Heavenly Cherry Cream Cheese Danish Recipe for Sweet Mornings

Delectable cherry cream cheese Danish upgrades ordinary mornings into extraordinary culinary adventures.

Flaky, buttery pastry serves as the perfect canvas for rich, tangy cream cheese and vibrant fruit fillings.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this classic breakfast treat elevates your morning routine with its elegant simplicity.

Layers of delicate dough promise a melt-in-your-mouth experience that delights the senses.

Sweet and creamy textures dance together, creating a harmonious balance of flavors that feels both comforting and indulgent.

Professional bakeries might charge a premium, but you can craft this impressive pastry right in your own kitchen.

Baking skills of any level can successfully master this delightful recipe.

Tips for Keeping the Dough Light and the Filling Creamy

• Chill Cream Cheese: Keep cream cheese at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing to ensure a smooth, lump-free filling.
• Perfect Pastry Handling: Work with cold puff pastry and handle gently to maintain its delicate, flaky layers.
• Prevent Soggy Centers: Dock the pastry center with a fork to create steam vents and keep the base crisp and light.
• Even Filling Distribution: Use a tablespoon measure for consistent cream cheese and cherry filling amounts across all danishes.
• Glaze Technique: Apply egg wash sparingly with a pastry brush to create a beautiful golden sheen without weighing down the pastry.

Best Way to Store and Reheat Danish

• Refrigeration: Store leftover danish in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days. Wrap each pastry individually in plastic wrap to maintain freshness and prevent them from sticking together.
• Freezing: Carefully place cooled danishes in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
• Reheating: Warm danish in a preheated oven at 325°F for 5-7 minutes to restore crispy pastry texture. Avoid using the microwave, which can make the puff pastry soggy and lose its delicate crunch.

Why Cherry Cream Cheese Danish Is a Sweet Bakery-Style Treat

• Quick and Flaky Pastry Delight: Puff pastry creates a light, crispy exterior that shatters beautifully with each bite, offering a delicate and luxurious texture that feels like a bakery-quality treat.
• Effortless Gourmet Experience: This recipe transforms simple ingredients into an impressive dessert with minimal effort, making it perfect for home bakers who want to look like professional pastry chefs without complicated techniques.
• Cherry Cream Cheese Flavor Explosion: The combination of tangy cream cheese and sweet cherry filling creates a harmonious balance of flavors that dance on your taste buds, delivering a sophisticated yet comforting dessert experience.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for breakfast gatherings, afternoon tea, or elegant dessert tables, these danishes work wonderfully for various occasions and can be prepared in under 30 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients for Cherry Danish with Creamy Filling

• Puff Pastry Sheets: Delicate, flaky foundation for the danish with light and airy texture, best when fresh and cold.
• All-Purpose Flour: Light dusting to prevent pastry from sticking during preparation.

• Cream Cheese: Smooth, rich base for the danish filling with creamy consistency.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness to balance the cream cheese.
• Almond Extract: Provides subtle, nutty flavor enhancement.

• Cherry Pie Filling: Sweet and tangy fruit topping with vibrant red color, preferably high-quality jarred or canned.
• Egg: Creates golden, shiny glaze for pastry edges.
• Water: Helps thin egg wash for even brushing.
• Confectioners' Sugar: Light, powdery finishing touch for elegant presentation.

How to Make Cherry Danish with Flaky Pastry

Step 1: Prepare Baking Space

Preheat oven to 400°F. Cover two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: Shape Pastry Dough

Sprinkle flour on work surface. Lay out puff pastry sheets and slice each into 6 equal rectangles, creating 12 pieces around 4½x3 inches.

Step 3: Arrange Pastry Bases

Place pastry rectangles on lined baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.

Step 4: Create Pastry Pockets

Use a fork to gently puncture center areas of each pastry, leaving ½-inch border around edges to allow puffy sides and stable filling zones.

Step 5: Craft Cream Cheese Filling

• Cream cheese
• Sugar
• Almond extract

Mix until smooth and creamy.

Step 6: Add Cream Cheese Layer

Spread one heaping tablespoon of cream cheese mixture onto center of each pastry rectangle.

