Cream Cheese Danish Recipe

Mak Erot

3 min read

·

Apr 07, 2025

26

Share

Cream Cheese Danish: A Step-by-Step Guide to Bakery-Style Perfection

Are you dreaming of that flaky, buttery, and incredibly delicious cream cheese danish you get from your favorite bakery? Well, dream no more! This comprehensive guide will walk you through creating these delectable pastries from the comfort of your own kitchen. Forget about store-bought – this recipe delivers that authentic bakery taste and texture you crave, guaranteed to impress your family and friends.

Ingredients You'll Need:

This recipe breaks down into two main parts: the dough and the filling. Let's start with the dough, a crucial component for achieving that signature flaky texture:

• For the Dough:
  • 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, very cold and cubed
  • ½ cup (120ml) ice water

Next, we'll prepare the luscious cream cheese filling:

• For the Cream Cheese Filling:
  • 8 ounces (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Making the Perfect Danish Dough: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a great Danish pastry starts with the dough. Follow these steps for optimal results:

1. Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
2. Cut in Butter: Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Work quickly to keep the butter cold.
3. Add Ice Water: Gradually add the ice water, mixing until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overmix.
4. Chill the Dough: Form the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step allows the gluten to relax and the butter to firm up, contributing to flakiness.

Preparing the Irresistible Cream Cheese Filling:

This recipe's creamy filling is simple yet incredibly flavorful:

1. Cream Together: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy.
2. Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.

Assembling and Baking Your Cream Cheese Danish:

Now for the fun part – assembling your delicious pastries:

1. Roll Out the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a 12x18 inch rectangle.
2. Spread the Filling: Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border.
3. Roll and Cut: Tightly roll the dough from the long side into a log. Cut the log into 1-inch thick slices.
4. Arrange and Bake: Place the slices cut-side up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Tips for Cream Cheese Danish Success:

• Use Cold Ingredients: Cold butter and ice water are key to achieving a flaky dough.
• Don't Overmix: Overmixing develops the gluten, resulting in a tough dough.
• Chill the Dough: Chilling allows the gluten to relax and the butter to firm up, contributing to a flaky texture.
• Don't Overbake: Overbaking will dry out the pastries.

Elevating Your Cream Cheese Danish: Serving Suggestions

These delightful pastries are delicious on their own, but you can elevate them further! Serve them warm with a dusting of powdered sugar, a drizzle of glaze, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra decadent treat.

This detailed guide provides everything you need to create amazing cream cheese danishes at home. Enjoy the process and the delicious results! Remember to share your baking creations – we'd love to see your beautiful, homemade cream cheese danishes!