Description
This Easy Breakfast Cheese Danish Recipe features a flaky, golden pastry filled with a creamy sweetened cream cheese mixture. Perfect for a delightful morning treat, these danishes are made from either crescent roll dough or puff pastry, topped with a simple glaze and optional fresh berries or fruit preserves for added flavor and color.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
Pastry
- 1 package (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent roll dough or puff pastry sheet
- 1 egg (beaten, for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon water
Glaze
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 teaspoons milk
Optional Toppings
- Fresh berries or fruit preserves
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare cream cheese filling: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and optional lemon juice until smooth and creamy.
- Prepare dough: Unroll the crescent roll dough and press seams together to form a single rectangle. If using puff pastry, lightly roll it out into a rectangle.
- Cut and score dough: Cut the dough into 4 or 6 equal rectangles. Score a smaller rectangle inside each piece, being careful not to cut all the way through to create a border that will puff up around the filling.
- Add filling and fruit: Spoon a tablespoon of the cream cheese filling into the center of each piece and spread gently within the border. Top with a few berries or a dollop of fruit preserves if desired.
- Apply egg wash: In a small bowl, whisk the egg and water together. Brush the edges of each danish with this egg wash to ensure a golden brown finish.
- Bake: Bake the danishes for 15–18 minutes or until they are puffed and golden brown.
- Cool and glaze: Let the baked danishes cool slightly. Mix powdered sugar and milk to create a glaze, then drizzle it over the cooled pastries.
- Serve: Enjoy the danishes warmed or at room temperature for a delicious breakfast treat.
Notes
- These danishes can be made ahead and reheated in the oven for a fresh, quick breakfast.
- Customize the filling with chocolate chips, cinnamon-sugar, or different fruits to suit your taste.
- Use puff pastry for a flakier, more buttery texture; crescent roll dough gives a softer pastry.
- The optional lemon juice adds a slight tang that balances the sweetness but can be omitted if preferred.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
