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Deliciously Seasoned

June 26, 2021

Cherry Cream Cheese Danish

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This Cherry Cream Cheese Danish is a delicious summer dessert recipe that is easy to make, filled with a smooth cream cheese mixture and a sweet fresh cherry filling and then finished with a lovely glaze. It’s a delectable dessert that comes together quickly and satisfies even the largest sweet tooth! 

Two slices of Cherry Cream Cheese Danish on a white plate stacked on top of each other with a white oblong plate in the background with more slices of the Danish on it.

I love danish and other pastries. Their flaky, buttery crusts and rich, sweet fillings have always satisfied my sweet cravings. So of course, when I started cooking, one of the first things I did was seek out pastry recipes. Wow. They can be complicated. I’m no stranger to involved recipes, and I don’t really mind them. BUT… I don’t want to have to slave away all day in the kitchen every time I want a homemade pastry. 

Two puff pastries filled with cream cheese and cherries that has been baked and is still on the baking sheet before being drizzled with glaze.

Cherry Cream Cheese Danish

I love making homemade recipes as much as the next cook, but there are times when it just makes more sense to go with a semi-homemade approach. That’s the case with this delicious Cherry Cream Cheese Danish. Rather than slaving for hours in the kitchen, combining layers of dough with butter and doing all the other minutia that goes into making homemade puff pastry, I simply buy it from the store. It cuts of tons of time, and really, it’s just as good. 

As for the rest of this delicious cream cheese and cherry dream… Well, it’s all homemade from there. Homemade and holy cow is it easy! Both the cream cheese mixture and the cherry filling only take a few ingredients to make, but when your guests taste it, they’ll think it took hours of prep. This combination of amazing flavor and ease of preparation makes this cherry cream cheese danish perfect for everything from weeknight desserts and afternoon snacks to a beautiful addition to potluck and holiday tables. 

I make this fast, easy danish recipe at least once a month, sometimes far more than that if I’ve been really having an itch for pastry deliciousness. It’s just so delicious and easy, I can never see a reason NOT to make it whenever the mood strikes me. 

Two Cherry Cream Cheese Danish puff pastries white plates before being sliced and served.

Tips

This is just about the simplest pastry recipe you’ll ever make. However, as with many simple things, there are little things to know that help translate the recipe to the table in the way you expect. These are simple tips that will really help you get the most out of this recipe. 

Adding the Filling

Be sure to let the cherry filling cool completely before adding it on top of the cream cheese filling. This is an important step. If you had the cherry filling while it’s hot, the cream cheese mixture will immediately begin to melt and spread, making it impossible to braid the top of the danish. 

A Cherry Cream Cheese Danish on a white plate that has been sliced showing the flaky layers and inside filling.

Cutting the Puff Pastry

When cutting the puff pastry for braiding at the end of the recipe, be sure not to cut too close to the filling. If you cut too closely, the filling will dribble out as the pastry cooks. I find it easiest to put the filling on the prepared pastry that I’ve rolled out and then use that as a guide for how long to cut the edge pieces. 

Braiding the Top of the Danish

When it’s time to braid the puff pastry strips to complete this cherry cream cheese danish, be sure to wet the ends with a bit of water. This ensures that the pastry dough will stick and remain in place as the pastry bakes up. 

A super close up photo of two slices of Cherry Cream Cheese Danish stacked on top of each other showing the cream cheese and cherry filling.

Variations

This recipe is the perfect base for making any sort of easy fruit danish you’d ever want to try. The variations are only limited by your imagination. Simply use the cream cheese mix recipe and the store-bought puff pastry as described in the recipe, but switch up the fruity filling portion. Almost any kind of fruit will work for this filling. Some great options to consider include:

  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Peaches
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries

The above choices are my personal favorites because they’re some of the most classic danish flavors. But if you’re feeling super adventurous, you can try anything you want. 

P.S. If you try something really out there, I’d love to hear about it!

A slice of Cherry Cream Cheese Danish with a bite taken out being held up to show the filling, with cherries and more slices in the background.

Serving Cherry Cream Cheese Danish

As with any good pastry, all you need to serve this is a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. It already has a rich, sweet filling and a lovely vanilla glaze, so there’s no need to top it with anything. It’s one of those sweet recipes that stands up without any sort of topping at all. 

I love to serve this simple danish as a sweet breakfast, afternoon snack, dessert at dinner time and even at potlucks and holiday get-togethers. Of course, if I bring them to potlucks, I’ll make three of four of them because they go so fast!

Storing the Danish

You can store this cherry cream cheese danish in the refrigerator in an air-tight container fro three to four days. However, be absolutely sure that you use an AIR-TIGHT container. When pastries are refrigerated without a tight seal, their quality is drastically reduced. To serve, simply heat your danish slices up in the microwave and enjoy!

Cherry Cream Cheese Danish – The Pastry You’ve Always Needed

You just didn’t know it. And here’s why. It’s SO ridiculously easy. That’s in addition to being absolutely delicious. This recipe comes together so quickly, and it tastes just like you made every single part of it from scratch. With a combination like that, there’s no reason not to make it again and again and again. And I guarantee that’s exactly what will happen if you try it just one time. Easy plus delicious equals the best pastry recipe you’ll ever make. Give it a try!

A double collage photo of Cherry Cream Cheese Danish slices on a white plate with the title of the recipe in the center of the photo.

