Crispy Strawberry Cream Cheese Danish Delight
A quick and easy homemade Danish pastry featuring flaky puff pastry, creamy tangy cream cheese filling with vanilla and lemon zest, topped with fresh strawberries and strawberry preserves. Perfect for breakfast or brunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Total Time: 25-28 minutes
- Yield: 12 pastries 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 sheets puff pastry (thawed if frozen)
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 small lemon
- 1 cup (about 150 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 tbsp strawberry jam or preserves
- 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tbsp coarse sugar (optional, for sprinkling on top)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract and lemon zest, mixing until combined. Set aside.
- Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Cut each sheet into 6 equal squares (about 4×4 inches each).
- Place a heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture in the center of each pastry square. Top with 2-3 slices of fresh strawberry and about 1/2 teaspoon of strawberry jam.
- Gently fold opposite corners of each square towards the center, pressing lightly to seal but leaving the filling exposed.
- Brush the edges of each pastry with the beaten egg. Sprinkle coarse sugar on top if desired.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown, checking after 12 minutes to avoid burning.
- Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to set.
Notes
If cream cheese is too soft, chill for 10 minutes before assembling. Be gentle folding puff pastry to avoid tearing. Keep puff pastry cool before baking to maintain flakiness. Apply egg wash only to edges to prevent browning the filling. Check pastries frequently near end of baking to avoid burning. Let pastries cool slightly before serving to allow filling to set.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pastry
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 200
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
Keywords: strawberry danish, cream cheese danish, puff pastry dessert, breakfast pastry, easy danish recipe, homemade danish, brunch recipe