My easy cream cheese danish recipe is one of my favorite bakery style treats to make at home. Flaky puff pastry with a cream cheese center and topped with a simple powdered sugar glaze. An easy but special pastry that is great for a brunch, holidays, or weekend breakfast.

I am the person that can’t resist ordering a pastry every time I visit my local coffee shop. There is just something so good about a sweet and flaky treat with my cup of hot tea. This easy cream cheese danish recipe is the perfect way to recreate that bakery experience right at home.

Using store bought puff pastry dough is the secret to this simple recipe. It bakes up golden, flaky, with a delicious cream cheese filling and sweet glaze. It looks impressive but is surprisingly easy to put together.

This cream cheese danish using puff pastry is always a hit for a weekend brunch, holiday mornings, or an afternoon tea. Serve it alongside a hot cup of coffee or tea and you’ll feel like your sitting in your favorite coffee shop.

For more easy puff pastry recipes be sure to try this puff pastry pizza and cinnamon twists.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Easy ingredients. You will need just a few simple items to make this delicious pastry.
• Easy to make. This can be made with just a few steps in about 30 minutes.
• Customizable. Make this danish your own with some variation suggestions below.

Ingredients

You can make this cream cheese danish recipe with the help of boxed puff pastry sheets and a few other simple ingredients.

• Puff Pastry Dough: I find my puff pastry dough in the freezer section. Thaw it according to package directions but make sure to keep it cold until you are ready to assemble the danish.
• Cream cheese: Softened cream cheese is used to make the filling of the danish.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness to the filling.
• Vanilla extract: A little vanilla extract adds warmth to the filling.
• Egg yolk: This is used to set the cream cheese filling making it almost custard like.
• Egg wash: An egg wash helps the puff pastry become golden brown.
• Powdered sugar: Powdered sugar is used to make a glaze to drizzle over the danish.
• Milk: You can use milk or water to make the glaze.

How to make this cream cheese danish recipe

Scroll to the bottom for the full, printable easy cream cheese danish recipe.

Step one: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step two: Prepare the cream cheese filling by mixing together the cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla.

Step three: Cut each puff pastry dough into four squares. Place the squares on the baking sheets.

Step four: Fold each of the corners in to form an octagon shape. Pierce the dough with a fork.

Step five: Place about two tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture in the center of each danish. Brush the pastry with egg wash and then sprinkle with a little sugar.

Step six: Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the pastry turns golden brown.

Step seven: Whisk together milk and powdered sugar. Once the danish cools, drizzle the glaze over the tops of the danish.

Heather’s recipe tips

• Soften the cream cheese. This will help make it easier to mix and get a smooth filling.
• Use cold puff pastry dough. This will help make sure it puffs up nicely.
• Don’t overfill with the cream cheese mixture. Too much filling could spill over the pastry.
• Make sure to let the danish cool before adding the glaze.

Variations

• Fruit: Try topping the cream cheese filling with fresh berries. You can also make puff pastry with jam by adding fruit jam on top of the cream cheese before baking.
• Lemon: Add a little lemon zest and lemon juice into the cream cheese filling.
• Chocolate chip: Mix in mini chocolate chips into the cream cheese mixture.
• Cinnamon: Sprinkle a little cinnamon and sugar over the danish after baking.

Storage instructions

Store: Store any leftover danish in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Reheat: Reheat in the oven at 325 degrees for 5 minutes.

Freeze: You can freeze the danish for up to 2 months.

Frequently asked questions

More easy breakfast recipes

• Sausage and cream cheese bites
• Cinnamon roll casserole
• Copycat cini minis