Description
An easy and elegant bakery-style danish made with a puff pastry shortcut, a sweet cream cheese filling, and a fresh strawberry topping.
Ingredients
Scale
→ For the Strawberry Filling:
- 1 cup sliced strawberries (about 4 oz)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
→ For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 oz. block cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ For the Danish & Assembly:
- 2 sheets of all-butter puff pastry, thawed
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water (for egg wash)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, for sprinkling
→ For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Make Fillings: In a small saucepan, cook the strawberries, cornstarch, and 1 tbsp sugar over medium heat until thickened into a jammy compote. Cool completely. In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese, ½ cup powdered sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla until smooth.
- Prep Pastry: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment. Unfold puff pastry sheets and cut each into 4 rectangles.
- Shape: Place rectangles on the baking sheet. Score a ½-inch border inside each rectangle, not cutting all the way through. Prick the center with a fork.
- Fill & Bake: Spread the cream cheese filling inside the scored border of each pastry. Top with the cooled strawberry filling. Brush the borders with the egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
- Bake: Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and golden brown. Let cool slightly on the pan.
- Glaze: While the danishes cool, whisk together the glaze ingredients (1 cup powdered sugar, milk, ½ tsp vanilla) until smooth. Drizzle over the warm danishes. Serve warm.
Notes
- Keep Pastry Cold: Work with your puff pastry while it is still cold from the refrigerator for the best, flakiest layers.
- Cool Fillings: Ensure both the cream cheese and strawberry fillings are cool before adding them to the cold pastry.
- Don’t Overfill: A small amount of filling goes a long way and prevents a soggy center.
- Best Eaten Fresh: These danishes are at their absolute best the day they are baked.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Pastry
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Danish-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Danish
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: Strawberry Danish