Cheese Danishes

Breakfast pastries are the perfect opportunity to eat something sweet for breakfast. But if you also want a touch of savory, a cheese Danish fits the bill. Sure, you could grab a Danish at the local bakery or coffee shop, but homemade pastries are always better.

Our cream cheese Danish recipe creates a fluffy golden dough enriched with butter, eggs and milk. The center is filled with a dollop of sweetened cream cheese, and you can add more toppings if desired.

Although they take some planning—the dough requires a long proof, up to 24 hours, for the best flavor—once baked, they’re ideal treats for breakfast on the go or for a special brunch. This cream cheese Danish recipe will give tips and tricks for making a batch of these tasty breakfast pastries at home.

What is a Danish?

The original Danish pastry is from Denmark, but it’s popular worldwide. Danishes require an enriched or laminated dough, often topped with sweetened cheese fillings, fruits, jams, glazes, icings or confectioners’ sugar. Sweetened cream cheese usually fills a Danish cheese pastry so it’s sweet and a bit tangy. Adding flavorings, like almond extract or lemon extract, is common.

Ingredients for Cheese Danishes

TASTE OF HOME

• Yeast and warm water: Active dry yeast helps the Danish dough rise, but you need to proof or activate it in warm water. This helps wake the yeast from its dormant state and provides moisture in the dough.
• Flour: All-purpose flour gives the dough structure. Remember that flour can go bad, so check the best-by date.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar adds a touch of sweetness to both the dough and the filling.
• Salt: Although classified as a sweet pastry, salt is still needed in the dough to balance the flavor.
• Butter: Cold, cubed butter is cut into the dough to enrich it, giving the dough a tender texture and flakiness.
• Milk: Just 1 cup 2% milk moistens the dough. If preferred, you can use whole milk instead.
• Eggs: Four large egg yolks give the Danish dough a rich flavor and texture. Use the remaining egg whites for an egg wash to produce a golden brown appearance on the Danishes.
• Cinnamon: A small amount of cinnamon adds a warm spice flavor to the dough.
• Cream cheese: A cream cheese Danish wouldn’t be a cream cheese Danish without the cream cheese. To make mixing easier, soften the cream cheese at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
• Maple syrup: Brush each baked Danish cheese pastry with maple syrup for a glossy appearance and a touch of sweetness.

Directions

Step 1: Activate the yeast

TASTE OF HOME

In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. In another bowl, mix the flour, sugar and salt.

Editor’s Tip: If you don’t know how to proof yeast, it’s simply activating the yeast so it comes alive to help the dough rise.

Step 2: Form the dough

TASTE OF HOME

Cut the butter into the flour mixture until crumbly. Add the milk, egg yolks and yeast mixture to the flour mixture. Stir to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). Cover the dough and refrigerate for 8 to 24 hours.

Editor’s Tip: Proofing the dough in the refrigerator slows down the rise, allowing the flavors to develop more.

Step 3: Portion the dough

Punch down the dough and divide it into four equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, pat each portion into a 9×4-inch rectangle. Sprinkle each section of dough with 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon.

Step 4: Shape the Danishes

TASTE OF HOME

Cut each rectangle lengthwise into four 9×1-inch strips. Twist each strip, then loosely wrap it around itself to form a coil. Tuck the end under and pinch to seal. Place the Danishes 3 inches apart on greased baking sheets.

Step 5: Make the filling

TASTE OF HOME

Beat the cream cheese, sugar and egg yolk until smooth.

TASTE OF HOME

Press an indentation in the center of each roll and fill it with 1 rounded tablespoon cream cheese mixture. Cover the Danishes and let them rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes until doubled. Preheat oven to 350°F.

Step 6: Bake the Danishes

TASTE OF HOME

Whisk the egg whites with water to make an egg wash. Brush it over the dough. Bake the Danishes for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. Remove them to wire racks and brush them with maple syrup. Serve warm.

TASTE OF HOME

Cheese Danish Variations

• Use puff pastry: Not interested in making your own dough? Skip that step by making puff pastry Danishes. Cut rectangles of puff pastry, place them on a baking sheet and add the cream cheese filling. Bake until golden for a flakier Danish cheese pastry.
• Try another filling: Cream cheese Danishes are such a treat, but you could switch up the flavor. Use a fruit filling in place of the cream cheese mixture, or try adding 2 teaspoons of your favorite jam or fruit filling in addition to the cream cheese.
• Add a glaze: The maple syrup gives a touch of sweetness and a shiny finish on top. Prefer a glaze? Go for it! Combine a mixture of confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extra or almond extract, and milk until smooth, as we do for these cherry Danishes. Drizzle the glaze over the baked treats.
• Top with berries: Blueberries, blackberries and strawberries pair wonderfully with a cream cheese filling. Add a few fresh berries on top of the filling before baking the cream cheese Danish recipe for a pop of color and flavor.

How to Store Cheese Danishes

Cream cheese Danishes are best enjoyed fresh and warm. However, if you do have extras, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

How long do cheese Danishes last?

Stored in the refrigerator, a leftover Danish cheese pastry will last up to five days. When you want to enjoy another Danish, take it out of the fridge and bring it up to room temperature.

Can you freeze cheese Danishes?

Freeze these cheese Danishes for a quick treat any time. Wrap each individually in storage wrap and place the Danishes in a freezer-safe airtight bag. Store the Danishes in the freezer for up to two months. Thaw them at room temperature to enjoy again.

Cheese Danish Tips

TASTE OF HOME

Why didn’t my cheese Danish dough rise?

Danish dough should rise first in the fridge and again once the Danishes have been formed. If the Danishes don’t rise, dead yeast is most likely the culprit. When you activate the yeast in warm water, be sure to check if it is foamy and bubbling—that’s a sign it is waking up from its dormant state and ready to get to work.

Do you have to soften the cream cheese for a cheese Danish recipe?

A key to smooth filling is smooth cream cheese. To ensure you don’t have any unwanted lumps in the center of your Danish, let the cream cheese soften fully at room temperature.

What else can you serve with cheese Danishes?

A Danish cheese pastry makes for a wonderful breakfast treat. Serve the cream cheese Danishes warm on their own, paired with fresh fruit or included in a beautiful brunch spread with savory items such as a Denver omelet bake or a ham and cheese frittata.