Strawberry Danishes (Printable Version)

Buttery puff pastry topped with creamy vanilla filling and fresh strawberries, baked until golden and finished with optional vanilla glaze.

# What You Need:

→ Pastry

01 - 1 sheet puff pastry (about 8 oz), thawed

→ Cream Cheese Filling

02 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest

→ Strawberry Topping

06 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
07 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
08 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

→ Egg Wash

09 - 1 egg
10 - 1 tablespoon milk

→ Glaze (optional)

11 - ½ cup powdered sugar
12 - 1-2 teaspoons milk
13 - ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Mix cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon zest in a bowl until smooth and creamy.
03 - Toss sliced strawberries with sugar and lemon juice in a separate bowl. Set aside to macerate.
04 - Roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 8 equal squares.
05 - Place squares on prepared baking sheet. Score a smaller square inside each, being careful not to cut through the dough.
06 - Spoon about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese filling into the center of each square, spreading gently within the scored area.
07 - Arrange strawberry slices over the cream cheese filling.
08 - Whisk together egg and milk in a small bowl. Brush pastry edges lightly with the mixture.
09 - Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
10 - Let cool slightly. For the glaze, mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth, then drizzle over cooled danishes if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cream cheese filling strikes that perfect balance between tangy and sweet, making these feel fancier than they actually are
  • You can prep everything the night before and bake them fresh for the most impressive weekend breakfast
02 -
  • Work quickly once the puff pastry is out of the fridge because warm butter means less flaky layers
  • Do not skip the scoring step because it creates that beautiful raised edge that makes these look professionally made
03 -
  • Chill your baking sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes before placing the danishes on it to help the puff pastry hold its shape
  • A little extra lemon zest in the cream cheese filling makes all the difference in cutting through the richness

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