Strawberry Cream Cheese Danish (Printable View)
Golden pastries with creamy filling and fresh strawberries, baked to a tender, flaky perfection.
# Ingredient List:
→ Pastry Components
01 - 1 sheet (17.3 oz) frozen puff pastry, thawed
02 - 1 large egg, beaten for egg wash
→ Cream Cheese Filling
03 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
04 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
05 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Strawberry Filling
06 - 4 tablespoons strawberry preserves or jam
07 - 6 fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced (about 3.5 oz)
→ Vanilla Glaze
08 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar (about 2 oz)
09 - 1-2 tablespoons whole milk
10 - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - Lightly flour your work surface and unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet. Using a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 16 heart shapes. Place 8 solid hearts on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart.
03 - Take the remaining 8 hearts and use a 2-inch heart cutter to remove the centers, creating heart-shaped frames. Reserve the small cutout hearts for baking separately as bonus treats.
04 - Brush the edges of the solid hearts on the baking sheet with the beaten egg. Carefully place the heart frames on top, aligning edges and pressing gently to seal.
05 - In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat with a fork or electric mixer until completely smooth and creamy.
06 - Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of cream cheese filling into the center of each heart cavity. Top with 1/2 tablespoon strawberry preserves and arrange 2-3 thin strawberry slices on top.
07 - Lightly brush the exposed pastry edges with remaining egg wash. Bake for 16-18 minutes until deeply golden and puffed. The pastry should feel crisp and the filling bubbly.
08 - Let the danishes cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes while you prepare the glaze. Whisk powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and vanilla until smooth. Add remaining milk if needed to reach drizzling consistency.
09 - Drizzle the vanilla glaze over the cooled danishes in a decorative pattern. Serve warm or at room temperature. Best enjoyed within 4 hours of baking.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- They look impressive but take less than an hour from start to finish
- The combination of tangy cream cheese and sweet strawberry is absolute perfection
02 -
- If your pastry gets too warm and sticky while working, pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes
- Don't overfill the pastry or the filling will spill over during baking
03 -
- Use a sharp cutter and press straight down without twisting to keep the pastry layers defined
- For extra shine, brush the baked danishes with warmed apricot jam before adding the glaze