Description

This Easy Cheese Danish recipe features flaky puff pastry topped with a creamy sweetened cream cheese filling and fresh fruit, glazed with apricot jam for a beautiful shine. Perfect as a breakfast treat or an elegant dessert, these individual pastries are simple to prepare and bake to golden perfection in just 15-20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

Puff Pastry and Topping

2 sheets puff pastry (thawed)
1 egg (for egg wash)
1 tsp water (for egg wash)
12 apricots (sliced or quartered) or substitute with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or cherries
4 tablespoons apricot jam (or your favorite jam for glazing fruit)

Cream Cheese Filling

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

Instructions

Preheat the oven: Set the oven to 400℉ (200℃) to ensure it’s ready to bake the danish pastries to a perfect golden brown.
Prepare the fruit: If using apricots, halve and pit them, then slice. For strawberries, cherries, or peaches, hull or pit and slice as well. Blueberries and raspberries are used whole. This ensures uniform pieces for topping the pastries.
Make cream cheese filling: In a bowl, use a fork to combine room temperature cream cheese, egg yolk, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and well blended, creating a rich, flavorful filling.
Prepare egg wash: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 whole egg and 1 teaspoon water to create an egg wash that will give the pastry edges a glossy, golden finish.
Cut the puff pastry: Unwrap one sheet of puff pastry at a time and cut each sheet into 12 equal rectangles. Using a fork, prick the dough all over except for a 1/2-inch border around the edges to prevent puffing in the center.
Transfer to baking sheet: Place the cut puff pastry rectangles on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ready for filling and topping.
Add the filling: Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture onto each rectangle, leaving the edges clear to allow a nice crust to form.
Top with fruit and glaze: Arrange the prepared fruit slices or berries over the cream cheese layer. Brush the fruit with apricot jam to glaze and add shine, then brush the pastry edges with the egg wash to promote golden browning.
Bake: Place the baking sheet on the middle oven rack and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry edges are golden, flaky, and puffed.
Serve: Allow the cheese danish to cool slightly, then serve warm or at room temperature for optimal flavor and texture.

Notes

Substitute the apricot fruit with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or cherries as per preference.
Ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing to avoid lumps.
Pricking the pastry edges prevents excessive puffing in the center and helps keep a neat border.
Use a sharp knife to cut the puff pastry evenly for consistent baking.
For a dairy-free variation, substitute cream cheese with a vegan cream cheese alternative.

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

Keywords: Cheese Danish, Puff Pastry, Cream Cheese Filling, Fruit Pastries, Easy Danish Recipe, Apricot Danish, Breakfast Pastry