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    The Cozy Plum » Recipes » Breads & Breakfasts

    Cream Cheese Cherry Danish with Puff Pastry

    Published: Mar 22, 2023 by Callan Wenner · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    341 shares
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    Jump to Recipe
    Sliced cherry danish on a cutting board.

    This Cream Cheese Cherry Danish with Puff Pastry is a surprisingly simple and impressive homemade treat! It has golden brown, flaky puff pastry dough filled with an almond-flavored sweet cream cheese mixture and cherry filling, and the sweet pastry gets topped with sliced almonds and almond glaze. This cherry cheese danish recipe is so easy to make thanks to two store-bought ingredients - puff pastry sheets and cherry pie filling. 

    Sliced cherry danish on a cutting board.

    If you love this cherry danish, you'll also want to try these fruit and cream cheese puff pastry danish for smaller, individual variations.

    The fruit danish pastry comes together in just a few minutes before getting baked into the perfect sweet for Christmas morning, a weekend brunch, Mother's Day, or Easter. It's a really versatile and easy recipe, and one of my favorite desserts. I like to display the whole danish kringle on a brunch or dessert table and then serve it in small pieces because it is very sweet and rich. Serve these danish pastries hot from the oven or at room temperature for brunch, along with your coffee, or as a dessert!

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • How to Make This Recipe
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Storage
    • More Breakfast Recipes You'll Love
    • 📖Recipe
    • Come Bake With Us!

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Semi-homemade - thanks to two store-bought ingredients, puff pastry and cherry pie filling, this danish braid recipe is mostly assembling the components, leaving most of the work to the oven.

    Cherry almond flavor - this flavor combination is a classic for a reason. Juicy cherry pie filling tops almond flavored cream cheese filling, creating a tart, sweet, and creamy puff pastry cheese danish.

    Buttery puff pastry - who doesn't love a crispy, golden puff pastry? It's much easier to use store-bought puff pastry than making a traditional danish dough, and there are lots of great frozen options at your local grocery store, and the result is flaky, brown goodness. You could also make your own homemade puff pastry recipe.

    Customizable - the base recipe of this danish puff recipe is perfect for variations and substitutions. Swap out the cherry almond filling with other pie fillings for endless riffs on this danish puff pastry.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for cherry cream cheese danish.
    • Puff pastry. Use one sheet of store-bought puff pastry or a homemade rough puff pastry.
    • Cherry pie filling. Canned pie filling is perfectly fine for this, though you can make your own cherry pie filling if you'd prefer.
    • Cream cheese. Use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese at room temperature. The Philadelphia brand is best.
    • Almond extract. This is added to the cream cheese danish filling to enhance the classic almond flavor.
    • Powdered sugar. Used for the finishing glaze on top of the pastry.
    • Sliced almonds. They add extra crunch and almond flavor to the cherry cheese danish.

    See recipe card for full ingredients list and quantities.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Substitute fresh fruit such as fresh raspberries for the cherry pie filling.
    • Try blueberry pie filling in place of cherry.
    • Swap strawberry pie filling for the cherry pie filling.
    • Make an apple version using apple pie filling instead of cherry.
    • Swap out crescent roll dough in place of the puff pastry for a doughier version.

    How to Make This Recipe

    A rolling pin rolls out puff pastry into a rectangle.

    One: Lightly roll out the puff pastry until it becomes a slight rectangle and is ⅛" thick.

    A cut a prepared danish base on a cookie sheet.

    Two: Cut the corners off of the top, and two triangles out from the bottom. Leave a strip in the middle of each side.

    Softened cream cheese and powdered sugar in a bowl.

    Three: Mix together the cream cheese, almond extract and powdered sugar until smooth.

    Cream cheese and cherry pie filling down the center of the puff pastry.

    Four: Spread the cream cheese down the center of the pastry, then top with cherry pie filling.

    Hot tip! Try to scoop out mostly cherries and leave the thickened sauce behind.

    Sides cut into strips around the filling.

    Five: Cut 1cm strips diagonally along each side, almost meeting the filling.

    Pieces of puff pastry criss crossed over each other to cover the filling.

    Six: Starting on one end, cross the strips over each other, alternating sides.

    A brush adds egg wash on top of the assembled danish.

    Seven: Brush the pastry braid completely with egg wash.

    Sliced almonds sprinkled on top of the pre-baked danish.

    Eight: Top the egg wash with sliced almonds. Bake completely until golden brown.

    Powdered sugar and milk glaze in a bowl.

    Nine: Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract.

    Sliced cherry danish on a cutting board.

