This Cherry Danish Recipe is made with golden brown puff pastry, fresh cherries, cream cheese, and almonds. This easy-to-make pastry is perfect for a snack or breakfast.
If you love danishes, then you should try this Easy Cheese Danish Pastry (VIDEO) and this tasty Raspberry Cheese Danish.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
I love this Cherry Danish for breakfast. The recipe is nice and simple, and it makes an easy handheld meal that everyone loves to eat.
- TASTE: This buttery pastry holds a dollop of cream cheese filling with sweet cherries and slivers of almonds. The powdered sugar glaze on top finishes it on a sweet note.
- TEXTURE: This danish is light and flaky in the crust and creamy, syrupy, and crunchy in the toppings. You can’t go wrong with this recipe.
- TIME: This sweet treat will take just under an hour.
- EASE: With only a few different steps to make the crust, filling, and glaze, this recipe is really easy. You’ll be putting out gorgeous Cherry Danish in no time.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Puff pastry- These frozen pastry sheets save you time and effort. They have the perfect thickness for your danish and are easy to work with when making your crust.
- Cherries- Fresh is best for this Cherry Danish recipe. Look for ripe, firm cherries that are still attached to the stem and have a deep red color and no blemishes.
- Cream cheese- This is the base for the sweet cheesy filling. Full fat cream cheese offers the most richness.
- Cornstarch- This ingredient will combine with the juices from the cherries to create a sweet syrup for the filling.
- Lemon- Lemon juice adds tartness as well as keeps the cherries a bright red color.
- Almonds- Slivers of almonds add crunch and nutty flavor to contrast the sweetness of this dessert. Use raw and unsalted nuts. Almond extract gives an added punch of flavor.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Substitute other fruits- Besides cherries, this danish recipe would be delicious with strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, pears, and raspberries.
- Use a different crust- You can make this with croissant dough, pie crust dough, Buttermilk Biscuit dough, or phyllo dough.
- Make it dairy and gluten free- Avoid allergens by using gluten-free puff pastry and substituting dairy-free cream cheese and plant-based milk in this recipe.
- Substitute cherry pie filling- While you can use homemade cherry pie filling, you can save time by using the canned version as well.
How to Make this Cherry Danish Recipe
- Make the cheese filling- In a bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Then add in 1 egg and mix it just to combine.
- Prep the cherry filling. Pit the fresh cherries and cut them into halves. Then combine them with the corn starch, granulated sugar, and lemon juice.
Pro Tip: I recommend using a cherry pitter on the fresh cherries to make this step a lot faster. Cutting by hand takes a lot more time and doesn’t come out as nicely.
- Roll and cut the puff pastry. On a lightly floured surface, roll out both sheets of thawed puff pastry to a 12 x 12-inch square. Then cut each sheet into 9 even squares and cut a 1-inch border around each square.
- Add egg wash. Transfer each square to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush the edge border of each square with egg wash (1 egg + 1 Tbsp water).
- Add toppings. Place a heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each square. Then place another of the cherry mixture on top.
- Add almonds and bake. Sprinkle some sliced almonds on top of the cherries and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
- Drizzle with glaze. Combine the powdered sugar, milk, and lemon juice. Once the pastries are cooled, drizzle the glaze over each square. Serve.
Recipe Tips
- Use softened cream cheese- Letting the cream cheese come to room temperature will make it easier to combine without lumps. Don’t microwave it as this melts some, while leaving the rest hard.
- Use fresh cherries- While frozen (and thawed) or canned, cherries can be used, the results just aren’t the same. Fresh pitted cherries will give the best flavor and texture to your danish.
- Add egg wash on the edges- This simple step gives the edges of the Cherry Danish that perfect golden brown color. Don’t skip it.
- Don’t overfill the pastries- It is possible to have too much of a good thing. Only use about 2 tablespoons total of cheese and cherry filling so the pastry isn’t overwhelmed and can’t hold its structure. Use the cut lines as a guide.
FAQs
What is difference between Danish and pastry?
