This Easy Cheese Danish is sweet, creamy, and so flaky. It's not just easy to make, but also a great way to start your morning with a cup of coffee or tea. Or as an after-dinner dessert.
Cheese danishes always look so pretty in the display cases of the bakeries, but a lot of people assume that you need expertise skill to make them. But trust me, they are a lot easier than you think. They make a wonderful dessert, breakfast, or even a light snack. The flakey puff pastry, the smooth cream cheese filling, and a sweet icing drizzled on top - a recipe for heaven.
You can also create mini cheese danishes, or add a whole new filling. But the bottom line is, this cheese danish is super easy with by step-by-step pictures. You can tweak it, try different variations, and make it your own.
With any cheese danish recipe, you can try literally any filling you may like. Yes, even savory. Here are a few of my favorite suggestions.
1. In a large bowl, mix 8 oz of softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1/4 tsp vanilla extract and lemon zest. Mix until smooth and combined.
2. Roll out your thawed puff pastry lengthwise, about two inches. So that the dough will measure 9"x11". Cut off the top 2 corners of the puff pastry. Set them aside. You can bake them later. Using kitchen shears or a pizza cutter, begin cutting slits into the dough along both sides. About 9-10 slits per side. Once you get to the last strip, you'll be left with 2 flaps, just cut them off and set them aside for baking.
3. Split the cream cheese filling among both danishes, keeping the filling contained in the middle of the puff pastry dough.
4. Fold over the top flat and begin crossing over the strips for the braid. Once you get to the last two strips, fold the bottom flap up and cross the last 2 strips over.
5. Gently transfer the danishes to prepared baking sheets. Combine 1 egg and that extra egg white to create an egg wash. Gently brush over your danishes using a pastry brush.
6. Bake at 400F. for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven, and allow them to cool off completely to room temperature. Then make the icing. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 2 tbsp heavy cream. Drizzle on top of the cool down pastries. Enjoy.
The best way to keep the danish fresh is by wrapping it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and keeping it in the refrigerator. This will keep it fresh and from drying out.
To reheat, you can reheat in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds, or plop it in the mini oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
Cheese danishes typically last for up to 7 days in the fridge. If you keep them wrapped at room temperature, they will only stay fresh for 1-2 days.
Icing
Cream Cheese Filling
Puff Pastry Strips
Puff Pastry Danish Assembly
Make The Icing