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Home » Breakfast » Cream Cheese Danish

Published: Nov 30, 2020 · Modified: Mar 7, 2021 by Kathy · This post may contain affiliate links

Cream Cheese Danish

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A puff pastry danish filled with a cheese mixture and berries.

Delicate puff pastry filled with a cream cheese filling and topped with a light, sweet drizzle.

Cream cheese danish is perfect for serving for breakfast, brunch or dessert. and is perfect for the holidays!

A danish filled with cream cheese and berries on a white plate.

I've been on a puff pastry trend lately. I've been making my easy puff pastry and then I've been using the puff pastry to make all sorts of yummy treats. These cream cheese danishes are my latest!

Prior to these danishes I also made puff pastry baked eggs, cheese straws and of course my favorite chicken pot pie! Talk about delicious!

One of the things I love best about all these recipes, besides being delicious, is they look so impressive, but they really aren't very difficult to make.

Cream cheese danishes on a white platter.
Table of Contents
Key ingredients
Variations
Step by step instructions
Baking tips
More breakfast and brunch ideas
More breakfast recipes
Cream Cheese Danish

Key ingredients

  • Puff pastry - Make your own, I use a quick puff pastry recipe, or buy at the store. I've made it both ways and both are amazing.
  • Cream cheese - You want to real stuff here. Don't substitute a low fat version. Make certain cream cheese is at room temperature, otherwise it will be difficult to get it creamy
  • Powdered sugar - Added to the cream cheese and used for the glaze that's drizzled on after baking
  • Lemon juice - Fresh squeezed is best
  • Vanilla - Pure extract!

Variations

  • Berries - I used frozen berries, straight from the freezer. No need to thaw. Just add a few of your favorites right in the center of the cream cheese mixture. You can also use fresh berries. Some favorites include blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and huckleberries
  • Jam - Add a dollop of jam right in the center of the cream cheese. I've used both apricot jam and raspberry jam and they both were a hit!
  • Pie Filling - Sweeten things up a bit more by adding a dollop of prepared pie filling right in the center of the danish! Try using apple pie filling or cherry pie filling. Use ones you've made or use store bought.
A baking sheet filled with danishes with cream cheese and berries.

Step by step instructions

  • Mix cream cheese until smooth. Add egg yolk, powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla. Mix until well combined.
Cream cheese in a glass bowl with egg yolks, powdered sugar and vanilla.
  • Roll out the puff pastry dough and slice into 3x3" pieces and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
  • Brush the top of each square with egg white
Puff pastry squares on a baking sheet being brushed with a small pastry brush.
  • Add a tablespoon of cream cheese mixture to the center of the puff pastry squares
Cream cheese mixture added to the top of uncooked puff pastry squares.
  • Add a few berries, if desired
Frozen black berries on top of unbaked danishes.
  • Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes
  • Remove from oven and allow danish to cool on baking sheet
  • Mix glaze and drizzle over danishes

Cream cheese danishes with berries on a white platter.

Baking tips

  • Don't worry about cutting the puff pastry into perfectly even squares
  • Make certain oven is fully preheated before baking
  • If using berries, fresh or frozen work fine. No need to defrost frozen berries.
  • Serve the same day, or once fully cooled store in an airtight container in a single layer
  • Don't skip the glaze. It's what makes these danishes seem like they are from your favorite bakery.

More breakfast and brunch ideas

For the holidays or special occasions, I love to make a delicious breakfast or brunch. Along with these danishes, I love to serve

  • Cheesy Baked Eggs
  • Pork and Apple Breakfast Sausages
  • Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
  • Freshly Brewed Coffee
  • Hot Chocolate - for those who don't want coffee
  • Homemade Muffins - I like to mix it up and often make oatmeal banana muffins, cranberry muffins or bran muffins with honey butter.
Cheese and berry danish on a white plate.

More breakfast recipes

  • Oatmeal Banana Muffins
  • Buttermilk Biscuits Baked in a Pan
  • Quinoa Banana Bread
  • Blackberry Muffins

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

A danish filled with cream cheese and berries on a white plate.

Cream Cheese Danish

Kathy
Puff pastry filled with a sweetened cream cheese and topped with a light glaze.
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 18 Pastries
Calories 196 kcal

Equipment

  • Pizza Cutter
  • Cookie Sheet
  • Measuring Spoons
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

Filling

  • 4 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 egg yolk (save white for brushing on puff pastry)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • ½ t vanilla

Pastry

  • 2 sheets puff pastry (homemade or store bought)
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon water

Icing

  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons milk
  • 2 drops vanilla
  • Fresh or frozen berries, jam or pie filling (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Filling

  • Whip the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth
    4 ounces cream cheese
  • Add powdered sugar, egg yolk, lemon juice and vanilla. Whip until smooth
    ¼ cup powdered sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, ½ t vanilla

Pastry

    • Roll out puff pastry until smooth. Divide each sheet into 9 squares (3"x3"). Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
      2 sheets puff pastry
    • Whip egg white and water together in a bowl with a fork. Brush mixture over entire surface of puff pastry.
      1 egg white, 1 tablespoon water
    • Place a tablespoon of cream cheese mixture in the center of each puff pastry square. Add fruit, jam or pie filling on top of cream cheese, if using.
      Fresh or frozen berries, jam or pie filling
    • Bake in preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until pastry is golden brown
    • Remove from oven and allow danishes to cool on baking sheet.

    Icing

    • Combine remaining powdered sugar, milk and vanilla together in a bowl. Mix until smooth. The icing should be runny. Add additional milk if needed.
      ½ cup powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons milk, 2 drops vanilla
    • Using a spoon, drizzle icing over the top of the pastries. Allow icing to dry.
    • Serve or store in an airtight container for up to one day.

    Notes

    • Don't worry about cutting the puff pastry into perfectly even squares
    • Make certain oven is fully preheated before baking
    • If using berries, fresh or frozen work fine. No need to defrost frozen berries.
    • Serve the same day, or once fully cooled store in an airtight container in a single layer
    • Don't skip the glaze. It's what makes these danishes seem like they are from your favorite bakery.

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1DanishCalories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 92mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 99IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
      Keyword Cream Cheese Danish, Danish, Puff Pastry Danish
      Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!
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      Comments

      1. Valentina says

        December 02, 2020 at 9:01 pm

        5 stars
        Another beautiful recipe, Kathy. My mom used to make something similar for breakfast and it was a huge treat! I'd love it with coffee. (I love the coffee mug in your photo, BTW. So pretty!) 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
        • Kathy says

          December 04, 2020 at 4:58 am

          Thanks! And I've had that mug for years. I think I bought two while I was still in college.

          Reply
      2. David @ Spiced says

        December 01, 2020 at 4:36 am

        5 stars
        Using puff pastry to make these danishes is such a great idea! The flaky crust would pair perfectly with the creamy filling. Laura is a huge fan of Danish pastries, and I'm thinking I should make her a batch of these on Christmas morning! And I agree with Dawn here - coffee is a must!

        Reply
        • Kathy says

          December 01, 2020 at 5:28 am

          Always best with a cup of coffee! 🙂

          Reply
      3. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

        November 30, 2020 at 6:28 am

        5 stars
        I adore cream cheese desserts so these are totally calling my name! These need to happen so, perfect with a big ol' cup of coffee 🙂

        Reply
        • Kathy says

          December 01, 2020 at 5:29 am

          The cream cheese is so delicious in these danishes!

          Reply

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      I'm Kathy, a busy working mom who loves to cook from scratch, grow a garden, and raise farm animals. Take a look around and find all my recipes, gardening tips, and country living antics..

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