This easy-to-make, flaky, apple cream cheese puff pastry recipe is filled with sweet cream cheese and apple filling. It is a delicious puff pastry recipe that is great for breakfast, brunch, a midday snack, or a light dessert, especially when served warm.
I’m a big fan of pastries. I buy them almost every time I go shopping at our local grocery store. We have an amazing bakery section, and the pastries I get there are just as good as anything you’ll find at a bakery. As much as I love the pastries at my store, sometimes it can be hard to find them at their freshest. We all know how stores work. Pastries are made one day and then sold for the next three days. No matter how good a pastry is, by the time you get into the third day, it’s not going to be super fresh. It might even be a little stale. That’s why I love making my own pastries. I’ve been doing it for years, and one of my favorite variations are these little squares that I make with puff pastry, apple filling, and cream cheese filling.
Apple Cream Cheese Puff Pastry
These delicious pastries start with refrigerated puff pastry to keep things easy. Then, I make a simple apple pie filling and a sweet cream cheese filling. I added them both and bake my pastries up to golden, delicious perfection. What I end up with is a flaky, tender, golden brown puff pastry with a sweet and tangy filling that explodes with classic pastry flavor in every bite.
Why You’ll Love These Apple Puff Pastries
- They’re delicious, flaky, and filled with sweet cream cheese and apple filling, then baked to golden perfection.
- They’re a perfect fall dessert recipe using simple ingredients.
- They are also great for making year-round.
- And, they’re a family favorite apple pastry recipe.
Apple Puff Pastry Tips and Variations
This recipe is incredibly easy, but I do have some tips to help you make them the best that they can possibly be. I also have some wonderful variations that I think you’re going to love.
Tips
- Always cook your apple filling over low heat. You want it to come to temperature slowly so everything gets nice and tender.
- Be sure your cream cheese is fully softened to achieve that perfect, fluffy texture.
- Remember, golden brown should be more golden than brown. If your pastries are brown, they’re overdone.
Variations
- Make any fruity filling you like. Any berries, pineapple, peaches, plums, and the like all work well.
- Serve these pastries with a small bowl of glaze on the side for dipping!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have questions about these puff pastries with apples, then read on. The following FAQ answers the most commonly asked questions about this recipe.
What are the best baking apples?
There are several apples that work very well for baking.
- Granny Smith
- Jonagold
- Honeycrisp
- Braeburn
- Mustus
- Pink Lady
- Cortland
- Jonathan
- Northern Spy
What makes a pastry a Danish?
While pastry and Danish tend to be used interchangeably, they’re different. A Danish rises due to yeast, while a pastry is made with puff pastry which rises due to the steam released from the layers of dough.
Do cream cheese Danishes need to be refrigerated?
Even though the cream cheese is baked, pastries and Danishes made with cream cheese still need to be refrigerated.
Can you freeze apple and cream cheese Danishes?
Absolutely. They’ll last for about two weeks in the freezer.
How to Store Cream Cheese Apple Pastries
Store them in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to a week.
Apple Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make these easy apple pastries. You’ll find everything you need easily at your local grocery store.
- Granny smith apples
- Water
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Cinnamon
- Lemon juice
- Cream cheese
- Egg yolk
- Vanilla extract
- Large egg
- Powdered sugar
- Puff Pastry
How to Make Apple Cream Cheese Puff Pastry
You’ll only need a few minutes and a few steps to make this recipe.
Step 1: Make the Apple Filling
Bring water, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice to a boil over low heat in a medium saucepan, stirring constantly. Continue to boil for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce thickens. Then, add the apples, stir, and let them simmer for 8 to 10 minutes.
Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Mixture
Beat the cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl for 2 to 3 minutes until fluffy. Then, add the sugar, egg yolk, vanilla, and lemon juice and beat for another 2 minutes.
Step 3: Make the Egg Wash
Whisk the egg and water together in a small bowl and set aside.
Step 4: Make the Squares
Roll out the seams of the puff pastry dough on a lightly floured surface and cut in half lengthwise. Using a knife, cut each strip into 3 equal pieces for a total of 6 pastries per sheet. Then, fold each of the 12 sheets into a triangle and make a cut about ½ inch from the two sides, making sure not to cut all the way to the tip of the triangle. Finally, unfold the triangles and fold one side over the other and the other side back over to the opposite side.
Step 5: Add the Filling
Add a spoonful of cream cheese mixture and a spoonful of apple filling to the center of each pastry.
Step 6: Bake
Place the pastries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then brush the edges with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar if desired. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Once pastries are cool, drizzle with glaze. Enjoy!
Try These Apple Cream Cheese Puff Pastries Today
These delicious apple puff pastries are easier to make than you’d think and so delicious. They’re the perfect sweet breakfast, snack, or addition to any potluck. Give them a try, and I know you’ll find yourself making them again and again. It doesn’t get much better than this combo of sweet flavors, ease, and simplicity.
More Delicious Pastry Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Peach Cream Cheese Danish – Fresh peaches and a sweet cream cheese mixture, wrapped up in a flaky pastry crust. A delicious sweet treat for breakfast.
Apple Cinnamon Hand Pies – A simple and easy way to make individual serving desserts. This flaky pie crust is filled with homemade apple pie filling. They’re sooo delicious!
Cherry Cream Cheese Danish – Another rendition of fruit filled Danish, but these are made with tart cherries and a sweet cream cheese mixture.
And, try this Blueberry Pastry from Great Grub, Delicious Treats. This recipe is so simple, it takes on three ingredients and tastes like it came straight out of a bakery.
Apple Cream Cheese Puff Pastry
Ingredients
For the Apple Filling
- 4 large Granny Smith apples, peel, core and chop into small pieces.
- 1 ½ cups water
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
For the Cream Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 box Puff Pastry sheets
For the Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
For the Glaze Drizzle
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° and line a baking sheet(s) with parchment paper. Set aside.
For the Apple Filling
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, bring water, cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice to a boil, stirring constantly.
- Continue stirring for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens up.
- Once the sauce has thickened, add apples, stir and let simmer for 8-10 minutes.
For the Cream Cheese Mixture
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add sugar, egg yolk, vanilla, lemon juice and beat for an additional 2 minutes.
For the Egg Wash
- In a small bowl, whisk egg and water together until combined. Set aside.
Making the Pastries
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out seams of pastry dough and cut dough in half lengthwise. Then cut each strip into three equal pieces (for a total of 6 pastries per sheet.
- Fold each of the 12 sheets into a triangle. Make a cut about ½ inch from the two sides but do not cut all the way to the tip of the triangle.
- Unfold each triangle and fold one side over to the other side and the other side back over to the opposite side.
- Add a spoonful of cream cheese mixture and a spoonful of apple filling into the center of each pastry.
- Place on the prepared baking sheet. Brush edges of pastry with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, if desired, and bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden.
For the Glaze Drizzle
- In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar, milk and vanilla together until combined.
- Drizzle over pastries once cool.
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