Homemade Cheese Danish

Here’s a delicious, bakery-style recipe for Homemade Cheese Danish — flaky, creamy, and surprisingly easy to make!

---

Homemade Cheese Danish

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 18–22 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 8 danishes

---

Ingredients:

For the Danish:

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 egg yolk (for filling)
• 1 egg (for egg wash)
• 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)

Optional Glaze:

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tablespoons milk
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

---

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven:
   • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
   • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Make the Cream Cheese Filling:
   • In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and egg yolk until smooth and creamy.
3. Prepare the Puff Pastry:
   • Unfold the puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface.
   • Cut into 8 equal squares or rectangles.
4. Shape the Danishes:
   • Place the squares onto the prepared baking sheet.
   • Fold the edges of each square slightly inward to form a small border.
   • Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each square.
5. Brush with Egg Wash:
   • Beat the whole egg with 1 tablespoon water.
   • Brush the edges of the puff pastry with the egg wash for a golden finish.
6. Bake:
   • Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until the pastries are puffed and golden brown.
7. Make the Glaze (Optional):
   • Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
   • Drizzle over cooled danishes.
8. Serve:
   • Enjoy fresh! They’re best the day they’re made.

---

Tips:

• Don’t overfill the center or it can spill out while baking.
• Room temperature cream cheese makes the filling smoother.
• Add fruit! Top with a few berries or jam before baking for fruity cheese danishes.

---

Do You Need to Refrigerate Cheese Danish?

✅ Yes, because Cheese Danish contains a cream cheese filling, it should be refrigerated to keep it safe and fresh.
Leaving them out at room temperature for more than 2 hours isn’t recommended due to the dairy content.

---

How to Store Cheese Danish:

In the Refrigerator:

• Let the danishes cool completely after baking.
• Place them in an airtight container or wrap tightly with plastic wrap.
• Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

To Reheat:

• Warm in the microwave for about 10–15 seconds or in a 300°F (150°C) oven for about 5 minutes to bring back the flaky texture.

---

In the Freezer:

• You can also freeze Cheese Danishes!
• Wrap individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag.
• Freeze for up to 2 months.
• Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently before serving.

---

Quick Tip:

• If you’re serving them at a brunch or party, you can leave them out for about 1–2 hours, but after that, pop them back into the fridge to keep the filling safe and fresh.

---