Description
A delightful Cheese Danish filled with creamy lemon-flavored filling.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package (13-17 ounces) puff pastry (thawed if frozen)
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 large egg yolk (for filling)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ cup powdered sugar (sifted)
- 1 large egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 cup powdered sugar (sifted)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (+ more if needed)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, mix 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 large egg yolk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, ½ teaspoon lemon zest, and ¼ cup powdered sugar with a handheld mixer on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Unroll the puff pastry and place it onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Lightly roll out the puff pastry just to remove lines from the packaging. Spread cream cheese filling down the center of the puff pastry, in about a 2 to 3-inch wide section. If you are adding any toppings to the cheese danish, add to the top of the cream cheese mixture at this time.
- Cut ½-inch diagonal strips up each side of the dough and then fold those pieces over the filling, alternating sides to resemble a braided pattern. Tuck any excess dough under the ends to seal the danish. Pop the baking tray into the fridge to let the danish chill while the oven preheats.
- Preheat oven to 400℉ (200℃).
- Once the oven is preheated, mix together 1 large egg with 1 tablespoon water. Remove the pastry from the refrigerator and brush the exposed puff pastry with the egg wash.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for at least 10 minutes before glazing.
- For the glaze, whisk 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice until smooth. You want the mixture to drizzle slowly off a fork. Add 1 tablespoon more powdered sugar at a time to thicken or ½ teaspoon more lemon juice to thin.
- Drizzle the lemon glaze over the cooled Cheese Danish. Let the glaze harden for 5-10 minutes and then slice and serve.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened for best mixing results.
- Chilling the danish before baking helps to maintain its shape.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 danish