Effortlessly Elegant: Cream Cheese Cherry Danish with Flaky Puff Pastry

Imagine a golden-brown, flaky pastry, generously filled with a sweet, almond-infused cream cheese mixture and vibrant cherry filling, all crowned with toasted sliced almonds and a delicate almond glaze. This isn’t a dream from a European bakery; it’s a remarkably simple and impressive homemade treat you can create with ease: our Cream Cheese Cherry Danish with Puff Pastry. Perfect for a leisurely weekend brunch, a festive holiday morning, or an elegant dessert, this recipe leverages two store-bought heroes – puff pastry sheets and cherry pie filling – to deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Forget the long hours and intricate steps typically associated with traditional danish doughs. Our streamlined approach focuses on assembly, allowing the oven to do most of the hard work. The result is a buttery, rich pastry braid that looks as beautiful as it tastes, making you feel like a master baker without the fuss.

If you’re captivated by the charm of this cherry danish, you’ll also adore our fruit and cream cheese puff pastry danish for delightful individual variations. These smaller pastries offer the same irresistible combination of flavors and textures, perfect for a more personalized serving.

This fruit danish pastry is designed for convenience, coming together in mere minutes before baking to golden perfection. It’s an ideal sweet for special occasions like Christmas morning, a relaxed weekend brunch, Mother’s Day, or Easter. Its versatility and straightforward preparation make it a perennial favorite. We love to present the entire danish as a centerpiece on a brunch or dessert table, then slice it into small, elegant pieces. Its rich sweetness means a little goes a long way, ensuring everyone gets a satisfying taste. Serve these pastries warm from the oven to savor their tender flakiness, or at room temperature alongside your favorite coffee for a delightful start to your day or a memorable dessert.

While some traditional danish recipes call for a yeast-leavened dough and a lengthy lamination process, we’ve opted for a brilliant shortcut: store-bought puff pastry dough. This choice eliminates the hassle and significantly cuts down on preparation time. While it may not possess the exact airy fluffiness of a yeast-based danish, it bakes into an incredibly flaky, buttery, and rich pastry in a fraction of the time. This makes it the perfect foundation for a quick yet impressive pastry braid that will leave your guests wondering if you spent hours in the kitchen.

Why You’ll Adore This Easy Cherry Danish Recipe

Our Cream Cheese Cherry Danish is more than just a pastry; it’s an experience that combines gourmet flavors with everyday ease. Here’s why this recipe is destined to become a staple in your kitchen:

• Semi-Homemade Simplicity: This recipe is a testament to smart baking. By utilizing readily available ingredients like pre-made puff pastry and canned cherry pie filling, we’ve transformed what could be a complex endeavor into a mostly assembly-based task. You get all the homemade taste and impressive presentation without spending hours kneading, rising, and laminating dough. It’s perfect for busy mornings or when you want a delicious treat on short notice.
• Irresistible Cherry Almond Flavor Profile: The marriage of tart cherries and sweet almond is a culinary classic for good reason. Our danish features a luscious almond-flavored cream cheese filling, providing a creamy counterpoint to the bright, juicy cherry pie filling. The addition of sliced almonds on top and a delicate almond glaze further enhances this harmonious blend, creating a tart, sweet, and nutty symphony of flavors that is truly addictive.
• Perfectly Buttery and Flaky Puff Pastry: Who can resist the allure of a golden, crispy, and incredibly flaky puff pastry? The beauty of using store-bought puff pastry lies in its convenience and consistent results. It bakes up into a gorgeously golden confection with countless delicate layers that melt in your mouth. While making traditional danish dough from scratch is a labor of love, quality frozen puff pastry offers a buttery richness and satisfying texture that rivals homemade, all with minimal fuss. Look for reputable brands at your local grocery store for the best outcome. You can even try a homemade rough puff pastry for an extra touch of artisanal pride.
• Infinitely Customizable for Any Craving: The foundational recipe for this puff pastry danish is wonderfully adaptable, inviting you to experiment with endless variations and substitutions. The sweet cream cheese base pairs beautifully with a wide array of fruit fillings, making it easy to tailor the danish to seasonal produce or personal preferences. Whether you prefer berries, apples, or other stone fruits, this recipe serves as a versatile canvas for your culinary creativity.

