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Homemade Cheese Danish Recipe

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3.9 from 4 reviews

This Homemade Cheese Danish recipe offers a deliciously flaky and creamy treat made with easy homemade puff pastry or store-bought dough. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, these danishes combine a sweetened cream cheese filling with a light glaze, baked to golden perfection.

Ingredients

Puff Pastry

  • 1 batch homemade puff pastry (see notes to use store-bought pastry)

Filling

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

Egg Wash

  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons water

Glaze

  • 1 cup (125 g) powdered sugar
  • 3-5 teaspoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This ensures your danishes bake evenly and don’t stick.
  2. Prepare filling: In a bowl, thoroughly mix the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. This sweet, tangy filling forms the heart of each danish.
  3. Divide puff pastry: Split the puff pastry into two equal parts. If using homemade puff pastry, cut it width-wise. For store-bought dough, it typically comes as two sheets already divided.
  4. Roll and cut dough: Roll the first half of puff pastry into a 12x12-inch square about 1/16-inch thick. Cut this into four equal squares to shape your danishes.
  5. Assemble danishes: Place the puff pastry squares on your prepared baking sheet. Spoon approximately two tablespoons of the cream cheese filling into the center of each square. Fold each corner towards the center over the filling, leaving a small ¼-inch gap in the middle and between the corners to allow steam to escape and maintain flakiness.
  6. Apply egg wash: Whisk together the egg and 2 teaspoons of water to make the egg wash. Brush this generously over the pastry tops to ensure a shiny, golden finish when baked.
  7. Bake danishes: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 17 to 19 minutes or until the danishes are puffed and lightly golden brown. Note that the pastries will puff up significantly during baking but will settle as they cool.
  8. Repeat assembly: Repeat the rolling, filling, folding, and baking steps with the second half of the puff pastry dough to create the remaining danishes.
  9. Cool danishes: Allow the danishes to cool completely on a wire rack before glazing to ensure the glaze sets properly.
  10. Prepare glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 3 to 5 teaspoons of milk (adjust for desired consistency), and vanilla extract until smooth.
  11. Glaze and serve: Drizzle the glaze liberally over the cooled cheese danishes and serve. Enjoy your flaky, creamy homemade treat!

Notes

  • Substituting store-bought puff pastry: Use a 1.1 lb box of store-bought puff pastry. Thaw according to package instructions. You may need to roll it lightly with a rolling pin to reach the 12x12" size. Store-bought puff pastry tends to puff more than homemade, so after baking gently press the folds down with your hands if desired.
  • Storing: Store leftover cheese danishes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently before serving if preferred.

Find it online: https://miracooking.com/homemade-cheese-danish-recipe/