    Ten: Allow the pastry to cool slightly, then drizzle over the glaze and slice into 1" pieces.

    Hot tip! Cut the pastry with a large chef's knife, pressing down and rocking back and forth to get clean slices.

    Expert Tips

    • Don't cut the strips in too close to the filling, leaving about a centimeter border, or it may leak out of the pastry and burn in the oven.
    • Refrigerate the whole thing for 15 minutes prior to baking if there is sticky dough or the pastry feels soft.
    • Bake until the pastry is very golden brown.
    • Wait at least 15 minutes to add the glaze or else it will melt off.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can you freeze a cherry danish?

    Preferably not. It is best enjoyed the day it is made.

    Is danish pastry the same as puff pastry?

    While similar, traditional danish pastry dough is a yeast-leavened dough while puff pastry simply uses flour and butter to create flaky layers.

    Why is the inside of my pastry not baked?

    The center of each pastry won't become totally crispy due to being adjacent to the filling. However, if it seems very raw, simply continue baking the pastry braid until is has become more cooked.

    Storage

    Store the cherry danish at room temperature for one day. This recipe does not hold up well to storage, so it should be enjoyed the same day it is baked.

    If desired, heat the danish in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer for a few minutes at 400℉ to re-crisp the puff pastry.

    A slice of cream cheese danish on a plate.

    More Breakfast Recipes You'll Love

    • Brioche Cinnamon Rolls
    • Strawberry Stuffed French Toast
    • Earl Grey Scones with Lemon Glaze
    • Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

    Did you make this recipe? Share it with us! Tag @thecozyplum on Instagram & Facebook and leave a star rating ⭐️ below!

    📖Recipe

    Sliced cherry danish on a cutting board.

    Cream Cheese Cherry Danish with Puff Pastry

    Callan Wenner
    This Cream Cheese Cherry Danish with Puff Pastry is a surprisingly simple and impressive homemade treat! It has golden brown, flaky puff pastry dough filled with an almond-flavored sweet cream cheese mixture and cherry filling, and the sweet pastry gets topped with sliced almonds and almond glaze.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Rest time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American, Danish
    Servings 12
    Calories 232 kcal

    Equipment

    • mixing bowl
    • Rubber spatula
    • Sheet pan
    • Parchment paper
    • Pastry brush

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 sheet puff pastry homemade or frozen
    • 4 oz cream cheese softened
    • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
    • ¾ cup cherry pie filling
    • 1 large egg whisked
    • 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoons milk
    • ¼ teaspoon almond extract

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 400℉ and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
    • Roll out the puff pastry slightly, making it into more of a rectangle than square, then transfer onto the pan.
      1 sheet puff pastry
    • Cut two small triangles out of one short end of the pastry, leaving a 3 inch section in the middle, and two one inch sections on each end. On the opposite end, cut off the corners match the center of the other side. See photo references in the blog post write up.
    • In a bowl, mix together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and almond extract, then spread it down the length of the pastry. Then, carefully add the cherries on top.
      4 oz cream cheese, ⅓ cup powdered sugar, ¼ teaspoon almond extract, ¾ cup cherry pie filling
    • Starting on one long side, cut a slightly diagonal slice almost meeting the filling, spacing each cut every 1cm. Repeat the same on the other side.
    • Starting with one end strip on the bottom, fold it over the filling, and do the same with the strip on the opposite side. Continue the entire way up the pastry until all strips are folded over.
    • Brush the pastry with the whisked egg to cover completely, the sprinkle with sliced almonds.
      1 large egg, 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
    • Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown and puffy. Cool for 15 minutes.
    • Mix together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract, then drizzle on top of the pastry.
      1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, ¼ teaspoon almond extract
    • Use a sharp knife to cut the pastry into 1 inch pieces, and serve. Enjoy slightly warm or at room temperature.

    Notes

    The pastry is best enjoyed the day it is prepared. If storing is necessary, store covered in the fridge for one day.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 232kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 90mgPotassium: 62mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 182IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
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      Comments

      1. Darlene

        March 29, 2023 at 4:29 pm

        5 stars
        I made this with homemade puff pastry and it is amazing!! Love the almond flavor added to the cream cheese and glaze! Super easy and delicious!

        Reply
        • Callan Wenner

          March 29, 2023 at 8:48 pm

          Oh yay!! So glad to hear this news - the almond flavor may actually be my favorite part!

          Reply

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      About Callan

      I'm Callan, and welcome to The Cozy Plum! A photographer and recipe developer of all things sweet, savory, and delicious, I help cooks and bakers of any level gain the confidence to create restaurant-quality recipes in their own kitchen!

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