Mini Cheese Danish: Easy Flaky Pastry Delight Recipe
These Delicious Mini Cheese Danish are easy to make at home using store-bought puff pastry and a creamy sweet filling. Flaky on the outside and rich with cream cheese inside, they make a perfect breakfast treat or dessert. Finished with a simple powdered sugar glaze, these Danish pastries are a delightful and impressive homemade pastry snack.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 Mini Cheese Danishes 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry
- 1 package Puff Pastry (store-bought, thawed)
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar (can substitute with sugar alternative)
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract (pure extract recommended)
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice (optional)
Egg Wash
- 1 beaten Egg (can be replaced with milk)
Glaze
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 tbsp Milk (dairy-free options available)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Unfold the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut it into 3×3 inch squares to form the base for each Danish.
- Make Cheese Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and optional lemon juice. Stir or beat until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Assemble Danishes: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each pastry square. You can fold the corners of each square toward the center to create a closed shape or leave them open-faced to expose the creamy filling.
- Apply Egg Wash: Brush the edges of each pastry square with the beaten egg to give a shiny golden finish after baking.
- Bake: Place the assembled pastries on the lined baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until they turn golden brown and puffed.
- Cool: Remove the mini cheese Danish from the oven and let them cool slightly on a wire rack to set before glazing.
- Prepare Glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until the glaze is smooth and pourable.
- Glaze the Danish: Drizzle the prepared glaze over the slightly cooled Danish for added sweetness and shine.
- Serve: Serve the Mini Cheese Danish warm alongside coffee or tea for a delightful treat.
Notes
- For a dairy-free version, use a dairy-free cream cheese alternative and a non-dairy milk for glaze.
- The lemon juice is optional but adds a nice brightness to the cheese filling.
- If you prefer, leave the Danishes open-faced or fold the corners for a different look.
- To substitute the egg wash, you can brush with milk or melted butter for a slightly different browning effect.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat gently before serving.
Keywords: Mini Cheese Danish, puff pastry dessert, homemade Danish recipe, cream cheese pastries, easy breakfast pastry
