Danish Pastries with Cream Cheese & Cherries Recipe
Delight in these flaky Danish pastries filled with creamy sweetened cream cheese and juicy cherries, perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack. Featuring golden, puff pastry squares folded into elegant shapes and dusted with powdered sugar, this recipe brings a bakery classic into your home kitchen with simple ingredients and straightforward preparation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 pastries
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Danish
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
Cream Cheese Filling
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Fruit
- 1 cup frozen cherries, thawed and drained
For the Pastry Finish
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and creamy to create the filling.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet to smooth edges. Cut the sheet into 8 equal squares, reserving any remaining pastry for decorations if desired.
- Assemble Pastries: Place a spoonful of the cream cheese mixture in the center of each puff pastry square. Top with a few of the thawed and drained cherries for a sweet, tart contrast.
- Shape Pastries: Fold the corners of each puff pastry square toward the center, overlapping slightly to form a pinwheel or diamond shape. Press gently to seal edges and, if you have extra puff pastry, cut and add decorative leaf shapes on top of the pastries.
- Apply Egg Wash: Brush the beaten egg over the edges and surface of the pastries to achieve a shiny, golden finish during baking.
- Bake Pastries: Transfer the assembled pastries to the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the pastries are puffed up and golden brown.
- Cool and Garnish: Allow the pastries to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar before serving to add a touch of sweetness and enhance presentation.
Notes
- Ensure the puff pastry is well thawed to avoid cracking when folding.
- Use fresh cherries if available, but frozen and thawed work well after draining excess liquid.
- For extra decorative flair, shape reserved puff pastry into leaves or other motifs before baking and lightly attach on top with a bit of water or egg wash.
- The egg wash not only helps browning but also helps decorations stick to the surface.
- Serve pastries warm or at room temperature for the best texture and flavor.
