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Quick Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Danishes

Close-up of a golden, flaky puff pastry danish with cream cheese filling and white icing drizzle.
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Make impressive, flaky cream cheese danishes quickly using store-bought puff pastry. This recipe focuses on a simple assembly and a rich cream cheese filling.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 package (14.1 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
  • 1 tablespoon milk (for egg wash)
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
  • 1 tablespoon milk or water (for glaze)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Prepare the cream cheese filling: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
  3. Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheets onto a lightly floured surface. If the sheets are rectangular, trim them into approximate 5×5 inch squares.
  4. Place about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of the cream cheese filling in the center of each pastry square.
  5. To shape the danishes, bring two opposite corners of the pastry square up to meet in the center over the filling, pressing lightly to seal the edges. You can also fold two adjacent corners to meet, leaving a small opening in the center for the filling to peek out slightly.
  6. Place the shaped danishes onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between them.
  7. Prepare the egg wash by whisking the beaten egg and 1 tablespoon of milk together. Brush the tops and sides of the pastries lightly with the egg wash.
  8. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the pastries are puffed and golden brown.
  9. While the danishes cool slightly on a wire rack, prepare the glaze by whisking the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk or water until smooth.
  10. Drizzle the glaze over the warm danishes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • Work quickly with the puff pastry to keep it cold; this helps achieve maximum flakiness.
  • If the pastry sticks to your counter, use a light dusting of flour, but avoid adding too much, as this can dry out the edges.
  • For a fruit variation, place a small spoonful of jam (like raspberry or apricot) on top of the cream cheese filling before folding the corners.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://savoryskies.com/puff-pastry-danish-with-cream-cheese/