Description

This easy Cheese Danish recipe features flaky puff pastry filled with a sweet cream cheese mixture and finished with a simple vanilla glaze. Ready in under 30 minutes, these bakery style pastries are perfect for weekend breakfast, brunch gatherings, or anytime you want to treat yourself to something special.

Ingredients

For the Pastry:

2 sheets puff pastry (homemade or store-bought – I won’t tell if you use the freezer section!)

For the Cream Cheese Filling:

8 oz cream cheese, softened (leave it out for about 30 minutes so it’s nice and spreadable)
½ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice (fresh is best, but bottled works too)
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Egg Wash:

1 large egg
2 teaspoons water

For the Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
3–5 teaspoons milk (start with 3 and add more for your desired consistency)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling

In a medium bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until completely smooth and creamy.

You can use a hand mixer or just a good old-fashioned wooden spoon and some elbow grease. Set it aside while you work on the pastry.

Step 2: Roll and Cut the Puff Pastry

Lightly flour your work surface and roll out one sheet of puff pastry into an even square, about 10 inches on each side.

Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to divide it into 4 equal squares. Repeat this process with the second sheet of puff pastry.

You’ll end up with 8 perfect pastry squares – one for each danish.

Step 3: Arrange on Baking Sheet

Place all 8 pastry squares on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one so they have room to puff up beautifully.

If your pastry is getting too soft and sticky at this point, pop the whole baking sheet in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm it back up.

Step 4: Add the Filling

Spoon about 2 tablespoons of your cream cheese filling right into the center of each pastry square.

Don’t be tempted to overfill – trust me on this! Too much filling and it’ll bubble over the sides while baking.

Just a nice dollop in the middle is perfect.

Step 5: Fold the Corners

Here’s where they start to look like real danishes! Take each corner of the pastry square and fold it slightly toward the center, pressing gently.

You’re not sealing them completely – you want to leave that creamy filling peeking out in the middle.

It’s like giving each danish a little pastry hug.

Step 6: Apply the Egg Wash

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water until well combined.

Using a pastry brush, gently brush this egg wash over all the exposed pastry edges. This is what gives them that gorgeous golden-brown bakery finish.

Don’t brush the filling itself, just the pastry.

Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection

Pop your baking sheet into a preheated 400°F (205°C) oven and bake for 17–19 minutes.

You’re looking for them to be puffed up, golden brown, and absolutely gorgeous. Your kitchen is going to smell incredible right about now.

Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes.

Step 8: Drizzle with Glaze

While your danishes cool slightly, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. Start with 3 teaspoons of milk and add more if you want a thinner glaze.

Once the danishes have cooled just enough that they won’t melt the glaze, drizzle it generously over each one.

Notes

Keep it cold: Work quickly with puff pastry and keep it chilled. If your kitchen is warm, work in batches and keep the pastry you’re not using in the fridge.
Don’t skip the egg wash: It’s tempting to skip this step, but the egg wash is what gives you that beautiful bakery-style golden color and shine.
Make the filling ahead: You can mix up the cream cheese filling the night before and keep it covered in the fridge. Just let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before using so it’s easier to spoon.
Even squares matter: Try to cut your pastry squares as evenly as possible so they bake at the same rate and look uniform.
Cool before glazing: If you glaze them while they’re too hot, the glaze will just melt and disappear. A little patience here makes all the difference.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 17-19 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American