Homemade Cheese Danish is a pastry filled with sweet cream cheese and baked until golden. The dough stays flaky and tender. The filling tastes smooth with light vanilla flavor. It works as breakfast or dessert.
This version uses simple pantry ingredients. Store-bought pastries look tempting, yet many taste dry or overly sweet.
This Homemade Cheese Danish recipe came from my love for warm pastries with a creamy center, fresh from the oven.
The dough turns crisp and tender, and the cream cheese filling stays smooth with a gentle vanilla note. It fits slow mornings, brunch tables, or a cozy afternoon treat with coffee.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Cheese Danish
This Homemade Cheese Danish recipe keeps steps simple and stress-free. The cream cheese filling tastes rich without being heavy. Cold butter in the dough helps create flaky pastry layers.
You can prep it ahead and bake when needed. Each bite gives soft pastry with lightly sweet cheese filling. It works for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
How To Make Homemade Cheese Danish?
Recipe Overview
Homemade Cheese Danish is a flaky pastry filled with sweetened cream cheese and baked until lightly golden.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Cool Time: 10-15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Cuisine: American / Danish-Inspired
- Course: Breakfast / Dessert
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Yield: 8 danishes
- Servings: 8
- Serving Size: 1 danish
- Calories per Serving: ~320 kcal
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowls
- Pastry cutter or fork
- Rolling pin
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Whisk
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ½ cup cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon milk (for egg wash)
Ingredient Notes
1. All-purpose flour: Gives structure to the pastry dough.
2. Granulated sugar: Adds light sweetness to balance the filling.
3. Salt: Keeps flavors balanced.
4. Cold butter: Creates flaky layers while baking.
5. Cream cheese: Forms the smooth center of the cheese danish.
6. Powdered sugar: Sweetens the filling with a soft texture.
7. Vanilla extract: Adds gentle warmth to the cream cheese.
8. Egg and milk: Help the pastry brown evenly.
Cooking Method
1. In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt.
2. Cut cold butter into the flour until the mixture looks crumbly.
3. Add a few tablespoons of cold water and bring the dough together. Press gently until it holds.
4. Wrap the dough and chill for 15 minutes.
5. Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
6. Roll the dough into a rectangle on a floured surface. Cut into equal squares.
7. Place a spoon of filling in the center of each square. Fold corners slightly toward the middle.
8. Mix the egg with milk and brush over the pastry edges.
9. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 22–25 minutes until lightly golden.
10. Cool 10-15 minutes slightly before serving.
Tip: Keep the butter cold for the best pastry texture.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
Tips For Success
✅Add lemon zest to the filling for fresh flavor.
✅Use puff pastry for a quicker cheese danish recipe.
✅Crescent roll dough works well for cream cheese danish rolls.
✅Freeze unbaked pastries and bake straight from frozen.
Serving Suggestions
Serve warm with tea or coffee. Fresh berries pair nicely with the cheese danish. A light dusting of powdered sugar adds a simple finish.
Storing Tips
✔️Store baked danishes in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days.
✔️Reheat in the oven for a crisp pastry.
✔️Freeze baked pastries up to one month.
Recipe Notes
- Chill the dough before rolling.
- Do not overfill pastries.
- Bake until edges turn lightly golden.
- Cool slightly before serving.
Other Breakfast Recipes You Also Like
▶Blueberry Buttermilk Pancake Casserole Recipe
▶The Best McGriddle Bites (Viral TikTok Recipe)
▶Easy Sausage and egg casserole Recipe
▶Best Crack breakfast casserole
FAQs For Homemade Cheese Danish
Can I Use Puff Pastry For This Recipe?
Yes, puff pastry creates a flaky cheese danish with less prep time.
Does Crescent Roll Dough Work For Cheese Danish?
Crescent rolls work well for cream cheese danish using crescent rolls.
Can I Add Fruit To The Filling?
Fruit preserves pair nicely with cream cheese filling.
How Do I Keep The Pastry Flaky?
Cold butter and gentle handling help maintain flaky texture.
Final Thoughts
This Homemade Cheese Danish brings bakery comfort into your kitchen with simple steps and rich flavor. Try it once, and you may skip store pastries. Share your results or questions in the comments—I enjoy hearing how it turns out in your home
Homemade Cheese Danish
Ingredients
Method
- In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt.
- Cut cold butter into the flour until the mixture looks crumbly.
- Add a few tablespoons of cold water and bring the dough together. Press gently until it holds.
- Wrap the dough and chill for 15 minutes.
- Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Roll the dough into a rectangle on a floured surface. Cut into equal squares.
- Place a spoon of filling in the center of each square. Fold corners slightly toward the middle.
- Mix egg with milk and brush over the pastry edges.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 22–25 minutes until lightly golden.
- Cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Chill the dough before rolling.
- Do not overfill pastries.
- Bake until edges turn lightly golden.
- Cool slightly before serving.
