Simple Cheese Danish
These simple homemade cheese danishes are so easy, so elegant and so delicious. You’ve gotta try them right now!
I feel like I’ve been harping on quick, simple recipes and meals lately. Sorry if that offends your gourmet spirit.
I promise that fast food (I’m talking fast food like homecooked fast food, not fast food like dollar menu fast food) can taste delicious even if it is simple and quick to prepare.
Because of my latest fetish with easy recipes, I was thrilled beyond thrilled when out of the blue, America’s Test Kitchen sent me their newest cookbook, The Quick Family Cookbook, because the food in here is seriously talking my language.
No-fail is the word that comes to mind with ATK’s tested, tested, tested recipes and the wonder of this cookbook is that you get classically delicious America’s Test Kitchen recipes with minimal fuss, time and ingredients. Oh, I am in love with this book.
To show how great this book is, I should have made some stellar main course fare that will save your bacon on any given Tuesday night; however, I couldn’t resist these delicious cheese Danish pastries.
They are so easy, so elegant and so delicious, if you close your eyes while eating one, you might just believe you are smack dab on the bustling streets of Paris – oh wait, think of some city in Denmark! – eating an authentic pastry.
Not that I ever have had that experience, but take my word for it – these babies get the job done for a no-fuss pastry. Make them and love them.
Simple Cheese Danish
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, light or regular, softened to room temperature
- 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (9 1/2 by 9-inch)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten with 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Adjust an oven rack to upper-middle position and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, stir together the cream cheese, sugar, lemon zest and vanilla. Set aside.
- Roll the pastry into a 12 by 9-inch rectangle on a lightly floured counter, making sure it doesn’t stick to the counter while rolling. Cut the rectangle into six 4 1/2 by 4-inch rectangles (cut it in half the long way and then cut each strip into thirds). Transfer the pastry rectangles to the baking sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart. Using the tip of a paring knife, score a 1/2-inch border around the edge of each pastry, then brush the borders with the egg wash (no fear – if you don’t have a pastry brush, using your fingers works just as well!). Prick the pastry with a fork every 1 inch or so within the border (see the picture below for a visual). Place a generous 2-3 tablespoons of filling in the center of each pastry and spread it into an even layer leaving the border uncovered.
- Bake the pastries until fully puffed and golden about 12-14 minutes (watching carefully so they don’t overbrown). Serve the pastries warm or at room temperature.
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Recipe Source: adapted slightly from America’s Test Kitchen Quick Family Cookbook
1,214 Comments on “Simple Cheese Danish”
This was delicious! It came together super easy and quick. Great Sunday night treat!
I cannot thank you enough for the recipe I love cheese danish but I have never made it at home so I am going to make this for sure thank you very much Charlotte Weber
Betty Crocker Cook Book
Given to me by my sister for my wedding in 1979
It is heavily used and has created many a meal and treats for my family and friends for many years.
I was wondering where I had heard about America’s Test Kitchen cookbooks, they had one at Costco today that was their “healthy” version for families. Now I might have to get it next time I go!
Joy of Cooking 🙂
Most of my recipes come from blogs these days, but I do really like the Taste of Home Guilt Free Cookbook.
I have to say, that my favorite and most used cookbook, is “Our Best Bites”!! Love it! And I also have a binder FULL of all of your recipes too, and that is also a favorite. Thnaks!
I have so many cookbooks that I use, but right now i’ve been using the Fix it and Forget-it cookbook . I’ve been using it a lot latley!
Thanks for the give away!
bydubois10@yahoo.com
I wish I had a go to cookbook. I usually find everything online…maybe this could be the one!
Right now the one I use the most is “Our Best Bites” Mormon Moms in the Kitchen
Those girls have some great recipes, and they have a new one coming out this month. Super excited for this new ATK one though. Very Cool
My mom gave me a cookbook that’s been in our family for as long as I can remember, called Another Mushroom. It’s full of recipes from a little restaurant in Dallas. It’s spiral-bound, with yellowing pages, some of them falling out and others with food stains on them. I adore it.
My favorite cookbook is my family ward cookbook. It has recipes from all the ward members I grew up with and many family favorites.
My hands-down favorite cookbook is the one my mother put together years ago of all the receipes she frequently made while we were growing up. The pages in this book are tattered and food-splotched, as well as falling out, but I continue to use it all the time.
I tend to take a look at my Betty Crocker cookbook, since I know all of those recipes have been tested as well. Actually, the cookbook came with my husband when we got married, so it’s not even mine!