Puff Pastry Cream Cheese Fruit Danish

It was the day before Christmas Eve, and I found myself craving something quick, easy, and utterly delicious for dessert, Puff Pastry Cream Cheese Fruit Danish. As the holiday hustle and bustle consumed my thoughts, I nearly forgot about these delightful Danish. Thankfully, my family came to the rescue, reminding me of this favorite treat!

My mom and I whipped up these Puff Pastry, Cream Cheese & Fruit Danish in no time, and let me tell you—they were a hit! Seconds were had, and some even went back for thirds!

This recipe calls for just a few basic ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery or even the dollar store. First, grab a box of puff pastry from the freezer aisle—one box should make about 10 Danish.

Next, head to the baking section to pick out your favorite canned pie filling. And don’t forget an 8-ounce box of cream cheese. Assuming your kitchen is stocked with lemon juice, sugar, vanilla, and an egg, you’re all set!

No fancy gadgets required here—unless you consider a hand mixer fancy, which, let’s be honest, in this day and age, who does? You’ll just need a rolling pin, hand mixer, pastry brush, fork, baking tray, parchment paper, and two round cookie cutters: one 3 1/2 inches and the other 2 inches. Easy peasy!

The night before you plan to make these Danish, transfer the puff pastry from the freezer to the refrigerator to let it defrost slowly. On the day of baking, set out the cream cheese to soften at room temperature—it’ll make it much easier to work with.

In a mixing bowl, use your hand mixer to blend the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Set it aside for later.

Dust a piece of parchment paper or a silicone pastry mat with flour, then place your puff pastry on it. Using a rolling pin, gently flatten the folds in the pastry. If you notice any tears, just dampen them with a bit of water and press together until resealed.

Take your 3 1/2-inch round cookie cutter and cut out 4 to 5 circles from each sheet of puff pastry. Next, use the smaller cookie cutter to lightly mark the center of each circle—this is where your cream cheese and fruit filling will go. Prick the inside of the smaller circle with a fork to help control the puffing during baking.

Spoon a dollop of the cream cheese mixture onto the center of each pastry round. Don’t worry about smoothing it out—it’ll melt and spread perfectly as it bakes.

In a small bowl, whisk together one egg with a splash of milk or water. Brush this mixture over the edges of each puff pastry round, avoiding the cream cheese center. Sprinkle with coarse sugar and transfer the rounds to your baking tray(s).

Once they’re beautifully puffed and golden, remove the pastries from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. After they’ve cooled, spoon your chosen fruit filling over the cream cheese. Pro tip: leave a few Danish plain with just the cream cheese—they’re just as delicious!

Now comes the best part—taste testing! These Puff Pastry Cream Cheese & Fruit Danish are a dream come true, and the fact that they’re so easy to make is just the cherry on top.

Whether you’re serving them at a holiday gathering, a wine night, or just a cozy family dinner, these Danish are sure to impress. Your baking skills will be the talk of the town—no one needs to know how simple they were to make!

If you want to add a bit of decadence, top with our Maple Cinnamon Whipped Cream Topping. Oh my, so delicious!

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Puff Pastry, Cream Cheese & Fruit Danish

Quick, Easy, and Delicious home made danish.

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Equipment

• hand mixer, rolling pin, baking tray, 3-1/2 inch round cookie cutter, 2 inch round cookie cutter

Ingredients

  

• 2 sheets or one box of Puff Pastry thawed
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 tbl Sugar
• 1 can Pie filling or several different flavors
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 egg beaten for egg wash
• additional sugar or best is coarse sugar to sprinkle before baking

Instructions

 

• Defrost your box of puff pastry by transferring it from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before you plan to use it.
• Soften the cream cheese by placing it on your kitchen counter allowing it to come to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
• In a small mixing bowl use a hand mixer to blend together until creamy cream cheese, vanilla, lemon juice, and sugar. Set aside.
• In a small bowl beat together an egg and a splash of water to make an egg wash.
• Use a rolling pin and non-stick surface, such as a non-stick baking mat or parchment paper to roll out and remove folds in parchment paper. First, dust your mat or parchment paper with flour, to further prevent sticking. Also, dust the surface of the puff pastry to limit sticking to your rolling pin. Apply "light" pressure you are only flattening the folds.
• Use a large 3-1/2 to 4 inch round cookie cutter and cut 4 to 5 rounds from each sheet of puff pastry.
• Use the small cookie cutter to lightly mark the centers of your pastry rounds.
• Use a fork to prick the center circle. Make sure you prick over the entire center circle, many times. This will help reduce the rise of the puff pastry within the center circle and where your cream cheese and fruit filling will rest.
• Spoon the cream cheese mixture onto the center circle. Approximately 1 tablespoon per danish. It isn't necessary to smooth it completely, as it will soften and smooth during the baking process.
• Brush the egg wash onto the exposed outer edges of the puff pastry or any area not covered by the cream cheese. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Transfer each danish round to your parchment paper-lined baking sheet(s). I use a wide spatula for this.
• Bake uncovered for 12-20 minutes until puffed and lightly golden. Baking time varies from oven to oven.
• Allow danish to cool.
• Spoon on your favorite pie filling or fillings.

  *You may want to leave a few danish with just the cream cheese filling and no fruit filling. They are a delicious alternative.
• Serve and enjoy!

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