Strawberry Danishes with Cream Cheese (Printable Version)
Buttery puff pastry filled with sweetened cream cheese and fresh strawberries, baked until golden and finished with optional vanilla glaze.
# Ingredient List:
→ Pastry
01 - 1 sheet puff pastry (approximately 8 oz), thawed
→ Cream Cheese Filling
02 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
04 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
05 - 1 tsp lemon zest
→ Strawberry Topping
06 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
07 - 1 tbsp granulated sugar
08 - 1 tsp lemon juice
→ Egg Wash
09 - 1 egg
10 - 1 tbsp milk
→ Glaze
11 - ½ cup powdered sugar
12 - 1-2 tsp milk
13 - ¼ tsp vanilla extract
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon zest until smooth and creamy.
03 - In another bowl, toss sliced strawberries with sugar and lemon juice. Set aside to macerate.
04 - Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 8 equal squares.
05 - Place each square on the prepared baking sheet. Score a smaller square inside each, being careful not to cut through the dough completely.
06 - Spoon about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese filling into the center of each square, spreading gently within the scored area.
07 - Arrange a few strawberry slices on top of the cream cheese filling.
08 - In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. Brush the pastry edges lightly with the egg wash.
09 - Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed.
10 - Let danishes cool slightly. For the glaze, mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth, then drizzle over cooled danishes if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between shatteringly crisp pastry and cool creamy filling is absolutely worth the effort
- They look impressive enough for brunch but come together faster than you would expect
02 -
- Working quickly with cold puff pastry is the difference between flaky layers and flat disappointment
- Do not be tempted to overfill the pastries because the filling will bubble over and create a sticky mess
03 -
- Freeze your puff pastry for 15 minutes before cutting to get the cleanest edges
- A light dusting of turbinado sugar on the pastry edges before baking creates extra crunch