Give this simple copycat Starbucks Cheese Danish recipe a try! Crispy, buttery pastry with a sweet cream cheese center, topped with sweet lemon sugar icing.
STARBUCKS CHEESE DANISH RECIPE
This Starbucks Cheese Danish recipe is the perfect easy sweet treat. Flakey and buttery puff pastries with a sweet cream cheese center drizzled with a sweet lemon glaze. This Danish recipe is not only delicious but so easy and comes together in no time. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or anytime you want a sweet treat!
WHAT YOU NEED-
- Puff Pastry– You can use either store-bought or homemade puff pastry dough. I personally love using Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheets. Just make sure they’re fully thawed before you start assembling.
- Cream Cheese– Either classic or low-fat cream cheese can be used for the Danish center! Be sure that the cream cheese is softened so that it is mixed smoothly.
- Sugar– To sweeten the cream cheese filling, this recipe calls for granulated sugar. You can also use brown sugar instead.
- Vanilla– A splash of vanilla extract enhances the cream cheese mixture, but it’s totally optional.
- Egg Wash– For that golden, glossy finish, you’ll brush the pastries with a simple egg wash—just one egg whisked with a splash of water.
- Lemon Sugar Glaze– Topping these cheese Danishes with a sweet lemon sugar glaze adds a little extra sweetness and some zest! The glaze is made with lemon juice, a splash of milk and powdered sugar. You can also omit the lemon juice and leave it a simple sugar glaze.
HOW TO MAKE CHEESE DANISH
One thing I love about this cheese Danish recipe is how simple it is to make!
- Remove the puff pastry from the freezer and thaw right before making these pastries.
- With a mixer, mix everything together for the cream cheese mixture until creamy and smooth. (Be sure that the cream cheese is softened to avoid lumps.)
- Dust your workspace with flour and roll out the puff pastry sheet into a 12×12 even sized square. Cut the square into 9 even sized squares. Repeat with the second sheet.
- Fold the corners of each square into the center to create an octagon shape. Repeat with all the pastries and transfer to the baking sheets.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, add a dollop of the cheesecake mixture to the center of each pastry.
- Transfer to the fridge for 15 minutes. (The chilling process helps you get puffy pastries, I recommend that you do this step but if you are short on time, you can skip it.)
- With a pastry brush, brush the pastries with egg wash.
- Bake the pastries in a preheated oven until the pastries are golden.
- Remove from the oven and cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with lemon sugar glaze.
CHEESE DANISH VARIATIONS-
There are several ways that you can elevate this simple cheese Danish!
- Fruit– Add chopped up fresh or frozen fruit on top of the cream cheese center for a delicious fruity Cheese Danish like my Blueberry Cheesecake Brioche Buns!
- Jam– Top the cream cheese with a dollop of your favorite jam or preservative for added flavors.
- Pie Fillings– Use your favorite pie filling like I do in my Cherry Danish recipe. Use filling flavors like apple, blueberry, cherry or even poppyseed pie and pastry fillings
- Almond Filling– Swap for almond pastry filling for a bear claw type dessert!
TOPPING OPTIONS
Top your cheese pastries with different types of toppings for a spin!
- Streusel– Top the pastries with a streusel topping before baking for an added twist!
- Nuts– Top with sliced almonds, chopped pecans or walnuts before baking for a little crunch!
- Powdered Sugar– Keep it simple and once baked, just sprinkle the pastries with powdered sugar.
- Glaze– Drizzle these cheese Danish pastries with a simple sugar glaze or a lemon sugar glaze. I love the added glaze in my pastries!
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
Yes, once the pastries are assembled, cover and store them in the fridge for up to 12 hours. Then when ready to bake, brush with egg wash and bake!
This recipe makes 18 cheese Danishes. You can cut the recipe in half and use only 1 sheet of puff pastry for only 6-9 pastries if desired.
Yes, you do not want to skip the egg washing step. This step gives you shiny and golden pastries!
Yes! You can make squares or rectangles like my cherry Danish recipe. You can also shape into circles, hearts, etc.
Yes, you cut the pastry into 6 or 9 squares, depending on the desired size.
Allow the pastries to completely cool at room temperature. Then cover to avoid them from drying out. Store at room temperature for 1-2 days and in the fridge for 3-4 days!
Yes, once the Danishes are cooled, wrap individually in plastic wrap and then add to the freezer safe bag and freeze for 2-3 months.
To eat, just remove the pastry from the freezer and let it thaw and then reheat in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer.
OTHER DESSERT RECIPES-
If you have a sweet tooth, then you must try my other dessert recipes!
Starbucks Cheese Danish Recipe
Ingredients
- 17.3 oz thawed puff pastry 1 pack
Cream Cheese Mixture-
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Egg wash-
- 1 large egg whisked
Icing-
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp whole milk**
Instructions
- If the puff pastry is frozen, remove it from the freezer and allow it to thaw at room temperature.
Cream Cheese Mixture-
- In a mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. (9×13 sheets or bigger)
Assemble the Danish Pastries-
- Dust your workspace with flour and unfold a thawed pastry sheet and roll it out slightly to form a 12×12 inch square.
- Cut the pastry into 9 even-sized triangles, ensuring they are all the same size.
- Repeat this with the second pastry sheet, giving you a total of 18 triangles.
- Take a corner of the triangle pastry and fold, pressing in about an inch to form an octagon.
- Repeat with all the pastries and transfer to the lined baking sheets.
- Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, add about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture to the center of all the pastries. Dividing the cream evenly among all the pastries.
- Once the cheese Danishes are assembled, transfer the pastries to the fridge for 15 minutes. (This helps give you a puffy pastry when baking, but you can also skip the chilling step if in a time crunch.)
Bake the Danishes-
- Preheat the oven to 400℉.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg and a splash of water to create an egg wash.
- Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the egg wash onto the outer border of each pastry.
- Bake the pastries at 400°F for 18-22 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden brown and crispy.
- Once baked, remove the danishes from the oven and allow them to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Dust the pastries with powdered sugar. Optional: Drizzle with icing if desired for extra sweetness.
- Serve warm or chilled, as preferred.
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