfully flaky. Once baked, remove them from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving. The aroma filling your kitchen will be absolutely irresistible!
Are you already dreaming of that first bite? Preheat your oven and prepare to amaze your family and guests with these incredibly easy yet undeniably impressive homemade cream cheese danishes!
Expert Tips & Tricks for Perfect Danish
- Make Ahead Magic for the Filling: To streamline your morning prep, you can prepare the delicious cream cheese filling up to a day in advance. Simply transfer it to an airtight container or keep it in the piping bag, then store it safely in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble your danishes. This small step can make a big difference on a busy morning.
- Storage and Reheating: These breakfast pastries are truly at their peak when enjoyed fresh, straight from the oven. However, if you have any leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. While their flakiness might diminish slightly, their incredible flavor will remain, and they’re still utterly delicious (I can personally vouch for their taste 24 hours later!). For those who prefer a warm pastry experience, simply pop them into a 250°F (120°C) oven for a few minutes to gently reheat until warmed through.
- Achieving Even Baking: When placing your danishes on the baking sheets, ensure they are spaced at least 2 inches apart. This allows for proper air circulation, which is crucial for achieving uniform puffing and golden-brown perfection. Overcrowding the baking sheet can lead to uneven baking and softer, less flaky results.
- Don’t Overfill: While it’s tempting to load up on the luscious cream cheese filling, be mindful not to overfill the pastry wells. Too much filling can bubble over during baking, potentially making the pastry soggy and affecting its ability to puff up correctly. A generous but controlled dollop is ideal.
Creative Variations for Your Danish
One of the best aspects of this cream cheese danish recipe is its incredible versatility. Beyond simply swapping out the fruit, you can experiment with different pastry shapes and flavor combinations to keep things exciting. Get inspired by these customization ideas:
- Raspberry Danish or Blueberry Danish: These classic berry variations are always a hit. For these recipes, I often opt for a traditional triangle shape, which is a simple and elegant alternative to the diamond.
- Blackberry Cream Cheese Danish: Elevate your danish game with the rich flavor of blackberries. This particular recipe features a simple yet visually stunning twisted rose shape – it’s much easier to create than you might think and adds a touch of sophistication.
- Cream Cheese Pinwheel Pastries: If you’re looking for a genuinely impressive design that’s surprisingly straightforward, these pinwheel pastries are a must-try. They’ve been a reader favorite since 2014, and their beautiful spiral shape makes them perfect for special occasions.
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries: For the absolute fastest and most fuss-free pastry shape, try this variation. It simply uses rectangular-shaped puff pastry, making it incredibly quick to assemble when time is of the essence.
- Mixed Berry Cream Cheese Danish: Why choose just one fruit when you can have them all? This reader-favorite recipe combines a mix of fresh berries and offers inspiration for a simple circular shape that’s both charming and easy to execute.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the absolute best results and to ensure your danishes maintain their delicate texture, I strongly recommend using fresh fruit. Frozen fruit, upon thawing, releases a significant amount of water. This excess moisture can cause the puff pastry to become soggy and prevent it from achieving that desired crisp flakiness. Additionally, it can thin out the cream cheese mixture, making it too loose and prone to separating during baking. If fresh fruit is truly unavailable, and you must use frozen, ensure it is completely thawed and thoroughly patted dry with paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible before adding it to the danishes.
I have not experimented with freezing these cream cheese danishes, and therefore, I cannot definitively say what the resulting texture would be like after thawing and reheating. My primary concern stems from the nature of cream cheese; it has a tendency to undergo textural changes (sometimes becoming grainy or more liquid) when frozen and subsequently reheated. This alteration could significantly impact the overall quality and enjoyment of the pastry. For this reason, I would advise against freezing the baked danishes.
Prepping the unbaked danishes significantly in advance (e.g., the night before) is not something I have successfully tried, and I have concerns about the puff pastry potentially becoming soggy from sitting with the cream cheese mixture for an extended period. The moisture from the filling could prematurely soften the pastry, preventing it from puffing up beautifully in the oven. Instead, if you wish to prepare ahead, I would recommend baking the pastries the night before. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will still taste wonderful the next day (I frequently enjoy them 24 hours after baking!). If you prefer them warm, a quick reheat in a 250°F (120°C) oven for a few minutes will bring them back to a delightful warmth and gentle crispness.
More Beloved Breakfast Pastries You’ll Crave
If you’ve fallen in love with the simplicity and deliciousness of these Cream Cheese Danishes, you’re in for a treat! Our collection of breakfast pastries and baked goods offers even more ways to start your day sweet and satisfying. Here are some other cherished recipes you’re sure to enjoy:
- Greek Yogurt Banana Muffins: A healthier twist on a classic, these muffins are moist, flavorful, and packed with goodness.
- Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Scones: Fluffy, tender scones studded with rich chocolate chips, perfect for a cozy morning.
- Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake: A show-stopping coffee cake featuring layers of moist cake, tangy cream cheese, and sweet raspberries.
- Homemade Pop Tarts Two Ways: Reimagine your childhood favorite with a fresh, homemade touch, offering both sweet and savory options.
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Crêpes: Delicate crêpes filled with a creamy, dreamy strawberry and cream cheese mixture – an elegant breakfast or dessert.
- Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls: A surprisingly simple shortcut to warm, gooey cinnamon rolls using store-bought pizza dough.
- Blueberry Orange Juice Bread: A vibrant, citrus-infused bread bursting with juicy blueberries, ideal for breakfast or a sweet snack.
Craving more deliciousness? Subscribe to Just a Taste to get new recipes, inspiring meal plans, and our latest newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! And for all the freshest updates and behind-the-scenes fun, stay in touch on Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram. Happy baking!
Easy Cream Cheese Danish
Ingredients
- 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, at room temp
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
- All-purpose flour, for dusting work surface
- 1 (17.3-oz.) package frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed
- 1 cup sliced strawberries or other fruit
- 1 large egg
- Sanding sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat baking mats.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract and sugar. Beat until creamy and well combined. Transfer the mixture to a sealable plastic bag or piping bag (optional).
- Lightly flour your work surface then unfold each sheet of puff pastry and roll it into a 10-inch square. Cut each square into four smaller squares. To make diamond shapes, fold the squares in half diagonally to make triangles then cut a 1-inch border around the triangles except for the very tip. Open the pastries then invert the folds of dough so they’re opposite of one another. (See photos above.)
- Arrange the pastries on the lined baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Pipe a portion of the cream cheese filling into the center of each pastry. Top the cream cheese with the sliced strawberries.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg. Using a brush, generously brush the pastries all over with the egg wash, omitting the area with the cream cheese. Sprinkle the edges of the pastries with the sanding sugar (optional).
- Bake the pastries for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown and puffed. Remove them from the oven then transfer them to a rack to cool before serving.
Kelly’s Notes
- Let your seasonal fruit flag fly when it comes to the topping! I go for sliced strawberries year-round, but whatever is in season is your best bet, from pears and peaches to apples and endless berries.
- The filling can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- These breakfast pastries are best when enjoyed fresh, however, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. They’ll still taste great (I’ve eaten them many times 24 hours after making them!). And if you prefer a warm pastry, simply reheat them in a 250°F oven for a few minutes.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition
Did you try this recipe?
Leave a comment below with your star rating!