Ingredients
Scale
For the Pastry
- 1 sheet of puff pastry (store-bought, thawed)
- 1 tablespoon of flour (for dusting the work surface)
For the Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream (optional, for creamier filling)
For the Cherry Topping
- 1 cup fresh cherries, pitted and halved (or 1/2 cup cherry preserves)
- 1 tablespoon sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (to balance the sweetness)
For the Egg Wash
- 1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon of water
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare Your Baking Sheet
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the Danishes from sticking during baking. This will make cleanup so much easier! - Prepare the Puff Pastry
Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. You want to make sure the pastry is smooth and even. If you’re using store-bought puff pastry, it usually comes in squares, so cut it into 8 equal squares for individual servings. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even go for triangles or circles, but squares are just the easiest and quickest option. - Make the Cream Cheese Filling
In a medium-sized bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream (if using). Use a hand mixer or whisk to blend everything until smooth and creamy. Taste the filling—if you like it sweeter, you can add a little more powdered sugar to suit your taste. - Assemble the Danishes
Take each puff pastry square and create a border by gently scoring a line about 1 inch from the edge of the pastry. This will help the filling stay inside while the pastry puffs up.
Spoon about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese filling into the center of each square, spreading it evenly within the scored border. - Prepare the Cherry Topping
If you’re using fresh cherries, pit and halve them. If you’re using cherry preserves, you can simply spoon about a tablespoon on top of each Danish. If using fresh cherries, you can sprinkle a tiny bit of sugar on them if you’d like them sweeter. Also, squeeze a little lemon juice over the cherries to brighten their flavor. - Egg Wash
Brush the edges of the puff pastry with the beaten egg wash. This will give your pastries a golden, shiny finish once baked. The egg wash also helps seal in the cream cheese filling while it bakes. - Bake the Danishes
Place the assembled Danishes on the prepared baking sheet and bake them in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden and puffed up, and the filling is slightly set. Be sure to check the pastries around the 20-minute mark to avoid over-baking. - Let Cool and Serve
Once the Danishes are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool for about 5 minutes. The filling will be hot, so be careful when you take your first bite! These are best enjoyed warm, but they also taste great at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 15g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Protein: 4g