Apple Cheese Danishes (Printable)
Buttery layers filled with spiced apples and sweetened cream cheese for a simple yet elegant pastry.
# What's Needed:
→ Pastry
01 - 1 sheet puff pastry (about 8.8 oz), thawed
02 - 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
→ Cheese Filling
03 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
04 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
05 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Apple Filling
06 - 1 large apple, peeled, cored, diced
07 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
08 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
09 - 1 tsp lemon juice
10 - 1/2 tbsp butter
→ Icing
11 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
12 - 1–2 tbsp milk
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat. Add diced apple, brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Cook, stirring, for 3–4 minutes until apples are soft and syrupy. Remove from heat and let cool.
03 - In a bowl, mix cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Roll out puff pastry and cut into 8 equal squares.
05 - Place squares on prepared baking sheet. Score a border about 1/2 inch from the edge (do not cut through).
06 - Spread 1 tbsp cheese filling in the center of each square. Top with a spoonful of apple mixture.
07 - Brush edges with beaten egg.
08 - Bake 18–20 minutes or until pastries are golden and puffed.
09 - Cool for 10 minutes. Whisk powdered sugar with milk to form icing, then drizzle over danishes if desired.
# Tips for Success:
01 -
- The combination of flaky puff pastry and creamy filling is impossible to resist.
- They are incredibly impressive looking but surprisingly simple to make.
02 -
- Keep the pastry cold while you work with it because warm puff pastry will not puff up as high in the oven.
- Cool the apple mixture completely before putting it on the dough so the pastry does not melt prematurely.
03 -
- Freeze the extra pastries in a single layer before baking for a quick treat later.
- If the edges brown too fast tent the tray loosely with foil.