Cream Cheese Danish, Cherry Danish Pastry

Cream Cheese & Cherry Danish Pastry is a delightful combination of buttery, flaky pastry, creamy cheese filling, and sweet, slightly tart cherries. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a special dessert treat, this Danish pastry recipe brings bakery-quality flavor right to your kitchen. Unlike store-bought versions, homemade Danish pastries allow you to control sweetness, use fresh ingredients, and create a pastry that looks and tastes as beautiful as it smells.

In this article, we’ll walk through the entire process of creating these irresistible pastries, from selecting the best ingredients to tips for perfect puffiness and golden layers.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup whole milk, warm
• ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 large egg

For the Cream Cheese Filling:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Cherry Topping:

• 1 cup fresh or frozen cherries, pitted
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)

For the Glaze (Optional):

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk and let it sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add cubed cold butter and cut it into the flour using a pastry cutter or fingers until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Stir in the yeast mixture and egg. Mix until a dough forms, being careful not to overwork it.
4. Shape the dough into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up the butter.

Step 2: Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling

1. In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
2. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Step 3: Prepare the Cherry Topping

1. In a small saucepan, combine cherries, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat for 5–7 minutes until cherries release juice.
2. If the mixture is too runny, mix cornstarch with a little water and stir in, cooking until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.

Step 4: Roll and Shape the Danish Pastry

1. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle about 12×8 inches.
2. Cut the dough into 6–8 rectangles (depending on preferred size).
3. Place a spoonful of cream cheese filling in the center of each rectangle. Top with a few cherries.
4. Fold the edges toward the center, leaving some filling exposed for a classic Danish look.

Step 5: Bake the Danish Pastry

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place Danish pastries on the sheet, leaving space between each.
3. Brush the edges with a little milk or beaten egg for a golden finish.
4. Bake 18–22 minutes, until pastries are puffed and golden brown.

Step 6: Optional Glaze

1. Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
2. Drizzle over cooled Danish pastries for extra sweetness and shine.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

• Let pastries cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.
• Serve warm or at room temperature alongside coffee, tea, or fresh juice.

Tips for Perfect Danish Pastry

• Keep ingredients cold: Cold butter ensures the pastry puffs beautifully.
• Don’t overmix dough: Overworking develops gluten, making Danish less tender.
• Chill before baking: Resting the shaped pastry prevents shrinking.
• Use fresh cherries when possible: Frozen works too but drain excess liquid to avoid soggy pastry.
• Optional egg wash: Gives a beautiful golden sheen and helps pastry layers separate nicely.

Variations

• Apricot Danish: Swap cherries for fresh apricot slices.
• Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish: Use fresh or frozen blueberries instead of cherries.
• Chocolate Danish: Add chocolate chips or a drizzle of melted chocolate over cream cheese filling.
• Nutty Twist: Top with sliced almonds or crushed pistachios before baking.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve as a decadent breakfast treat with a hot cup of coffee or latte.
• Perfect for brunch gatherings or holiday mornings.
• Pair with fresh fruit salad for a lighter contrast.
• Can be wrapped individually and frozen for later use; warm in oven before serving.

Fun Facts / Cultural Context

Danish pastries, known as “Danishes” in many parts of the world, actually have roots in Vienna, Austria. Danish bakers adopted the Vienna puff pastry technique in the 19th century, giving rise to the modern Danish pastry filled with creams, fruits, or nuts. Traditionally enjoyed with morning coffee, the Danish pastry has evolved into countless variations around the globe, but the classic cream cheese and fruit combination remains a favorite for its perfect balance of creamy, sweet, and slightly tart flavors.

Storage Tips

• Store baked Danish pastries in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• Refrigerate if storing longer; bring to room temperature or lightly reheat before serving.
• Freeze unbaked pastries for up to 1 month; bake directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to baking time.

Recipe Notes

• You can adjust sugar levels in the cream cheese filling or cherry topping to taste.
• If the pastry dough feels too sticky, add a tablespoon of flour at a time while rolling.
• For extra flakiness, consider laminating the dough with additional butter layers, similar to puff pastry technique.

Cream Cheese & Cherry Danish Pastry

A buttery, flaky Danish pastry filled with creamy cream cheese and topped with sweet cherries.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 22 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 7 minutes mins

Servings: 6 pieces

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Autumn

Calories: 320

Ingredients

  

Dough

• 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• 0.25 cup granulated sugar
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.5 cup whole milk warm
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter cold, cubed
• 1 egg large

Cream Cheese Filling

• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 0.25 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cherry Topping

• 1 cup cherries pitted
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp cornstarch optional, for thickening

Glaze (Optional)

• 0.5 cup powdered sugar
• 1-2 tbsp milk
• 0.5 tsp vanilla extract

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Baking sheet
• Wire rack
• Hand mixer or stand mixer

Method

 

1. Dissolve yeast in warm milk and let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
2. Combine flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Add yeast mixture and egg to flour mixture; mix until dough forms.
4. Cover dough and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
5. Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth for filling.
6. Cook cherries with sugar and lemon juice until softened; thicken with cornstarch if needed.
7. Roll dough into rectangle and cut into 6-8 pieces.
8. Place cream cheese filling and cherries in center of each piece and fold edges toward center.
9. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 18-22 minutes until golden.
10. Mix glaze ingredients and drizzle over cooled pastries if desired.

Notes

Store Danish pastries in an airtight container or freeze unbaked for later baking.