Mini Cherry Cheese Danishes

Cherry season is in full swing right now. If you ran out of ideas on what to make with the abundance of cherries this year, give this cherry cheese danish a try! The puff pastry is store bought, so it’s a very quick dessert. They’re bite size shape make them a perfect party dessert as well.

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 cup 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:

1 . In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.

2 . Add in the egg and beat just to combine.

3 . On a lightly floured surface, roll out both sheets of thawed puff pastry to a 12 x 12 inch square.

4 . Cut each sheet into 9 even squares. Then cut a 1 inch border around each square.

5 . Transfer each square to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush the edge border of each square with egg wash.

6 . Pit each cherry and cut them in halves.

7 . Combine the cherries with corn starch, granulated sugar, and lemon juice.

8 . 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.

 

9 . Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.

10 . Meanwhile combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tbsp milk and, 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice. This will be the glaze.

11 . Once the pastries are cooled, drizzle the glaze over each square.