Cherry Cream Cheese Danish is a puff pastry topped with cream cheese and cherry pie filling, baked until flakey and golden brown. It is a delightful way to start your day or to enjoy with a cup of coffee. I also have a Lemon Blueberry Danish you might want to try, too!
Cherry Danish
A Danish is a popular pastry around the world and is commonly filled with jams, fruits, and nuts. This recipe is close to a danish, but a lot easier to put together! In addition, it eats more like a dessert than a breakfast, but I will take that any day! For another easy-to-make and delicious puff pastry dessert, you may also love my Easy Strawberry Napoleon.
Danish Ingredients
Puff Pastry: You will need two sheets of store-bought puff pastries, thawed according to package instructions. I also have a great recipe for a homemade Puff Pastry. Just leave out the cinnamon when making it for this recipe.
Almond Extract: If needed, look for imitation almond extract; it does not contain nuts. Almond extract pairs so well with cherries since many almond extracts are made with cherry pits. You could also get away with using vanilla extract.
Cherry Pie Filling: Use a 21-ounce can of pie filling or make your own homemade cherry pie filling.
Can I Use a Different Pie Filling?
Definitely! Just like your favorite cheesecake, you could top the danish with your favorite kind of fruit pie filling. Try these with apple pie filling, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, or your favorite combination. This recipe is easy enough to make and try with your favorite flavors.
How to Store Cherry Danish
These really are enjoyed fresh, the same day as being baked. However, if you have any leftovers, you will want to refrigerate them. The danishes will last 3-5 days in the refrigerator, but the puff pastry will lose its crispy, flakey layers. To reheat them, warm them up in the air fryer or oven.
Air Fryer Cherry Danish
If you are ok with working in batches, then the air fryer is a great option for making these danish. To do that, set your air fryer to 325°F and then assemble the danishes following the directions in the recipe card. When ready to cook, place as many danishes into the basket (or on the tray) of your air fryer without overlapping. Set timer for 8 minutes. They may take up to 10 minutes, but you are looking for a puffy, golden brown crust.
More Fruity Breakfast Treats
Cherry Cream Cheese Danish
Ingredients
Pastries
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed according to package directions
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon water
Topping
- confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Lay the puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface, and cut each sheet into 6 equal-sized rectangles. You will have a total of 12 rectangles, about 4½x3 inches in size.
- Arrange the puff pastries evenly onto the lined baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between each pastry.
- Use a fork to poke a few holes into the middle of the pastry sheet. Be sure to leave about a ½-inch perimeter around the edge. This will allow the outside border to puff up while the center stays low and holds the filling.
- In a medium bowl stir together the cream cheese, sugar, and almond extract until fully combined.
- Spread 1 heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture onto the center of each puff pastry.
- Top the cream cheese mixture with 2 heaping tablespoons of cherry pie filling.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg and water together. Brush onto the outside edges of the pastry.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden.
- Remove from oven and dust with confectioners' sugar. Set aside to cool slightly before serving.
Did you make this recipe?
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I hope that these are freezable because I don’t want to pig out..easy to do with such good treats like this.
How do I store them?
Made these and they are delish!!!! So easy to make!
Super easy and tastes better than store bought. Lighter and not as sweet! If I had thought ahead to defrost the dough, would have taken barely any time at all to prepare! Cooked slightly faster than recipe stated.
These were delicious and so easy to make!!
Had my granddaughter make this with me and it came out great! Yumola!
Didn’t like the almond flavor in them
can they be made ahead
Sure
Will this recipe work without the cream cheese layer?
Thank you, looks delicious!
Linda
Could I use any pie filling? I’m thinking of lemon
Yup!