Easy Cherry Danish With Puff Pastry

Name: Easy Cherry Danish With Puff Pastry
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 sheet puff pastry; 225 g cream cheese; 1 1/2 cups cherry pie filling; 1/2 cup icing sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 egg (, for the egg wash)

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This quick and easy Cherry Danish with puff pastry is the sweetest yet simplest version of Danish pastry you can ever muster and make at home.

Additionally, this recipe may not be as intricate as its original counterpart, but you are assured that the taste and texture do not compromise!

Using buttery puff pastry, this danish fills a pastry shell with sweetened cream cheese and cherry pie filling. With that said, you could only imagine the combination of the mild taste of the puff pastry and then the exploding fruity sweetness combination of cream cheese and cherry pie filling.

This danish is a perfect dish to complement a cup of black coffee on a cold rainy morning. The simplicity of this food really highlights its sweetness that would awaken your system when you are feeling lazy and a bit musty on cold December days. And yes, indeed, it is true that Cherry Danish is simple and easy to make for the whole family that it could fit into any day of the family's lives.

But it does not mean that you can no longer have this pastry on a special occasion. Christmas is just around the corner, and you will be glad to hear that Cherry Danish suits the holiday theme with its reddish toppings. Serve this danish in the morning of Christmas day while you and your family sit around the Christmas tree opening gifts and sharing lighthearted laughs.

The Origin of Danish Pastry

A Danish pastry, which is frequently referred to as just Danish, is a sweet pastry that is fruitfully sweetened and baked in the European tradition.
Originally introduced to Denmark by Austrian bakers, the notion has subsequently evolved into a national specialty. Around Denmark, in 1850, a strike by bakery employees is widely believed to have given birth to the Danish pastry.

Following the strike, bakery owners were forced to hire workers from overseas, including some Austrian bakers, who brought with them new baking traditions and pastry recipes from their home country. Soon after the labor dispute ended, Danish bakers began using the Austrian recipe for the original pastry and adapting it to their tastes and customs by increasing amounts of egg and fat, for example. The Danish pastry was born as a result of this development.

And so Danish pastry became a type of puff pastry, similar to other European pastries such as croissants, that is composed of laminated yeast-leavened dough that results in a layered texture. It is believed that Danish pastries were carried to the United States by immigrant families, where they are sometimes decorated with a fruit or cream cheese filling and have since become famous all over the world. Today, Danish pastry comes in different flavors. And what is even better is that there are now easily prepared ingredients for the said recipe.

Why Does This Cherry Danish Recipe Works?

Cherry Danish is a pastry that you will love for its flavor, texture, and taste. The following are some of the few other reasons why you have to make this easy recipe at home:

This is a 6-ingredients recipe. You are saved from the hassle of buying too many ingredients and spending more than necessary.
Prep time won't take you an hour to finish. Meaning to say you will have more time in your hands to chill with the finished baked good.
It has a superb taste that will never fail anyone's expectation.
It is perfect for breakfast, lunch as snack or even as a dessert.

What's in This Cherry Danish Recipe?

Puff Pastry. It will serve as the base structure for this recipe, and it will give your danish a light and flaky texture with a buttery flavor.

Cream Cheese. Adding cream cheese into your recipe provides a mild-tasting cheese and milky texture to the danish. When you bite into the baked good, you will experience a soft and creamy texture along with the sweet and pleasant tang of the cream cheese.

Icing Sugar. Cream cheese has a mild taste as has been mentioned previously. Icing sugar will help sweeten the cream cheese mixture as it easily melts in liquid. Save some of your icing sugar for garnishing as well.

Vanilla Extract. Vanilla extract will help the icing sugar in sweetening the cream cheese. It will add a floral sweetness to the mixture that is akin to caramel.

Egg Wash. Beat egg and water together, and you will have egg wash at your disposal. This ingredient should be brushed on the edges of puff pastry for that traditional rich, golden brown color with just enough shine.

Cherry Pie Filling. Run to your nearest grocery store and buy a commercialized cherry pie filling ready to use. Or use a homemade cherry pie filling.

How To Make Cherry Danish with Puff Pastry?

Prepare the cream cheese: In a small mixing bowl, mix together cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla extract.

Prepare the egg wash: whisk together an egg with a tablespoon of water.

Assemble the danish: Cut the puff pastry sheet into 6 squares, then use a knife to make a ½” border around the edge of each of the puff pastry squares.

Make four or five pricks inside the border of each square.

Now, scoop 1-2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture and place it into the center of each pastry square.

Top with 1-2 tablespoons of cherry pie filling, then brush edges with egg wash.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, sprinkle with icing sugar and serve.

Top Tips!

Use milk and egg combination for egg wash instead of water and egg. Egg-milk egg wash creates a matte-colored appearance with a crispy crust.
Don't limit yourself and add cherry pie filling as much as the puff pastry allows! This is for a better and sweeter taste of the recipe.
If puff pastry becomes too soft to work with, put it into the fridge for 10-15 minutes or until it firms up again.

Recipe Variations

Vanilla extract and honey have almost the same consistency. If you prefer floral sweetness with a hint of woody and nutty taste, you should substitute vanilla extract with honey.
Use granulated white sugar in case icing sugar is unavailable.
You can use fresh cherries instead of cherry pie filling if you like.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this danish with a hot espresso or white chocolate latte in the morning for breakfast. At snack time, you can have it with fresh orange juice or Greek yogurt smoothie.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this recipe ahead?

Yes, this danish can be made ahead and assembled the night before you plan to bake them. Refrigerate them, well wrapped in plastic wrap, until you're ready to bake them.

How can I store Cherry Danish?

Once your Cherry Danish is baked, let it cool down for a few minutes before storing it in an airtight container. Refrigerate it for a few days, five days maximum. Freezing Cherry Danish will give it a longer shelf life of up to a month.

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