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    You are here: Home / Pastry / Cheese Danish

    Cheese Danish

    December 9, 2019 By Sam 75 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
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    Cheese danishes on marble surface

    A simple and delicious recipe for flaky and delicious Cheese Danish! These are made with my easy (cheater’s) homemade puff pastry, though you can substitute store-bought in a pinch.

    Cheese Danishes make for a great special occasion breakfast food, they’re one of my favorite Christmas morning foods alongside Homemade Cinnamon Rolls and French Toast Casserole!Cheese danishes on marble surface

    Homemade Cheese Danishes

    A little while back I shared my recipe for homemade puff pastry, and, if you recall, strongly encouraged you to make a few extra batches and store some in your freezer. This Cheese Danish recipe is exactly why. Once you have that pastry made, you’re only 25 minutes away from perfect homemade breakfast pastries. Perfect for brunch or holiday breakfast spreads or (let’s be real) any random Tuesday the craving happens to hit.

    I always thought danishes were difficult to make, and the puff pastry can be a bit time consuming, but we’ve mastered that now (and if we haven’t, there’s always store-bought). They’re not difficult, and homemade is better than any pre-packaged breakfast pastry you’ve ever tried.

    The filling is smooth and creamy, like a pocket of cheesecake or cream cheese frosting encased in buttery, flaky pastry. The glaze is simple and a perfect compliment to top everything off. Just. Make. These. Now.

    Ingredients for Cheese Danish
    Ingredients for Cheese Danish

    What You Need:

    • Puff Pastry. I highly recommend you use my “easy” homemade Puff Pastry for best taste! However, store-bought will work. You’ll need one box (/two sheets).
    • Cream cheese, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Stir these together to make your cheese danish filling.
    • An egg and a splash of water. This will be your egg wash which helps brown the outside of your cheese danish.
    • Powdered sugar and milk. Whisk these together to make a glaze for drizzling over the danishes once they’ve cooled. Or while they’re still warm. No judgement here.

    How to assemble Cheese Danishes

    How to Make Cheese Danish

    Begin by dividing your puff pastry dough in half and roll into a 12×12 square. Cut this into four even-sized squares. The steps below correspond with the step-by-step collage above.

    1. Stir together cream cheese, (granulated) sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract and dollop two tablespoons into the center of each square.
    2. Fold the corners toward the center without actually touching them to each other. Leave a small bit of space between the corners.
    3. Brush the pastry with an egg wash (made by whisking together egg and 2 teaspoons of water).
    4. Bake until golden brown. The pastry (and the filling) will puff quite a bit in the oven, but will settle down as they cool.

    Drizzling glaze over freshly baked cheese danish

    Don’t forget to drizzle everything off with a simple milk and sugar glaze. Technically you *should* let the danishes cool a bit before drizzling with this glaze, otherwise it has the inclination to melt alllll over the place. I personally don’t mind so long as I get to enjoy my cheese danish warm (sometimes too warm, careful not to burn your tongue).

    But we’re all adults here. Choose your own ending! Melty and warm or cool and tidy!

    Different Danish Shapes

    The square shape that I used in today’s recipe is is the simplest and most basic design for making cheese danishes. However, if you watch my video (below the recipe) I also share how to make a fancy-looking but surprisingly simple pinwheel design, too.

    Cheese danish cut in half showing creamy center

    Enjoy!

    More Recipes You Might Like:

    • Scones
    • Crepes
    • Popovers
    • Apple Turnovers

    Let’s bake together! Follow me on my YouTube channel where I’ve already uploaded over 200 recipe videos that you can watch for free!

    cheese danishes on marble surface

    Homemade Cheese Danish Recipe

    A simple and delicious recipe for flaky and delicious Cheese Danish! These are made with my easy (cheater's) homemade puff pastry, though you can substitute store-bought in a pinch.
    Be sure to check out the how-to VIDEO below the recipe!
    4.95 from 34 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, Dessert
    Cuisine: American, Austrian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 17 minutes
    Servings: 8 cheese danishes
    Calories: 532kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 1 batch homemade puff pastry may substitute 1 box thawed store-bought puff pastry

    Filling

    • 8 oz cream cheese softened (226g)
    • ½ cup granulated sugar 100g
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • ¾ teaspoons vanilla extract

    Egg Wash

    • 1 large egg
    • 2 teaspoons water

    Glaze

    • 1 cup powdered sugar 125g
    • 3-5 teaspoons milk
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400F (205C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
    • Prepare filling by stirring together cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
    • Divide puff pastry into 2 even parts (If using homemade puff pastry I’ll usually cut this width-wise, if using store-bought dough it will already be divided into two even sheets for you).
    • Roll first half of puff pastry into a 12x12” square (about 1/16” thick). Cut into 4 even-sized squares.
    • Transfer squares onto prepared baking sheet. Dollop about two tablespoons of filling into the center of each square. Fold the corners over the center of the filling, leaving a space about ¼” thick in the center and between corners.
    • Prepare egg wash by whisking together egg and 2 teaspoons water. Brush generously over the top of the puff pastry dough.
    • Transfer cheese danishes to 400F (205C) preheated oven and bake for 17-19 minutes or until light golden brown. Pastries will puff a lot in the oven but will settle as they cool.
    • Repeat steps with second half of puff pastry dough.
    • Allow cheese danishes to cool before drizzling with glaze.

    Glaze

    • To prepare glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract.
    • Drizzle glaze generously over cooled cheese danishes. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cheese danish | Calories: 532kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 479mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 283IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 35mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jaclyn

      December 29, 2022 at 10:31 pm

      I love this recipe!
      I make these for as a special breakfast for hubby. He loves them!
      Thank you so much!!

      Reply
    2. Fernando

      November 20, 2022 at 11:21 am

      5 stars
      Another proof that the best things in life are the simplest. I made these twice and I’m making them again today. Alway came out perfect. A piece of advice: Don’t change anything ,this is great recipe. Thanks Sam!

      Reply
      • Sam

        November 20, 2022 at 8:45 pm

        I am so glad you’ve enjoyed them so much, Fernando! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Shiloh

      November 09, 2022 at 9:08 pm

      Can this recipe be doubled?

      Reply
      • Sam

        November 09, 2022 at 9:40 pm

        Sure thing! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Barbara Huck

      November 04, 2022 at 2:15 am

      5 stars
      I just love these but my waistline doesn’t. When I bake them, before I bring the corners to the middle, I add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar to the cheese/pastry. Don’t mix it in. Just add to a few spots. It adds a different taste to different bites. A bakery I used to go to did this and I got addicted.

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        November 04, 2022 at 8:38 am

        Sounds yummy, Barbara! We’ll have to try that 🙂

        Reply
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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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