These delectable easy cream Cheese Danish are made easy with ready-made crescent roll dough, a five-ingredient cream cheese filling, and a two-minute glaze. Making fresh bakery Danish pastry has never been quicker or easier.
Super Easy Cheese Danish
Impress your friends and family with this simple yet delicious cheese Danish recipe. With just a few ingredients and easy steps, you’ll have a homemade pastry that will rival any bakery! I love to make these pastries for Sunday breakfast and holiday brunches. Everyone loves them, and they are always a huge hit.
Easy Ingredients for Cheese Danish
- Cream cheese – full fat
- Granulated sugar
- Lemon juice – preferably fresh
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract – the pure stuff
- Crescent roll dough – refrigerated in the tube and ready to bake like Pillsbury.
- Powdered sugar – also known as confectioners’ sugar
How to make Cheese Danish
Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, blend the cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Then, set it aside for a few minutes.
Open the crescent roll dough and separate it into 8 rectangles of 2 triangles each. Using your fingers, pinch the perforations closed. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 1-inch by 8-inch (or the length of the dough) segments. Grab each end and twist in the opposite direction. Now, lay it in a spiral on a parchment-covered baking sheet. Repeat until all the dough is twisted and spiraled.
Using your thumb, gently press down on the center of each one, creating a little well. Then, scoop a heaping spoonful of the cream cheese mixture onto the dough spirals. Using a fork, lightly beat the egg and water together. Using a small pastry brush, lightly brush the exposed dough with the egg wash. Don’t let the egg wash puddle up. Bake in a preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until the dough is puffed up and browned.
Mix the powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla in a small bowl until smooth. Use a fork or a piping bag to drizzle the icing over the pastries.
Beth’s Recipe Tips
- Soften the cream cheese by removing it from the refrigerator about 45 minutes before starting the recipe.
- Place the crescent rolls still in their packaging in the freezer for about 15 minutes before starting the recipe. This makes the dough easier to work with and does not freeze it.
- For an over-the-top taste treat, top with jam, preserves, or pie filling like blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do your best to pinch the perforations closed on the dough, but if it breaks while you are twisting and forming the Danish, then pinch the broken pieces back together and continue with the recipe.
The cream cheese mixture in the middle of the cheese Danish is very similar to that of a cheesecake, which requires refrigeration. Once the Danish is thoroughly cooled, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To warm, place the Danish on a baking sheet in a 350-degree oven for about 5 minutes or until warm.
If longer-term storage is desired, then freeze them. Cool them thoroughly, then place the Danishes in a single layer with space between them on a parchment-covered baking sheet. Place the baking sheet on a flat surface in the freezer. This process is known as flash freezing. Once frozen, transfer them to a heavy-duty freezer container. When ready to eat, remove the desired amount from the container and defrost in a single layer in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
More Sweet Treats
Cheese Danish Recipe
Ingredients
Cheese Danish
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tubes crescent roll dough
Egg Wash
- 1 egg room temperature
- 1 tablespoon cool water
Vanilla Icing
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ -2 tablespoon heavy cream or milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, blend the cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy; set aside.
- Open the crescent roll dough and separate it into 8 rectangles of 2 triangles each. Using your fingers pinch the perforations closed. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 1-inch by 8-inch (or the length of the dough) segments. Grab each end and twist in the opposite direction. Lay it in a spiral on a parchment-covered baking sheet. Repeat until all the dough is twisted and spiraled.
- Using your thumb, gently press down on the center of each one creating a little well. Scoop a heaping spoonful of the cream cheese mixture into the wells of the dough spirals.
- Using a fork, lightly beat the egg and water together. Use a small pastry brush to lightly brush the exposed dough with egg wash. Don’t let the egg wash puddle.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until the dough is puffed up and browned. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing to cooling racks.
- Allow to fully cool. In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla until smooth. Use a fork or a piping bag to drizzle the icing over the pastries. Store the danish in the fridge.
Notes
- Soften the cream cheese by removing it from the refrigerator about 45 minutes prior to starting the recipe.
- Place the crescent rolls still in their packaging in the freezer for about 15 minutes before starting the recipe. This makes the dough easier to work with and does not freeze it.
- For an over-the-top taste treat, top with jam, preserves, or pie filling like blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry.
Nutrition
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Ben B
Oh, man these are good! I get cream cheese danish every time I go to the store, so it’s so awesome to be able to make them fresh at home.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ben! So glad that you enjoyed them!
Sandy Lee
These are delicious and so fancy! I made them over the weekend for a party and everyone loved them! They’re so good!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Sandy Lee! So glad that you liked them!
Aurora
Tried the Cheese Danish recipe this morning, and wow, what a treat! They turned out so flaky and creamy. Pairing them with my morning coffee was pure bliss.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Aurora!
Erin S
Just made this for breakfast, and my family and friends were impressed! This recipe is a keeper for sure!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Erin! So glad that you liked the cheese danish!
Babette Price
I LOVE CREAM CHEESE DANISH and these are so good and easy to make!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Babette! So happy that you liked them!
Christiana Acha
This was absolutely yummy and tasty. Thanks for sharing such a great recipe!
Claudia
This Cream Cheese Danish is indeed delectable. Everyone loved them!
Rosey
I have purchased something similar in the grocery store. I have never tried to make them at home. I bet they are delicious.
Beth Pierce
Yes they really are! You should try them.
Cinny
I’m a huge an of danishes! I have never tried to make one though; might have to give it a try
Heather
Funny story… growing up, my family owned a deli. Every morning we would put out the fresh danishes and the cream cheese danishes always made me turn up my nose as a kid. These days, they are one of my favorites. I wish I had given them a chance back then!
Beth Pierce
That is funny. Our taste buds change so much over time.
Ayesha
Mouth watering and so good. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Sandra
This is such an amazing breakfast idea!! My kids loved it! Thanks!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Sandra! So glad that they liked it!
Erik
Such a fun breakfast treat! Love that you can freeze them, too.
Krystle
These are my weakness. Love using the crescent rolls super tasty and easy shortcut.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Krystle!! Yes the crescent rolls really speed up the process and they are so tasty!
Erin
I want a least a dozen of these soon!
Patricia
How amazing! These are perfect for a special breakfast or brunch, without a lot of prep time.
Beth Pierce
Yes indeed and so yummy!