Indulge in the sweet delight of homemade cream cheese berry Danish pastries, where flaky puff pastry wraps around a zesty citrus-infused cream cheese mixture, topped with a colorful medley of mixed berries. The crowning glory is a generous dollop of creamy frosting on each Danish. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or satisfying your sweet tooth, these treats will transport you to a world of pure delight. And the best part? They’re just as scrumptious as those freshly baked pastries from your favorite bakery. With this recipe, you’ll also want to try other morning favorites like carrot cake slow cooker oatmeal, homemade granola, and mermaid blue smoothie bowls – or perhaps our berry cheesecake puff pastry tarts for a sweet surprise.
Why You’ll Love It
Indulge in the delightful Danish delight, boasting a creamy cream cheese filling and succulent berries that will tantalize your taste buds. While it may require a few more steps than usual, the process is hardly challenging as long as you maintain a tidy kitchen and follow the instructions carefully. A perfect breakfast treat, these pastries are sure to satisfy sweet-tooths and keep well for a few days, allowing you to enjoy one each morning with ease.
How to Make a Cream Cheese Danish Recipe
To begin with the preparation of your cream cheese berry Danish pastries, start by thawing the puff pastry dough on the countertop for half an hour. Next, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Meanwhile, combine room temperature cream cheese with brown sugar, white granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons of orange juice in a bowl until smooth. For the fruit filling, mix together berries, jam, orange juice, and cornstarch. Once you have your ingredients prepared, it’s time to work on the puff pastry dough. Unfold the dough and roll it out with a rolling pin to create three pieces that are 3 1/2 to 4 inches wide. Slice each piece into long strips using a pizza cutter and then score a border around each strip with a knife. To give your pastries a golden brown finish, whisk together an egg with some milk or water and use a pastry brush to apply the egg wash along the borders of the dough. Assemble the pastries by spreading softened cream cheese mixture onto each piece of dough, followed by the fruit filling, leaving some of the cream cheese visible. Place the pastries on the prepared baking sheet, spaced apart from one another, and bake for 15 minutes or until they are golden brown at the edges and puffy. Once baked, allow the pastries to cool for 5 minutes before drizzling with a mixture of powdered sugar, butter, orange juice, and salt. Use a frosting bag or Ziploc bag to apply the frosting in a back-and-forth motion, creating a drizzly effect.
Substitutions and Variations
For those with dietary restrictions, consider opting for gluten-free dough to create a version that accommodates your needs. When it comes to berries, feel free to get creative and use one type or a mix of your favorite varieties. Additionally, you can substitute the orange juice for lemon or lime juice, offering a unique twist on the original recipe.
How to Store Berry Danishes
When it comes to storing and reheating these treats, there are a few things to keep in mind. Freshness is key, so if possible, try to consume them within a day or two of baking. If that’s not feasible, they can be stored in an airtight container for up to 48 hours without sacrificing too much quality. If you need to freeze them, make sure it’s within a two-week window, as the quality will start to decline after that. To thaw frozen treats, simply leave them overnight in the refrigerator. When reheating, a quick 15-second blast in the microwave is usually sufficient to warm them up and restore their original texture.
Top Tips
To ensure a seamless baking experience, consider preparing individual components ahead of time. The cream cheese filling, fruit filling, and frosting can be made the day prior to assembly, as long as they’re stored in separate, airtight containers. When it comes to the frosting, if you find it’s too thin, don’t worry! Simply add small increments of powdered sugar until the desired consistency is reached. Lastly, while these treats do retain their freshness for a couple of days, they truly shine when served fresh from the oven – so be sure to indulge in them as soon as possible.
Cream Cheese Berry Danish FAQs
When it comes to preparing the cream cheese berry Danish recipe, a crucial question arises: how many fresh oranges do you need? The answer is straightforward – just one or two oranges will be sufficient. Now, let’s move on to another pressing concern: what to use in place of a piping bag or Ziploc bag for frosting the Danishes. While these tools are ideal for this task, there’s an alternative approach. Simply spoon the frosting over the pastries and you’ll achieve the same great results. But how can you be sure when the Danishes are fully cooked? The answer is simple: they’re done when the edges turn a golden brown hue and the pastries have puffed up to perfection. This baking time typically ranges from 15 to 18 minutes, so keep an eye on them as they cook.
Cream Cheese Danish with Berries Recipe
Cream Cheese Berry Danish
Indulge in the irresistible charm of cream cheese berry Danishes, reminiscent of freshly baked treats from your favorite bakery. With a prep time of just 30 minutes and a cook time of 15 minutes, you can satisfy your cravings in no time. This recipe yields six delectable pastries, perfect for sharing or savoring on your own.
Instructions
To begin, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and let it warm up while you prepare the pastry puff. Remove the frozen pastry from its package and place it on the countertop for 30 minutes to thaw out. Meanwhile, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to make cleanup easier. In one bowl, combine softened cream cheese, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed orange juice. Use a fork to mix everything until smooth and set it aside for now. In another bowl, combine diced strawberries, blueberries, strawberry jam, 1 tablespoon of orange juice, orange zest, cornstarch, and set it aside as well.Once the pastry puff has thawed, unfold it onto a lightly floured surface to prevent sticking. Use a rolling pin to roll out each section of dough until it’s around 3 1/2 to 4 inches wide. Be careful not to roll it too thin, or the pastry will lose its signature puffed texture. Next, use a pizza cutter to slice along the folded lines and then add another cut in the middle to create six rectangular Danish pastries. Trim any rough edges with the pizza cutter if needed.Next, score a 1/2-inch border around each piece of dough using a knife. This will help contain the filling later on. In a small bowl, whisk together an egg and milk or water for the egg wash. Apply this mixture to the borders of the dough using a pastry brush.To assemble the Danish, spread 1 tablespoon of cream cheese filling onto the center of each piece of dough, leaving a border around the edges. Then, use the same spoon to scoop out some of the prepared fruit filling and spread it lightly within the border, making sure to leave some cream cheese visible.Place the assembled Danishes onto the baking sheet, leaving some space between each one. Put the baking sheet in the oven on the middle rack for 15-18 minutes or until the pastries are evenly puffed and the edges are golden brown. While they’re baking, mix together powdered sugar, butter, orange juice, and salt to create a delicious frosting. Place this mixture into a frosting bag or Ziploc bag with the corner cut off.Let the pastries cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before frosting them with the bagged frosting in a back-and-forth motion. You can also use a spoon to drizzle it on if you prefer.
Notes
To ensure a seamless baking experience, consider preparing key components ahead of time. The cream cheese filling, fruit filling, and frosting can be made the day before, as long as you store them in separate, airtight containers to maintain their quality. When it comes to the frosting, be prepared to make adjustments if needed – simply add powdered sugar gradually until the desired consistency is achieved. Ultimately, these delightful treats are best savored fresh from the oven, although they do retain their flavor and texture for a day or two.