Step 7: Top With Cherry Filling

Spoon two heaping tablespoons of cherry pie filling over cream cheese layer.

Step 8: Apply Egg Wash

Whisk egg and water in small bowl. Brush mixture along pastry edges.

Step 9: Bake Danish Treats

Bake for 15-18 minutes until pastries turn golden brown.

Step 10: Finish and Serve

Remove from oven. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Allow slight cooling before serving.

What Goes Well with Cherry Cream Cheese Pastries

• Brew the Perfect Coffee Companion: Pair this cherry cream cheese danish with a rich, medium-roast Colombian coffee that complements the sweet and tangy flavor profile, cutting through the pastry's richness with its smooth, balanced notes.
• Wine Elegance Meets Pastry: Select a chilled Moscato d'Asti or a sweet Riesling to enhance the cherry's fruitiness and balance the creamy cheese filling, creating a delightful dessert wine experience.
• Afternoon Tea Delight: Serve alongside a light Earl Grey tea with a hint of bergamot, which beautifully matches the almond extract's subtle nuttiness and provides a refreshing contrast to the danish's sweet, creamy texture.
• Creamy Smoothie Sidekick: Complement the pastry with a vanilla bean or almond milk smoothie that echoes the danish's flavors while offering a cool, refreshing counterpoint to the warm, flaky treat.

Flavor Ideas to Make These Your Own

• Berry Bliss Danish: Swap cherry pie filling with mixed berry compote for a vibrant, tangy flavor profile that bursts with seasonal freshness.
• Tropical Paradise Danish: Replace cherry filling with mango or passion fruit preserves, adding a sunny, exotic twist to the classic cream cheese pastry.
• Chocolate Lover's Danish: Mix cocoa powder into the cream cheese filling and top with chocolate chips for an indulgent, rich dessert experience.
• Nutty Caramel Danish: Drizzle caramel sauce over the cream cheese filling and sprinkle chopped toasted almonds for a crunchy, sweet variation that elevates the original recipe.

Cherry Cream Cheese Danish Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 27 reviews

• Total Time: 28 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Homemade cherry cream cheese danish brings European bakery charm straight to your kitchen. Flaky pastry cradles rich cream cheese and sweet cherry filling, promising a delightful breakfast or elegant dessert you’ll savor with pure pleasure.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 sheets frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed
• 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
• 1 can 21 ounces (595 grams) cherry pie filling

Filling Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) almond extract

Egg Wash and Topping:

• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) water
• Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare workstation by preheating the oven to 400°F and lining two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Dust a clean surface with flour and unfold puff pastry sheets, carefully slicing each into 6 equal rectangular portions.
3. Distribute pastry rectangles across prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately one inch apart to ensure proper air circulation.
4. Gently perforate the center of each pastry with a fork, creating strategic ventilation while preserving raised outer edges.
5. Create a luscious cream cheese filling by blending cream cheese, sugar, and almond extract until achieving a velvety smooth consistency.
6. Generously dollop a heaping tablespoon of cream cheese mixture into the center of each pastry rectangle.
7. Crown the cream cheese base with a lavish portion of cherry pie filling, ensuring even distribution across each danish.
8. Whisk egg with water to craft a golden glaze, meticulously brushing the pastry perimeters to promote appetizing browning.
9. Transfer baking sheets to the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, monitoring until pastries transform into a rich, golden-brown hue.
10. Once removed from the oven, delicately dust the warm danishes with confectioners’ sugar, allowing them to cool briefly before serving.

Notes

• Versatile pastry perfect for breakfast, brunch, or elegant dessert.
• Prepare ingredients ahead of time to streamline the baking process.
• Ensure puff pastry is cold but pliable for best flaky texture.
• Poking holes in the center prevents excessive rising and creates a perfect filling pocket.
• Cherry pie filling can be swapped with other fruit preserves like blueberry or raspberry for variety.
• Best enjoyed warm on the day of baking for maximum crispness and flavor.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 18 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Danish

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 10g
• Sodium: 250mg
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 40mg