The Magic Behind the Ingredients

Creating this spectacular cherry danish requires a few key components, each playing a crucial role in achieving its delightful flavor and texture. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why:

• Puff Pastry: This is the star of our danish, providing that incredible flakiness and buttery texture without the extensive effort of making dough from scratch. One sheet of store-bought puff pastry is all you need. Ensure it’s thawed according to package instructions but kept cold before use for the best results. If you’re feeling ambitious, a homemade rough puff pastry will elevate the experience even further.
• Cherry Pie Filling: For ultimate convenience, canned pie filling works perfectly and delivers consistent results. Its vibrant color and sweet-tart flavor are essential. However, if you prefer a fresher taste or want to control the sweetness, feel free to make your own cherry pie filling from scratch.
• Cream Cheese: The base of our rich and creamy filling. Opt for full-fat, brick-style cream cheese. It’s crucial that it’s at room temperature to ensure a smooth, lump-free mixture that’s easy to spread. Brands like Philadelphia are known for their superior texture and flavor.
• Almond Extract: This ingredient is the secret to the danish’s classic almond flavor, which beautifully complements the cherries. A small amount goes a long way, infusing the cream cheese filling with a delightful aromatic depth. Make sure to use pure almond extract for the best taste.
• Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ Sugar): Used in both the cream cheese filling (for sweetness and smooth texture) and for creating the elegant finishing glaze that drips over the baked pastry. Its fine texture ensures a silky-smooth glaze.
• Sliced Almonds: These serve a dual purpose: they add a lovely crunch and visual appeal as a topping, and they reinforce the delicious almond flavor profile, making each bite even more satisfying.
• Large Egg (for Egg Wash): Whisked with a little water or milk, an egg wash gives the pastry a beautiful golden-brown sheen and helps the sliced almonds adhere during baking.
• Milk (for Glaze): A small amount of milk is mixed with powdered sugar and almond extract to create a thin, pourable glaze that adds a final touch of sweetness and shine to the baked danish.

See the complete recipe card below for full ingredient quantities and detailed instructions.

Unleash Your Creativity: Substitutions and Variations

One of the best aspects of this cherry danish recipe is its incredible adaptability. Once you master the basic technique, you can easily customize it to suit your taste preferences or whatever ingredients you have on hand. Here are some exciting ideas to get you started:

• Fresh Fruit Delights: While cherry pie filling is convenient, feel free to substitute it with fresh fruit. Fresh raspberries, blackberries, or sliced strawberries can be used, often needing a light toss with a spoonful of sugar and a touch of cornstarch to prevent them from becoming too watery during baking.
• Blueberry Bliss: Swap out the cherry pie filling for blueberry pie filling. The sweet and slightly tangy blueberries pair wonderfully with the almond-flavored cream cheese, creating a different but equally delicious danish.
• Strawberry Sweetness: For a burst of classic berry flavor, use strawberry pie filling instead of cherry. The bright red hue and sweet taste of strawberries are always a crowd-pleaser.
• Autumn Apple Crunch: Create a cozy apple version by replacing the cherry filling with apple pie filling. You might even add a sprinkle of cinnamon or apple pie spice to the cream cheese mixture for extra warmth.
• Tropical Pineapple Twist: For an exotic touch, try crushed pineapple (well-drained) mixed with a bit of coconut extract in the cream cheese, or use a pineapple pie filling.
• Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Drizzle some melted chocolate over the cream cheese before adding the fruit, or swirl in some mini chocolate chips for a decadent treat.
• Different Dough Options: If puff pastry isn’t available or you prefer a slightly different texture, crescent roll dough can be used for a doughier, softer version. Just be mindful of baking times as crescent dough bakes faster. Phyllo dough can also be layered for an even crispier, lighter crust.
• Citrusy Zest: Add a teaspoon of lemon or orange zest to the cream cheese mixture for a bright, refreshing flavor that cuts through the sweetness.
• Nutty Alternatives: While almonds are classic, consider sprinkling pecans or walnuts on top instead, or even a mix of nuts for varied texture.
• Individual Mini Danishes: Instead of a large braid, cut the puff pastry into smaller squares before filling and shaping. This creates perfectly portioned individual treats.

Crafting Your Perfect Cherry Danish: Step-by-Step Guide

Creating this beautiful and delicious Cream Cheese Cherry Danish is simpler than you might think. Follow these easy steps to bake your way to pastry perfection:

Hot tip! When adding the cherry filling, try to scoop out mostly whole cherries and leave some of the thicker sauce behind. This helps prevent the danish from becoming too wet and ensures a beautiful texture.

Five: Create the Braid. Starting from one long side of the pastry, begin cutting diagonal strips, each about 1 centimeter wide, almost meeting the central filling. Repeat this process on the opposite long side, ensuring you have an equal number of strips on both sides. These strips will interlace to form the decorative braid over the filling.

