Description
Delight in the heavenly taste of our Deliciously Flaky Cheese Danish, a gourmet pastry that elevates any breakfast or brunch occasion. This recipe features a buttery, flaky exterior encasing a rich, creamy filling made from smooth cream cheese and a hint of lemon zest, creating a perfect harmony of flavors. Ideal for sharing with family and friends, these danishes are not only visually impressive but also surprisingly easy to make. Customize them with your favorite toppings like fresh berries or fruit preserves for an added burst of flavor. Whether you’re hosting a special gathering or enjoying a cozy morning at home, this cheese danish recipe is sure to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (500g) all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup (75g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp (10g) active dry yeast
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, warm
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp (250g) cold unsalted butter, for laminating
- 7 oz (200g) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
- 1 cup (100g) powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp milk or lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Fruit preserves
- Fresh berries
- Sliced almonds
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
- In another bowl, mix warm milk with active dry yeast; let it foam for 5–10 minutes.
- Add the egg and yeast mixture to the dry ingredients; knead until smooth (6–8 minutes). Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Prepare the butter block: pound cold unsalted butter into an 8-inch square between parchment paper; chill until firm.
- Roll out the dough into a 16-inch square, place the butter in the center, fold over corners to seal. Roll into an 8×24-inch rectangle; fold like a letter and chill for another 30 minutes. Repeat twice more.
- Roll final dough to 1/4-inch thickness; cut into squares and fill each with cream cheese filling made from mixing softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and optional lemon zest.
- Shape danishes as preferred; let rise on baking sheets for an hour before baking at 390°F (200°C) for 15–20 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool completely and drizzle with glaze made from whisking together powdered sugar and either milk or lemon juice.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Gourmet
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cheese danish (85g)
- Calories: 327
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 197mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: <1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 42mg