Homemade danish dough uses yeast to leaven it, as well as sugar to feed the yeast. Puff pastry on the other hand rises from the steam that develops while cooking. Both are equally suited for sweet treats like this Cherry Danish.
Can you freeze Danish puff pastry?
Yes, you can freeze a Danish made with puff pastry for about 2-4 weeks. Make sure to wrap them individually with plastic wrap and then place them in a ziplock bag or airtight container to keep them fresh and delicious.
Serving Suggestions
This delicious Cherry Danish recipe is the perfect addition to the breakfast table or to enjoy as an afternoon treat. Here are some great ways to serve it.
- Proteins: Pair this sweet creation with some Easy Poached Eggs with Caramelized Onions, Crispy Air Fryer Bacon, Shakshuka, or Savory Crepes with Chicken and Mushroom Filling.
- Muffins: Serve them with Blueberry Muffins (VIDEO), Cinnamon Apple Muffins (VIDEO), or Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins.
- Pancakes/Waffles: You can offer these Cherry Danishes alongside Buttery Belgian Liege Waffles, Cottage Cheese Pancakes, and Blueberry Breakfast Crepes.
- Pastries: Easy Cheese Danish Pastry (VIDEO), Peach Galette, Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (VIDEO), and Apricot Walnut Rugelach (VIDEO) are all delicious recipes to enjoy with this one.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: You can prepare the cherry and cheese filling in advance and store them in the fridge for a day before assembling these pastries and baking. The puff pastry is already frozen and can remain that way until you thaw and put your danishes together.
Storing: Store these Cherry Danish pastries in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: You can freeze these cooled danishes by carefully wrapping them in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer ziplock bag. They can be frozen for up to a month and thawed overnight in the fridge.
More Yummy Pastries!
Full Recipe Instructions
Cherry Danish Recipe
This simple Cherry Danish with cream cheese and almonds is a delightful light pastry for breakfast or alongside coffee.
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Servings: 18 mini danishes
Calories: 379kcal
Ingredients
Ingredients for the cream cheese filling
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 1 egg
- 1 package frozen puff pastry sheet
Ingredients for the cherry filling
- 2 cups sweet fresh cherries pitted
- 1 Tbsp corn starch
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
Ingredients for the glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine 8 oz softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/4 tsp almond extract.
- Then add in 1 egg and mix it just to combine.
- Pit 2 cups of fresh cherries and cut them into halves. I recommend using a cherry pitter to make this step a lot faster.
- Combine the cherries with 1 Tbsp corn starch, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 2 Tbsp lemon juice.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out both sheets of thawed puff pastry to a 12 x 12-inch square. Do this using a rolling pin.
- Cut each sheet into 9 even squares. Then cut a 1-inch border around each square.
- Transfer each square to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush the edge border of each square with egg wash (1 egg + 1 Tbsp water).
- Place 1 heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each square. Then place 1 tbsp of the cherry mixture on top. Sprinkle some sliced almonds on top of the cherries as well. Then bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tbsp milk, and 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice. This will be the glaze. Once the pastries are cooled, drizzle the glaze over each square.
Nutrition
Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 22.7g | Saturated Fat: 7.4g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 159mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 18g
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Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!
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Cindy says
The cherry filling needs to be cooked first so that the cornstarch can thicken the cherry sauce. Otherwise, the runny filling leeks off the pastry and burns on the parchment and doesn’t allow the pastry to rise because it gets soaked. I brought the filling to a boil stirring constantly until I achieved a thick sauce. After cooking the cherry filling, I let it cool, then added on top of the cream cheese filling. The second batch worked much better.
Gail says
Wish I would have seen your response before I tried this recipe. I think cooking the mixture down would have made a huge difference.
Linda says
These look fantastic … but I’m confused about cutting the 1 inch border in the puff pastry. Do you score the pastry or cut all the way through? What is the purpose of the cut? Doesn’t the filling leak out? Thanks.
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Linda, you can either score the border or cut through. The reason I did this is so the outer border rises and curls into the center so the filling doesn’t leak out.