Cherry Cream Cheese Danish Ingredients

  • Fresh cherries
  • Sugar
  • Lemon juice
  • Cornstarch
  • Water
  • Cream cheese
  • Vanilla
  • Powdered sugar
  • Milk or heavy cream
  • Egg
  • Puff pastry sheets

How to Make Cherry Cream Cheese Danish

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Prep

Preheat oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Step 2 – For the Cherry Filling

In a small saucepan, over low heat, add cherries, sugar, lemon juice, water, and cornstarch until sugar has melted and sauce has thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.

Step 3 – For the Cream Cheese Filling

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth and then add in sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla. Beat until well combined.

Step 4 – Assembling the Danish

On a lightly floured surface, unroll a pastry and roll dough to seal the seams. Place dough on prepared baking sheet and add half of the cream cheese mixture down the center.

Step 5 – Folding the Danish

Cut two slits at each end of the pastry, about 1 inch long and fold over the top of the filling and secure. Cut off the top and bottom side pieces at an angle and continue to make the cuts in the pastry.

Step 6 – Adding Cherry Filling

Once cherry filling has cooled, add half of the cherry filling on top of the cream cheese.

Step 7 – Folding the Pastry

Once the ends are secured over the filling, fold each piece over each other like a braid and then secure.

Step 8 – Baking the Danish

Brush with egg wash and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Step 9 – Making the Glaze

In a small bowl, mix together powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream until blended. When Danish is pulled form oven, let cool, and then drizzle with glaze. Slice and enjoy.

Try This Delicious Pastry Today

A 3 collage photo of Cherry Cream Cheese Danish on a white plate with the title of the recipe at the top of the photo.

Here are a few more dessert recipes that you might enjoy:

  • Maple Cinnamon Rolls
  • Homemade Honey Buns
  • Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding
  • And delicious Apple Fritters

And here is a delicious Easy Cherry Cobbler from Great Grub, Delicious Treats we think you’ll enjoy too!

Cherry Cream Cheese Danish

An easy and delicious Cherry Cream Cheese Danish recipe that is sure to please and is super easy to make.
Print Pin
Course: brunch, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cherry Cream Cheese Danish, Cherry Danish, Cream Cheese Danish, Danish
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8
Author: Deliciously Seasoned

Ingredients

For The Cherry Filling

  • 2 cup fresh cherries, rinsed, pits removed, cut in half
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoon water
  • 1-2 tablespoon corn starch, start with one tablespoon

For The Cream Cheese Filling

  • 8 ounce cream cheese
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

For The Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoon heavy cream or milk

For The Puff Pastry

  • 1 box puff pastry sheets, (2 sheets) room temperature
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

For The Cherry Filling

  • In a small saucepan, add cherries, sugar, lemon juice, water and cornstarch. Stir;
  • Heat over low heat until sugar has melted and sauce has thickened.
  • Remove from heat and let cool

For The Cream Cheese Filling

  • In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth, about 2 minutes.
  • Add sugar, lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until well combined.

Assembling The Danish

  • Unroll puff pastries and on a lightly floured surface, gently roll dough to seal the seams.
  • Place dough on prepared baking sheet and add ½ of the cream cheese mixture down the center of the pastry leaving 1½ inch free from filling at both ends.
  • Cut two slits at each end of the pastry about 1 inch long and fold over the top of the filling and secure to prevent mixture from leaking out.
    Next cut off the top and bottom side pieces at an angle (see photo) and continue to make cuts into the pastry along each side making sure not to cut too close to the filling.
  • Once cherry filling has cooled, add ½ of the cherry filling on top of the cream cheese. Repeat steps for the second puff pastry sheet.
  • Once the ends have been secured over the filling, start folding each piece over each other like a braid and secure.
  • Brush with egg wash and bake for 25-30 minutes.

For The Glaze

  • In a small bowl, add powdered sugar, vanilla and heavy cream. Stir until blended.
  • Once Danish is pulled from the oven and has cooled a bit, drizzle glaze over the top of both pastries, slice and enjoy!

Here are two pictures that are the perfect size to pin to your favorite Pinterest boards.

A photo of a Cherry Cream Cheese Danish right after it has been sliced and placed on a white plate.
Two slices of Cherry Cream Cheese Danish on a white plate with two cherries in front and more slices and cherries in the background.

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Comments

  1. Peggy Suda says

    June 29, 2021 at 2:52 pm

    Confused as to how many this makes. 8 servings , picture shows two pastry’s but recipes only states making one until you get to spreading on the filling. Are you suppose to split the pastry into two ? Says to bring to room temperature and roll out? Is the box of pastry suppose to be divided into two?

    • deliciouslyseasoned says

      July 07, 2021 at 12:16 pm

      Hi Peggy, the puff pastry box contains two. The directions are clarified so they are easier to understand. Thank you so much. We based the serving size on 2 slices per serving with a total of 8 servings. 🙂

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  1. Frozen Raspberry Dessert Recipe - Deliciously Seasoned says:
    July 17, 2021 at 10:43 am

    […] Cherry Cream Cheese Danish […]

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Hi and welcome to Deliciously Seasoned! We are Halie and Nikki, the faces behind Deliciously Seasoned, along with our mom, Terri, owner of Great Grub, Delicious Treats. We have been working full time with our mom and wanted to start another food blog. We are so happy you have stopped by and hope you enjoy all of our recipes.

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Join Deliciously Seasoned and get great recipes in your inbox!

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  • Air Fryer Tacos with Ground Beef
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