Bushra Griffith
A cheese Danish is a flaky, buttery pastry filled with cream cheese. They are easy to make and can be made from scratch or with store-bought puff pastry. The dough is laminated with multiple layers to create a flaky crust, and the cream cheese filling can be made with additional ingredients such as sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla. The pastries are then baked until golden brown and can be served with a sweet glaze or icing on top.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dough | Yeasted dough, laminated with butter, similar to a croissant or brioche |
| Dough preparation | Chilling the dough between folds, using higher-protein bread flour, and keeping the dough cold helps create flaky layers |
| Filling | Cream cheese, ricotta, or burrata, with sugar, egg yolk, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt |
| Additional fillings | Jam, fresh fruit, or chocolate |
| Glaze | Sweet glaze, icing, or powdered sugar |
| Baking temperature | 360-400°F |
| Baking time | 13-20 minutes, until golden brown |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the puff pastry
Once your puff pastry is thawed, unfold the sheet and dust off any excess flour. Cut along the seams of the folds to create three equal-sized strips, then cut the strips into halves to form rectangles. Use a fork to perforate the sides of each rectangle, leaving a small border. This step is important to prevent the pastry from rising in the middle.
If you're making the puff pastry from scratch, you'll need to follow a recipe that includes butter and flour. The key to creating flaky layers in the pastry is to chill the dough between folds, allowing the gluten to rest and the butter to cool. This technique, along with the use of higher-protein bread flour, provides stability and structure to the dough, ensuring it can hold the high-moisture cheese filling without collapsing.
After preparing the puff pastry, you can move on to the next steps of making a cheese Danish, including mixing the cream cheese filling and assembling and baking the pastries.
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Making the cream cheese filling
In a large bowl, place your cream cheese, and add in powdered sugar, also known as icing sugar. You can also add granulated sugar if you prefer. Next, add in a pinch of salt, an egg yolk, and a splash of vanilla extract. You can also add a teaspoon of lemon juice to add a tangy note to the cream cheese mixture. Mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined and have a light, smooth texture. You can use a hand whisk or an electric whisk for this.
If you want a very smooth and creamy texture, you can pass the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps. The cream cheese filling is now ready to be spooned or piped onto your Danish pastry.
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Assembling the pastry
To assemble the pastry, first, prepare the puff pastry. You can make this from scratch or use store-bought puff pastry. If using store-bought, ensure you thaw the pastry according to the package instructions—usually in the fridge for an hour or two. If you try to roll frozen pastry, it will crack and tear.
Next, unfold the sheet of puff pastry and dust off any excess flour. Place the pastry on a lined baking sheet. Cut the pastry into three equal-sized strips, and then cut the strips into halves to create rectangles. Use a fork to perforate around the sides of each rectangle, leaving a half-inch border. This will stop the pastry from rising in the middle.
Now, it's time to add the filling. You can place the softened cream cheese in a large bowl and gradually add room temperature butter, mixing with a spatula until it becomes the consistency of mayonnaise or butter. Then, add powdered sugar and mix until it forms a frosting consistency. You can also add other ingredients to the cream cheese, such as granulated sugar, egg yolk, lemon juice, vanilla, and a pinch of salt to taste. Mix the filling until it is smooth and light in texture.
Add two heaping tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture to each square of puff pastry. You can pipe the cheese filling into the centre of each pastry, filling them to your liking. At this stage, you can also add other fillings, such as jams, fresh fruit, or lemon curd.
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Baking the cheese danish
Now that you have your cream cheese filling and puff pastry ready, it's time to assemble and bake your cheese danish!
First, unfold your puff pastry sheet and dust off any excess flour. Cut along the seams of the folds to create three equal-sized strips, then cut the strips into halves to make six rectangles. Use a fork to perforate the sides of each rectangle, leaving a small border. This will prevent the pastry from rising too much in the middle.
Next, add a generous amount of your cream cheese filling to each rectangle. You can pipe the filling or use a spoon or cookie scoop to ensure even portions. If you want to add any extra fillings, like jam or lemon curd, do so now.
Once your pastries are filled, it's time to bake them. Place them in an oven preheated to between 360°F and 400°F (depending on the recipe and your oven) for 13 to 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown. The exact baking time will depend on your oven and the size of your pastries, so keep an eye on them to ensure they don't overcook.
When your cheese danishes are baked to a golden brown perfection, remove them from the oven and let them cool. This is an important step, as adding the glaze too soon will cause it to melt into the pastry. Once they are cooled, drizzle on your glaze or icing and add any final toppings, like powdered sugar or fresh fruit.
And that's it! Your cheese danishes are now ready to serve and enjoy. Impress your guests or treat yourself to a delicious, flaky, and buttery pastry.
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Storing and serving the cheese danish
If you are not serving the cheese danishes immediately, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. To keep them longer, you can store them in the fridge for up to a week. If you want to freeze your cheese danishes, place them on a lined sheet pan in a single layer and freeze them solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or container, where they will keep for up to three months.
To reheat your cheese danish, you can use a microwave or an oven. If you are using an oven, cover the pastries with foil and heat them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. If you are using a microwave, wrap the pastries in a paper towel and heat them in 30-second intervals until they are warm.
Cheese danishes are best served warm, so if you have stored or frozen your pastries, be sure to reheat them before serving. You can also serve them with a cup of coffee or tea, or as part of a larger brunch spread, including other baked goods such as French toast or pancakes.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need puff pastry, cream cheese, granulated or powdered sugar, egg yolk, lemon juice, vanilla, salt, and butter.
Mix the cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, lemon juice, and vanilla on medium-low speed until well combined and smooth.
Cut the puff pastry into equal-sized strips, then cut the strips into halves. Use a fork to perforate around the sides of each puff pastry rectangle, leaving a half-inch border. Add 2 heaping tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture to each square. Brush a thin layer of egg wash around the sides of the pastry and bake at 360º F (182º C) for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are nice and golden brown.
