Easy Cream Cheese Danish Recipe (Copycat Starbucks)
User Reviews
5
Easy Cream Cheese Danish Recipe (Copycat Starbucks)
Description
The recipe calls for thawed puff pastry cut into strips that are twisted and spiraled to form a flaky Danish base. A creamy filling of room-temperature cream cheese blended with sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla is spooned into the centers. After brushing edges with egg white and sprinkling with turbinado sugar, the pastries bake at 400°F until golden, creating crisp layers balanced by the rich soft cheese filling.
The glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla or almond extract adds a smooth, sweet finish. The danishes can be shaped in alternative ways such as folded squares for simpler forms. They provide a sweet treat familiar to Starbucks fans and work well for breakfast or snack occasions.
Finished danishes can be stored in the refrigerator for several days or frozen for up to three months. Reheating can be done in a microwave, conventional oven, or air fryer depending on preference and quantity. Substitutions include dairy-free cream cheese and gluten-free pastry options to accommodate dietary restrictions or preferences.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese full fat or Neufchâtel, room temperature
- 3 tablespoons sugar white or cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 heets puff pastry thawed
- 1 large egg yolk and egg white separated
- turbinado sugar for topping
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract or try almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, place a piece of parchment paper or silicone mat on a baking sheet.
- In a mixing bowl add cream cheese, egg yolk, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract, beating with a hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Unfold the puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface and roll smooth with a rolling pin. Cut each sheet into 12 strips, use a pizza cutter to make it easy!
- Connect 2 strips of puff pastry to create one long one, and twist each side in the opposite direction. Wind the twisted strip into a spiral, and using a spoon your hand, flatten the center slightly to create a bed for the cream cheese.
- Transfer the pastries onto the baking sheet, and spoon a dollop of the cream cheese mixture onto each pastry, a heaping tablespoon. If desired, use a small cookie scoop.
- Brush all the pastry edges with a beaten egg white and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden.
- Transfer to a cooling rack after 5 minutes, then make the glaze, whisk glaze ingredients in a small bowl, until smooth. Drizzle over warm pastries.
Notes
- Freeze baked danishes in a single layer in a freezer-safe bag for up to three months.
- Store finished danishes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
- Reheat refrigerated danishes in microwave for 30 seconds or oven at 350°F; use an air fryer at 300°F for 1-2 minutes for a crisp finish.
- For simpler shapes, fold puff pastry squares into envelopes before filling and baking.
- Add lemon zest to the cream cheese mixture for a citrus variation.
- Use dairy-free cream cheese and plant-based milk in glaze to make a dairy-free version.
- Choose gluten-free puff pastry dough for a gluten-free adaptation.
- Try adding spiced plum jam on top of the cream cheese filling for a sweet twist.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 350 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1pastry | |
| Calories | 350kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 33g | 11% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 23g | 35% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Trans Fat | 0.002g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 35mg | 12% |
| Sodium | 168mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 60mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
| Vitamin A | 281IU | 6% |
| Calcium | 28mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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