Six: Fold and Seal. Begin at one end of the pastry. Take the first strip from one side and fold it diagonally over the filling. Then, take the corresponding strip from the opposite side and fold it over, overlapping the first strip. Continue this criss-cross pattern all the way up the pastry, alternating sides. Gently press the ends of the strips to seal them, creating a neat, braided appearance that fully encases the filling.

Seven: Egg Wash for a Golden Sheen. In a small bowl, whisk one large egg with a tablespoon of water or milk to create an egg wash. Using a pastry brush, gently and completely brush the entire surface of the pastry braid with the egg wash. This will give your danish a beautiful golden color and a lovely shine as it bakes.

Eight: Almond Topping and Bake. Sprinkle the sliced almonds evenly over the egg-washed pastry. The egg wash will help them adhere. Transfer the sheet pan to the preheated oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed, golden brown, and cooked through. Keep an eye on it to prevent over-browning.

Nine: Prepare the Almond Glaze. While the danish cools, prepare the final touch. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining powdered sugar, milk, and a tiny dash of almond extract until you achieve a smooth, pourable glaze. If it’s too thick, add a few more drops of milk; if too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.

Ten: Glaze and Serve. Allow the baked danish to cool on the sheet pan for at least 15 minutes before applying the glaze. Drizzle the almond glaze generously over the cooled pastry. Once glazed, use a large, sharp chef’s knife to slice the danish into individual 1-inch pieces. Serve immediately and enjoy slightly warm or at room temperature!

Hot tip! For perfectly clean slices, use a large chef’s knife. Press down firmly and rock the blade gently back and forth rather than dragging it. This prevents squishing the delicate pastry and filling.

Expert Tips for Danish Perfection

Achieving a bakery-quality danish at home is easy with a few insider tricks. Keep these expert tips in mind for the best possible results:

• Precision in Cutting Strips: When cutting the diagonal strips, make sure not to cut too close to the filling. Leaving a border of about 1 centimeter (½ inch) helps to prevent the cream cheese or cherry filling from leaking out during baking and potentially burning. This also ensures a better seal for the braid.
• Chill for Stability: If at any point during the shaping process your puff pastry becomes too soft or sticky, don’t hesitate to refrigerate the entire assembled danish on the sheet pan for 15-20 minutes before baking. This helps the butter in the pastry solidify, ensuring maximum flakiness and preventing the danish from spreading too much in the oven.
• Bake Until Deep Golden: Don’t be afraid to let your danish get a good, deep golden-brown color in the oven. This indicates that the puff pastry is fully cooked and has achieved its optimal crispness and flavor. Undercooked pastry will be pale and lack the desired flaky texture.
• Patience with the Glaze: Resist the temptation to drizzle the glaze immediately after removing the danish from the oven. Allow the pastry to cool for at least 15 minutes. If you glaze it while it’s too hot, the glaze will simply melt and run off, rather than setting into a beautiful, opaque finish.
• Room Temperature Cream Cheese: Ensure your cream cheese is truly at room temperature. This makes it much easier to beat into a smooth, lump-free mixture, which is essential for a creamy filling.
• Don’t Overfill: While it’s tempting to load up on the filling, overfilling can cause it to seep out during baking. Stick to the recommended quantities for a perfectly balanced danish.
• Even Rolling: Try to roll the puff pastry to an even thickness. This ensures consistent baking, so no part of the pastry is undercooked or overcooked.
• Sharp Knife for Clean Cuts: When cutting the strips for the braid and later slicing the baked danish, use a very sharp knife. This helps create clean edges and prevents tearing the delicate pastry.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cherry Danish

Got questions about making and enjoying your Cream Cheese Cherry Danish? We’ve got answers!

Storage and Reheating Instructions

This Cream Cheese Cherry Danish is truly at its peak on the day it’s baked, when the puff pastry is at its flakiest and the flavors are freshest. We highly recommend enjoying it as soon as possible after preparation to savor its optimal texture and taste.

If you have any leftovers, store the cherry danish in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one day. For slightly longer storage, you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, though the pastry may soften.

Should you wish to re-crisp the puff pastry and warm the danish, place slices in a preheated oven, toaster oven, or air fryer for a few minutes at 400℉ (200°C) until warmed through and the pastry regains some of its crisp texture. Be careful not to burn the glaze.

More Delicious Breakfast & Dessert Inspirations

If you’re a fan of delightful pastries and comforting breakfast treats, you’ll love exploring these other recipes:

• Brioche Cinnamon Rolls
• Strawberry Stuffed French Toast
• Earl Grey Scones with Lemon Glaze
• Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

Cream Cheese Cherry Danish with Puff Pastry

Callan Wenner