Description
Delight in these Easy Cheese Danish pastries featuring flaky puff pastry topped with a creamy vanilla-infused cream cheese filling and fresh fruit, all glazed with apricot jam for a perfect sweet finish. Ideal for breakfast or brunch, these delightful pastries combine simplicity with elegance in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 2 sheets puff pastry (thawed)
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk (whisked)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Topping and Glaze
- 12 apricots (sliced or quartered, or substitute with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or cherries)
- 4 tablespoons apricot jam (or your favorite jam for glazing fruit)
Egg Wash
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp water
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400℉ to ensure it reaches the ideal temperature for baking flaky, golden pastries.
- Prepare Fruit: Carefully prepare your chosen fruit. For apricots, halve, pit, and slice. If using strawberries, cherries, or peaches, hull or pit as needed, then slice. Leave raspberries and blueberries whole for a burst of flavor.
- Mix Cream Cheese Filling: In a bowl, use a fork to blend the room temperature cream cheese, whisked egg yolk, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined.
- Make Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the whole egg with a teaspoon of water to create a glossy egg wash for the pastry edges.
- Cut and Dock Pastry: Unwrap one sheet of thawed puff pastry and cut into 12 equal rectangles. Using a fork, prick the surface of each rectangle, avoiding the outer 1/2-inch border to help prevent excessive puffing in the center.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Transfer all the pastry rectangles onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spaced evenly to allow air circulation.
- Fill Pastries: Spread an even layer of the cream cheese filling onto the center of each pastry rectangle, leaving the edges clear for puffing and browning.
- Add Fruit and Glaze: Arrange apricot slices or your chosen berries on top of the filling. Brush the fruit generously with apricot jam to add shine and sweetness. Then, brush the perimeter of each pastry with the prepared egg wash for a golden finish.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry edges are puffed, golden brown, and flaky. Oven times may vary slightly so check for doneness visually.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and let the Danish cool slightly before serving warm or at room temperature for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a fruit variation, use seasonal berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or cherries according to availability and preference.
- Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature for easy mixing and a smooth filling.
- You can prepare these ahead of time and refrigerate before baking, but allow the puff pastry to come to room temperature before baking for optimal puff.
- Brush the fruit with jam right after assembling to keep the fruit glossy and prevent drying during baking.
- Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and facilitate cleanup.
