Cherry Cheese Danish (Print-Friendly Version)
This cherry cheese danish blends creamy cheese and tangy cherry filling wrapped in flaky puff pastry, perfect for spring occasions. The almond extract and lemon zest add depth, making it a keeper.
# Ingredients You’ll Need:
→ Filling
01 -
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
02 -
1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 -
1 egg yolk
04 -
1 tablespoon ricotta cheese
05 -
1/2 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla extract
06 -
Pinch of salt
07 -
1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
→ Dough & Assembly
08 -
2 sheets puff pastry (typically 1 box), thawed but still cold
09 -
1 can cherry pie filling
10 -
1 large egg
11 -
1 tablespoon water
12 -
All-purpose flour for dusting
# How to Make It:
01 -
Using an electric mixer, combine softened cream cheese and granulated sugar in a medium bowl until smooth. Mix in egg yolk, ricotta cheese, almond or vanilla extract, salt, and lemon zest until well blended. Refrigerate filling until ready to use.
02 -
On a lightly floured surface, roll out thawed puff pastry sheets to 10 by 10 inches. Cut out heart shapes using a cookie cutter, and transfer them to baking sheets. Prick the centers with a fork, leaving a 1/2 inch border to allow edges to rise during baking.
03 -
Spoon about one heaping tablespoon of chilled cream cheese filling onto each puff pastry heart. Top each with approximately one tablespoon of cherry pie filling, using 4 to 5 cherries. Whisk egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush egg wash over pastry edges.
04 -
Refrigerate assembled pastries for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and position the rack in the center. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until puff pastry is golden brown and fully baked.
# Extra Suggestions:
01 -
Chilling the assembled pastries before baking helps retain their shape and keeps the filling from running.