Quick Creamy Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Danish
A quick and easy recipe for flaky puff pastry danishes filled with creamy vanilla-sweetened cream cheese and topped with fresh strawberries. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Total Time: 25-28 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package puff pastry sheets (usually 2 sheets, about 8 oz or 225 g each), thawed
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened (full-fat recommended)
- 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (150 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting after baking)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Hull and thinly slice about 1 cup fresh strawberries. Toss with 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
- On a lightly floured surface, unfold one sheet of thawed puff pastry (about 8 x 8 inches). Cut into 4 equal squares (about 4 x 4 inches each).
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of cream cheese filling into the center of each puff pastry square, leaving a 1/2-inch border around edges.
- Arrange sliced strawberries on top of the cream cheese layer within the pastry borders.
- Fold the edges of each square up and slightly inward, pinching corners to hold filling inside.
- Brush the pastry edges with beaten egg for a golden finish.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes until puffed and golden brown, watching closely after 12 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar if desired before serving.
Notes
Keep puff pastry cold until baking for best puffiness. Whip cream cheese filling thoroughly to avoid lumps. Do not overfill danish squares to prevent leaks. Rotate baking sheet halfway for even browning. Reheat leftovers in oven at 350°F for 5 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid microwaving to prevent soggy pastry.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 danish (1 of 4 squ
- Calories: 335
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 210
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 6
Keywords: strawberry danish, cream cheese danish, puff pastry dessert, quick breakfast, easy brunch recipe, creamy filling, flaky pastry