Easy Cheese Danish Recipe
Posted November 8, 2023 by: Admin
Creating this Cheese Danish recipe is a breeze. The luscious cream cheese filling boasts the delightful essence of cheesecake, while the addition of fresh berries and a zesty lemon glaze infuses a vibrant burst of flavor, reminiscent of our beloved Blueberry Muffins.
From the flaky, buttery crust to the velvety center, every aspect of these Cheese Danishes is simply irresistible, and they disappear in the blink of an eye.
You’ll adore the technique for shaping the puff pastry. It may appear sophisticated, but it’s surprisingly straightforward, and you’ll become a pro in no time. This makes for an ideal dessert for gatherings or a delightful post-breakfast indulgence when paired with a steaming mug of coffee.
Ingredients for Cheese Danish Recipe
- Puff Pastry – Utilizing store-bought (thawed) puff pastry is the most convenient way to prepare these delectable pastries. Of course, you can opt for homemade dough if you prefer.
- Berries – To craft these cheese danishes, you’ll require approximately 1 1/2 cups of fresh berries or 12 pieces of each type. Should you prefer to make all blueberry danishes or all strawberry danishes, that’s entirely feasible.
- Cream Cheese – Forms the luxurious, creamy core of the pastry.
- Sugar – Sweetens the filling to perfection.
- Egg yolk – Imparts a velvety, rich texture to the filling.
- Vanilla extract – Both homemade and store-bought vanilla work splendidly.
- Lemon zest – Introduces a subtle lemony zest to the filling.
Tools You Will Need
Tips for Making Cheese Danishes
- Thaw puff pastry according to the package instructions. Attempting to accelerate thawing will result in stickiness and make it challenging to roll out the dough.
- Allow the pastries to cool completely to room temperature once they emerge from the oven. Exercise patience at this stage! The cream cheese filling bears a striking resemblance to cheesecake and necessitates a bit of time to set properly before indulging.
- Cool the pastries before applying the glaze. Glazing hot pastries will cause the glaze to melt and trickle off the pastry.
- Be generous with the glaze. We make sure to utilize every last drop, and there’s always a bit of spoon-licking involved.
More Puff Pastry Desserts
The possibilities with puff pastry are limitless: braided, filled, folded, rolled, and even transformed into a cake! These are our preferred easy puff pastry dessert recipes that you’ll come back to time and again.
How to Make Cream Cheese Danish:
- Thaw the puff pastry following the package instructions. Preheat your oven to 400˚F with a rack placed in the center. Line a spacious baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat liner.
- In a sizable mixing bowl, combine 8 oz of softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract, and 1 tsp of lemon zest. Beat the ingredients together on medium/high speed until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
- Unfold the initial puff pastry sheet onto a clean work surface and gently roll it into a 10″x10″ square. Employ a pizza cutter to divide each sheet into 12 even strips.
- Combine two strips by firmly pinching the ends together, then twist the strand from top to bottom. Press one end onto your work surface and loop the twisted strand around it, starting from the center and working outward. Pinch the end to secure it to the pastry. Flatten the center slightly with your fingertips and puncture the center a few times with a fork to prevent excessive puffing.
- Add 1 tablespoon of the filling into the center and gently press the berries halfway into the cream. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 for the remaining strips and the second puff pastry sheet. Transfer the filled pastries to the lined baking sheet, ensuring there’s at least a 1/2″ gap between them.
How to Make Eggwash & Bake:
- In a small bowl, combine 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water. Thoroughly whisk the mixture together with a fork.
- Brush the outer edges with the egg wash and bake in the center of the oven at 400˚F for 18 to 20 minutes. Let them cool to room temperature to allow the cream cheese filling to set perfectly, then drizzle with the lemon glaze.