This perfectly flakey cream cheese danish recipe is made with homemade puff pastry and a simple cream cheese + jam filling.
What is a cream cheese Danish?
A cream cheese Danish is made with homemade puff pastry and filled with a thick, custard-like cream cheese filling.
These danishes come out flakey on the outside and lusciously thick on the inside. They’re brushed with maple syrup, making them slightly sweet and so delicious.
Our signature cream cheese danish recipe can be made with your choice of jam to give them flavor and pizzaz.
Why you’ll love it!
- Homemade
- Slightly sweet
- Perfect for breakfast
- Show-stopping pastry
Featured Ingredients
Homemade Puff Pastry
Homemade puff pastry is such a fun thing to make. You only need a few ingredients:
- Flour
- Salt
- Butter
- Cold water
Cream Cheese Filling
The cream cheese filling is like a thick custard. Here’s what you need:
- Cream cheese powdered sugar
Other
You’ll also need a few other ingredients too:
- Maple syrup
- Water
- Jam
How to Cream Cheese Danish
Make Dough
Use a dough cutter to cut the butter into the flour until forms a crumble. Add the water and use a spatula to bring the dough together.
Use your hands to form a disc and then wrap it with plastic wrap.
Refrigerate
Chill dough for 1 hour.
Roll, Fold, & Refrigerate Again
Roll the dough out into a rough 12×12-inch rectangle and fold it in half. Roll the folded dough into another rough rectangle and fold again.
Continue this process until you have completed 6 folds. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours, or overnight.
Make Filling
Use a hand mixer to combine cream cheese and powdered sugar.
Roll & Cut Rectangles
Roll the dough into a 12×12-inch rectangle. Cut the pastry into 8 pieces. Roll up the sides to create a border around the edges.
Fill & Brush
Fill the center of each Danish with 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese filling and add optional jam for extra flavor.
Use a pastry brush to brush on maple syrup and water to the crust of the puff pastry.
Bake
Bake cream cheese danishes at 400ºF for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Top Tips
No pastry cutter?: If you do not have a pastry cutter, freeze the butter first, and then grate it into the flour.
Egg wash trick: We used real maple syrup for the crust wash. If you don’t have syrup, whisk one egg and brush that around the edges.
Cut a border: As an alternative to rolling the edges of the dough, use a sharp knife and cut a border about ⅛ inch around the portioned out danish. This allows the outer crust to rise during the baking process.
FAQ
What does a cheese danish taste like?
Cream cheese Danishes are like sweet hand pies or adult pop tarts. They are made with puff pastry and a custardy cream cheese filling.
Is the cheese danish at Starbucks cream cheese?
The cheese used in the cheese Danish at Starbucks is actually Neufchatel, which is a similar cheese to cream cheese.
Storage
Store leftover cream cheese danishes in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 3 days.
Cream Cheese Danish
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup cold water
- 8 oz. cream cheese softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon water
Optional
- ½ cup jam
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the flour, butter, and salt. Using a dough cutter, cut the butter into the flour until it is crumbly.
- Add the water to the flour mixture. Using a rubber spatula, bring the dough together forming a ball. If the dough is not quite forming a ball, you can use your hands to bring it all together. Form a disk with the dough and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Next, remove the dough from the fridge and lightly flour your work surface. Roll the dough out into a rough 12×12-inch rectangle and fold it in half. Roll the folded dough into another rough rectangle and fold again. Continue this process until you have completed 6 folds. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours, or overnight.
- While the dough is resting, make your filling. In a bowl add the cream cheese and powdered sugar. Using a hand mixer, whip together until cream cheese is smooth with no lumps.
- Preheat the oven to 400℉.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and lightly flour your work surface again. Roll the dough into a 12×12-inch rectangle. Cut the pastry into 8 pieces. Roll up the sides to create a border around the edges.
- Spread 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each of the danishes. If you would like to add jam, spread it on top of the cream cheese mixture.
- In a small bowl mix the maple syrup and water. Using a pastry brush, brush the syrup mixture around the outsides of the danish.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Tips & Notes
- If you do not have a pastry cutter, freeze the butter first, and then grate it into the flour.
- We used real maple syrup for the crust wash. If you don’t have syrup, whisk one egg and brush that around the edges.
- As an alternative to rolling the edges of the dough, use a sharp knife and cut a border about ⅛ inch around the portioned out danish. This allows the outer crust to rise during the baking process.
