Apple Cheese Danishes (Printable)
Flaky puff pastries with creamy cheese filling and cinnamon-spiced apples, ready in 45 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pastry
01 - 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
02 - 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
→ Cream Cheese Filling
03 - 6 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
04 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
→ Spiced Apple Filling
06 - 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced (tart varieties like Granny Smith recommended)
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
08 - 2 tbsp packed brown sugar
09 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
10 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
11 - 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
→ Glaze
12 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 2 to 3 tsp milk or lemon juice
# How To Cook:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until apples are tender and coated in a thick syrup. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
03 - In a mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
04 - Unfold thawed puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface and gently roll to smooth out creases. Cut into 8 equal squares and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Using a knife, lightly score a smaller square border inside each piece without cutting all the way through. Prick the inner center area several times with a fork to prevent excessive puffing.
05 - Spread a generous spoonful of cream cheese filling in the center of each pastry square, staying within the scored border. Top with an equal portion of the cooled apple mixture.
06 - Brush the exposed pastry edges with beaten egg to promote even browning during baking.
07 - Bake on the center rack for 18 to 22 minutes until the pastry is deeply golden and puffed. Transfer to a wire cooling rack.
08 - Allow danishes to cool slightly. Whisk powdered sugar with milk or lemon juice until a drizzle consistency is reached. Use a spoon to zigzag the glaze over each danish. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The combination of tangy cream cheese and cinnamon spiced apples tastes like something from a proper bakery, yet the whole thing comes together with store bought puff pastry.
- They look impressive enough for guests but require zero pastry skills, which makes them a reliable crowd pleaser every single time.
02 -
- If the apple filling is even slightly warm when you spoon it onto the pastry, the cream cheese will melt and slide right off during baking.
- Scoring the inner square without cutting through is the trick that lets the edges puff up around the filling, creating that signature danish shape.
03 -
- Thaw puff pastry in the refrigerator overnight rather than on the counter, because counter thawed pastry often gets sticky and difficult to work with.
- Dust your knife with flour between cuts to keep the pastry edges clean, which helps them rise evenly and look polished.