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Cheese Danish Delight Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 110 reviews

Cheese Danish Delight is a homemade pastry featuring a flaky, buttery dough filled with a smooth, sweetened cream cheese mixture. This classic Danish treat combines tender pastry layers with a rich, creamy filling, finished with a golden egg wash for a beautiful shine and crisp texture. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an indulgent snack.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1/4 cup cold water (gradually added)

Filling

  • 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Egg Wash

  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and cut it into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or your fingers until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  2. Form the dough: Gradually add cold water, about 1/4 cup, mixing gently until the dough just comes together. Avoid overworking it. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill.
  3. Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
  4. Roll and cut dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Cut the dough into approximately 4×4 inch squares.
  5. Make cheese filling: In a medium bowl, blend the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth and creamy.
  6. Assemble Danishes: Place a tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture in the center of each dough square. Fold each corner toward the center, forming a neat pocket, and pinch the edges to seal the filling inside.
  7. Apply egg wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the beaten egg and milk. Brush this egg wash evenly over each Danish to give them a golden and shiny finish when baked.
  8. Bake: Place the prepared Danishes on the lined baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they are puffed and golden brown.
  9. Cool and serve: Remove from the oven and allow the Danishes to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.

Notes

  • Use cold butter and cold water to ensure a flaky dough.
  • Be careful not to overwork the dough to keep the pastry tender.
  • Chilling the dough is crucial to make it easier to handle and to improve flakiness.
  • You can add a dusting of powdered sugar on top before serving for extra sweetness.
  • For variation, try adding lemon zest or a few drops of almond extract to the filling.
  • These Danish pastries are best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated gently before serving.

Keywords: Cheese Danish, Danish pastry, cream cheese filling, breakfast pastry, homemade Danish, flaky pastry, baked dessert

Find it online: https://dinewithdylan.com/cheese-danish-delight-recipe/