Cheese Danish Delight
A flaky and delicious pastry filled with a sweet cream cheese mixture, perfect for brunch or a snack.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed Use cold butter for flakiness.
Filling Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened Keep smooth and not lumpy.
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg, beaten For the egg wash.
- 1 tablespoon milk Mix with the egg for wash.
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, and salt.
- Add the cold, cubed butter and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs using a pastry cutter or your fingers.
- Gradually add 1/4 cup of cold water and mix until the dough comes together; be careful not to overwork it.
- Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Baking
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut the dough into squares, approximately 4×4 inches.
- In a medium bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Place a tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture in the center of each dough square, then fold the corners of the square towards the center to create a pocket and pinch to seal.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the beaten egg and milk. Brush the egg wash over each Danish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Tips: Chill the dough if you get frustrated; it'll benefit from the coolness. Rotate the baking sheet halfway through if your oven is uneven. You can freeze extras or make mini versions, but beware as they disappear quickly!