Apple Cheese Danishes (Printable)

Buttery puff pastries with cream cheese and cinnamon-spiced apple filling, perfect for brunch or dessert.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pastry

01 - 1 sheet puff pastry (about 8.8 oz), thawed
02 - 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)

→ Cheese Filling

03 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
04 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Apple Filling

06 - 1 large apple, peeled, cored, and diced
07 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
09 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
10 - 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ Icing

11 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
12 - 1 to 2 tablespoons milk

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat. Add the diced apple, brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes until the apples are tender and coated in a syrupy glaze. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
03 - In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth and creamy with no lumps remaining.
04 - Roll out the puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface and cut into 8 equal squares. Transfer the squares to the prepared baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, lightly score a border about 3/8 inch from the edge of each square, being careful not to cut all the way through the dough.
05 - Spread approximately 1 tablespoon of the cheese filling in the center of each pastry square, staying within the scored border. Spoon a portion of the cooled apple mixture on top of the cheese filling.
06 - Brush the exposed pastry edges generously with the beaten egg to promote a golden, glossy finish during baking.
07 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and deeply golden brown. Rotate the baking sheet halfway through for even browning if needed.
08 - Allow the danishes to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until a smooth, drizzle-able icing forms. Drizzle over the warm danishes and serve.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Store bought puff pastry does all the heavy lifting so you get bakery level results without the drama of laminating dough yourself.
  • The combo of tangy cream cheese and caramelized spiced apple filling tastes like autumn wrapped in buttery flaky layers.
02 -
  • Do not skip scoring the border or the filling will spread everywhere and you will lose that beautiful raised edge.
  • Let the apple mixture cool completely before assembling or the residual heat will melt the puff pastry before it even hits the oven.
03 -
  • Use the back of a spoon to create a shallow well in the cheese filling before adding the apples so nothing slides off during baking.
  • A light hand with the egg wash on the scored border only, avoiding the cut lines, gives you the most dramatic puff and even browning.

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