Description

This Easy Cheese Danish recipe features flaky puff pastry filled with a creamy, sweetened cream cheese mixture topped with fresh apricots or your choice of berries. Glazed with apricot jam and baked until golden, these pastries make a perfect breakfast treat or elegant dessert that’s simple to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough and Wash

2 sheets puff pastry (thawed)
1 egg (for egg wash)
1 tsp water (for egg wash)

Cream Cheese Filling

8 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 egg yolk (whisked)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Fruit and Glaze

12 apricots (sliced or quartered; can substitute with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or cherries)
4 tablespoons apricot jam (or your favorite jam for glazing fruit)

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400℉ (204℃) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the danish pastries perfectly flaky and golden.
Prepare Fruit: If using apricots, halve them, remove pits, and slice. For strawberries, cherries, or peaches, hull or pit and slice accordingly. Leave blueberries and raspberries whole. Set aside for assembling.
Make Cream Cheese Filling: In a bowl, combine the room temperature cream cheese, whisked egg yolk, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Use a fork to mix until smooth and well incorporated.
Prepare Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg with 1 teaspoon of water to create an egg wash for brushing the pastry edges to achieve a beautiful golden-brown finish.
Prepare Puff Pastry: Unwrap one sheet of puff pastry at a time and cut each into 12 equal rectangles. Use a fork to prick the dough all over, leaving a ½-inch border unpricked to help the pastry edges rise separately.
Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the cut puff pastry rectangles on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
Fill Pastry: Spread a generous amount of the cream cheese filling over each rectangle, avoiding the edges to allow puffing during baking.
Add Fruit and Glaze: Top each pastry with arranged slices or whole berries. Brush the fruit evenly with apricot jam to add flavor and shine. Then, brush the exposed pastry edges with the prepared egg wash for a beautiful glaze.
Bake: Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the pastry is flaky and puffed.
Serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature for a delicious, flaky, creamy treat.

Notes

You can substitute apricots with other fresh fruits like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or cherries depending on availability and preference.
Ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature to make mixing easier and achieve a smooth filling.
Don’t overfill the pastries to prevent the cream cheese and fruit from spilling over during baking.
Use parchment paper on the baking sheet for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
These danishes are best enjoyed the day they are made but can be stored in an airtight container for 1-2 days.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
Category: Breakfast, Dessert, Pastry
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: cheese danish, puff pastry, cream cheese filling, apricot jam, easy breakfast pastry, fruit Danish, homemade Danish, sweet pastry