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Cheese Danish Recipe

Making homemade Cheese Danish is easier than ever. Using just a few ingredients, you can learn how to make a flaky, delicious cheese danish in under 30 minutes. With a creamy filling and sweet icing, these are the perfect addition to a holiday breakfast or brunch.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 156 kcal
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 box frozen puff pastry sheets 17 ounce
  • 1 package cream cheese, softened to room temperature 8 ounce
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg separated
  • 1 teaspoon water
For the Icing
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
Garnish
  • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar for garnish

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Thaw puff pastry according to package directions. Mine took about 15 minutes at room temperature.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  3. Cut each sheet of puff pastry into fourths, resulting in 8 large squares. Set aside.
  4. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and egg yolk (save the egg white).
  5. Beat until fully combined and smooth. Spoon about 2 Tablespoons of filling into the center of each square of puff pastry.
  6. Using a sharp knife cut the pastry from each corner towards the center, just until you get to the filling. You will now have four *almost* triangles cut. Take the left edge of the triangle and bring it up over the filling. Repeat for all four triangles. The shape will resemble a pinwheel (see my photos in the blog post for a visual tutorial).
  7. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining egg white with water. Brush over the tops of the puff pastry.
  8. Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until pastry is lightly browned.
  9. While danish is baking, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk for the icing. Whisk until smooth.
  10. Remove danishes from oven and drizzle with icing. Dust with powdered sugar right before serving. Serve within several hours for best flavor and texture!

Notes

  • For a fruit danish, you'll need about 8 Tablespoons of pie filling (cherry and blueberry are my favorites). Spoon 1 Tablespoon of pie filling on each danish before baking. If you prefer less filling in your danishes, you can cut the cheese filling recipe in half if using pie filling.
  • Serve fresh. For best flavor and texture, homemade cheese danishes are best enjoyed within a few hours of baking.
  • Dust with powdered sugar. For an even prettier (and sweeter) danish, dust with powdered sugar just before serving.
  • Keep it simple. Instead of making the fancy cuts and shape, keep it simple. Dollop the cream cheese in the center of each square and bake. Voila. Same delicious cheese danish in a simple serving.
  • Make a whole cake. Instead of cutting your puff pastry into squares, fill the center with the cream cheese filling. Make slits in the sides and bring them up to the center (like a braid). Bake. Slice and serve.
  • Freeze. Baked danishes can be transferred to freezer bags and frozen for up to a month. I recommend freezing without icing for best results. Let thaw and reheat in the oven before serving.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1danish Calories 156kcal (8%) Carbohydrates 30g (10%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 3g (5%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Cholesterol 27mg (9%) Sodium 43mg (2%) Sugar 28g (56%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 156

% Daily Value*

Serving 1danish
Calories 156kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 30g 10%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 3g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 27mg 9%
Sodium 43mg 2%
Sugar 28g 56%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.