Description
Delight in these elegant Cream Cheese Danishes topped with sweet sugared cranberries and drizzled with a smooth vanilla butter glaze. Perfect for holiday breakfasts or special dessert occasions, these puff pastry treats combine creamy, tart, and sweet flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Danish Base
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Sugared Cranberries
- ½ cup fresh cranberries
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (plus more for rolling)
Vanilla Butter Glaze
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Sugared Cranberries: Combine water and ¼ cup granulated sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add fresh cranberries and stir for 1 minute to coat and slightly soften them. Remove cranberries with a slotted spoon and spread on a wire rack to dry for about 30 minutes. Once dry, roll them in additional granulated sugar until coated and set aside.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pastry: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slightly roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet and cut into six equal squares. Using a knife, lightly score a border about ½ inch from the edge on each square, being careful not to cut all the way through.
- Mix Cream Cheese Filling: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until the filling is smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Danishes: Spoon a dollop of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each puff pastry square. Brush the edges of the pastry with the beaten egg to promote a golden shine and help seal the edges while baking.
- Bake Danishes: Place the prepared pastries on the baking sheet and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until they puff up and turn golden brown.
- Prepare Vanilla Butter Glaze: While the danishes bake, whisk together melted unsalted butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth and slightly runny.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the danishes from the oven and allow them to cool slightly. Drizzle each with the prepared vanilla butter glaze and top with a few sugared cranberries for a festive touch. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- You can prepare the sugared cranberries up to a day in advance to save time.
- Store leftover danishes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days to maintain freshness.
- For extra flair, consider adding a sprinkle of chopped nuts or a dusting of cinnamon to the cream cheese filling.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 danish
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
