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Easy Cheese Danish Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 74 reviews

This Easy Cheese Danish recipe delivers soft, tender, and flavorful pastries filled with a rich cream cheese filling and topped with a sweet crumbly streusel. Made from scratch with yeast dough, these Danish pastries are perfect for breakfast or any time treat, offering a perfect balance of creamy filling and buttery, flaky pastry.

Ingredients

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Pastry Dough:

  • 1 cup warm milk
  • 2 tsp active dried yeast (Platinum Superior Baking Yeast recommended)
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 Tbsp sour cream
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (high protein flour like Canadian or King Arthur Bread Flour recommended)
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 3 oz unsalted butter, room temperature

Cream Cheese Filling:

  • 1 1/3 cup cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup jam of choice (optional; strawberry, peach, apricot recommended)

Streusel Topping:

  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3 tbsp melted butter

Egg Wash:

  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 Tbsp water

Instructions

  1. Check the yeast: Combine 2-3 tablespoons of warm milk, 1 tsp sugar, and the active dried yeast in a small bowl. Stir to dissolve and let sit for 10-15 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy and rises, indicating active yeast. If it does not, discard and use fresh yeast.
  2. Make the Pastry Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the remainder of the 1 cup warm milk, 1/4 tsp kosher salt, 4 egg yolks, 2 tbsp sour cream, the remainder of the 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tsp yeast (or the frothy yeast mixture), and 3 cups flour. Mix on speed 3 for about 10 minutes until fully combined.
  3. Add butter and knead: Gradually add the softened butter in quarters to the dough while kneading. Continue kneading for about 8 minutes until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, feels tacky, and can stretch into a thin film without tearing.
  4. Let dough rise: Transfer dough to a well-oiled bowl, coat the surface of the dough with a thin layer of oil to prevent drying, and cover with a towel. Place in a warm, draft-free spot (80°F-90°F) such as inside a pre-warmed oven with the light on. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  5. Prepare cream cheese filling: Whip together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Cover and set aside.
  6. Make streusel topping: Mix flour, sugar, and melted butter with a fork or hands until crumbly. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  7. Prepare egg wash: Whisk together egg yolks and water. Cover and set aside.
  8. Divide and shape dough: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 15-16 equal pieces by weight. Shape each piece into a smooth ball by tucking edges underneath. Place buns on a foil or parchment-lined 12″x18″ baking sheet, spacing evenly. Let rest for 10 minutes.
  9. Form indentations: Dip the bottom of a glass or cup into flour and press gently in the center of each dough ball to create an indentation for filling.
  10. Fill with cream cheese and jam: Use a medium ice cream scoop or spoon to fill each indentation with cream cheese filling. Optionally, add 1 tsp of your preferred jam over the cream cheese.
  11. Second rise: Place the filled danishes back into the warm place (oven with light on or top of refrigerator). Let rise until doubled in size, approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  12. Apply egg wash and streusel: Brush the tops of the risen danishes lightly with egg wash. Generously sprinkle streusel topping on each, pressing gently to help it adhere.
  13. Bake: Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for about 20 minutes or until golden brown on the outside. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack slightly before serving.

Notes

  • You can use any jam or pie filling of your choice; strawberry, peach, or apricot are favorites.
  • For added texture and flavor, sprinkle dried raisins, cranberries, or blueberries on top of the cream cheese filling before adding streusel.
  • Store the cheese danishes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.

Keywords: Cheese Danish, Cream Cheese Pastry, Danish Recipe, Homemade Danish, Breakfast Pastry, Streusel Topping

Find it online: https://busyrecipe.com/easy-cheese-danish-recipe/