Description
These Easy Cherry Cheese Danishes are a delightful and simple pastry treat combining flaky puff pastry with a creamy sweetened cream cheese filling topped with luscious cherry pie filling. Perfect for a breakfast pastry or an elegant dessert, these danishes are quick to assemble and bake, resulting in golden, flaky pockets bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Danish:
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup cherry pie filling
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Prepare the Puff Pastry: Cut the sheet of puff pastry into 4 equal squares. At each corner of the squares, make small cuts that will allow you to fold the pastry neatly around the filling.
- Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In a bowl, thoroughly mix the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy without lumps.
- Assemble the Danishes: Spoon a dollop of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each puff pastry square. Then, add a spoonful of cherry pie filling directly on top of the cream cheese layer.
- Fold and Seal: Lightly moisten the edges of the pastry squares with water to help them stick, then fold the corners inward towards the center to create a neat pocket that encases the filling.
- Bake: Place the assembled pastries on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the puff pastry is puffed up and golden brown.
- Dust with Powdered Sugar: Remove from the oven and let the danishes cool slightly before dusting them generously with powdered sugar. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened for easy mixing and a smooth filling.
- Use chilled puff pastry to make handling and folding easier.
- You can substitute cherry pie filling with other fruit fillings like blueberry, raspberry, or apricot.
- For a crispier crust, brush the folded pastries lightly with an egg wash before baking.
- Serve these danishes fresh for the best texture, though they can be reheated gently in the oven.
