Hold onto your hats because this super simple Cream Cheese Danish is about to blow you away! It may look like a fancier dessert or breakfast, but it’s actually one of the easiest things to whip up. All you need is a few simple ingredients and you’re in business!
This sweet treat is the perfect addition to any brunch, bridal shower, holiday breakfast, and everything in between. Yes, that even means breakfast! Who says you can’t start the day off with a little sweetness?
Cream Cheese Danish Basics
This recipe is made from a handful of simple ingredients that you more than likely have on hand already!
The Secret Ingredient
Lean in close, because you’re not going to want to miss this. You ready? CRESCENT ROLL DOUGH is our secret ingredient! That’s right! It’s flaky and soft yet holds its shape enough to support the filling. It’s also what makes this recipe so darn easy! If you’re up to the task, feel free to make the dough from scratch.
Cream Cheese Filling
When it comes to the filling, you want something that’s soft and pillowy, but not gooey. We achieve this by adding flour to stabilize the filling, and we sweeten it all by tossing in some sugar. Vanilla extract is also used to add a subtle depth of flavor. While it doesn’t seem like it adds much, take it from us… it does!
Icing
We use a simple glaze made from powdered sugar, heavy cream, and more vanilla extract! You may be tempted to skip the glaze, but we’re here to talk you out of that decision! It’s the final touch to this sweet masterpiece.
How to Make These Cream Cheese Danishes
There are a variety of ways to make danishes, but we opted to make individual pieces. To assemble, you shape the dough, add a dollop of filling, bake, and glaze. For full details on how to make these, see the printable recipe card below. But let’s walk you through it for now-
Prep the Dough
Open your tubes of dough, leaving the the crescents in triangles. Pinch the seams together. Using a knife or pastry cutter, divide each rectangle into four strips. Gently twist each strip into a loose rope and then roll into a rosette shape.
Make the Cream Cheese Filling
Press the middle of the rosette down and make an indent with your thumb. This will be where the filling sits! In a bowl, combine the filling ingredients, and then add a tablespoon of filling to each little rosette.
Bake
Preheat your oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place rosettes on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Lightly brush with melted butter and bake until golden brown. Drizzle with the glaze fresh out of the oven!
Make-Ahead
Even though these come together relatively quickly, there are times when you need to make them ahead to save time. Don’t worry, here’s how you do it:
Follow the directions as normal, but stop before baking! Clear a space in your fridge, then cover the entire baking sheet with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for up to two days. When you’re ready to bake, pull it out of the fridge and bring to room temperature. Then bake as you normally would!
Storage and Refrigeration
If, by chance, there are any leftovers, place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to a week! These aren’t store-bought danishes where they can sit out forever. These are the real deal and don’t have any crazy preservatives, so in the fridge they go!
Variations
While this recipe is delightful on its own, there are times when you need to jazz it up. Here’s some easy ways to do just that:
- Swirl in some jam into the filling. Think blackberry, raspberry, blueberrr, or even apricot!
- Drizzle melted Nutella over the filling before baking.
- Sprinkle the filling with cinnamon before baking.
- Add a dollop of lemon curd.
Other Cream Cheese Based Desserts
If you happen to make this recipe, we’d love to see it! Go ahead and tag us on Instagram @bestdessertrecipes.
Cheers, friends!
Cream Cheese Danishes
Ingredients
- 2 cans crescent roll dough
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 TBSP flour
- 2 TBSP butter, melted
Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4 TBSP heavy cream
- splash vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Open both cans of crescent dough and roll out into rectangles. Pinch the dotted seams together.
- Using a pastry cutter or knife, divide each rectangle into 4 strips.
- Twist each strip gently. Starting at one end, gently roll into a rosette shape.
- With your thumb, press down the center of each rosette, creating a well for the filling.
- Using a hand mixer, combine cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, and flour in a medium bowl. Place 1 TBSP of filling into the middle of each rosette.
- Place rosettes on baking sheet about 2 inches apart, and then brush with melted butter. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden. While danishes are baking, whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, and splash of vanilla. When danishes are done baking, drizzle icing over each danish. enjoy!
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