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
My favorite is the compilation of our family’s tried and true recipes that we put together for the boys. It started out when we asked my sister to take custody of the kids if something ever happened. She said she would take the boys on the condition we put together some of their favorite recipes. She reasoned that that way at least they could have familiar (comfort) foods in the event that their life was turned upside down. It comes off the shelf at least once a day. Everyone uses it —dad, the boys, and even myself.
My most used so far is America’s Best-Loved Community Recipes. I love America’s Test Kitchen and how they explain what makes each recipe work.
I get so many of my recipes off blogs, websites, etc. – but for old standbys I refer to Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook.
My most used are cookbooks are from Taste of Home.
My go-to cookbook is the Complete America’s Test Kitchen Recipes book. Almost all the recipes are easy and foolproof.
I have a 101 Crockpot Recipes cookbook that I LOVE!
I would say the “Fix it and Forget it Cookbook”-slow cooker cookbook. You can’t go wrong when you have a large family and not a lot of time. And I love that it uses basic ingredients (not ones that I have to go to a specialty grocery store for).
All the items made from The Best Recipe cookbook have been great! It inspires me to make things I’ve never made before.
My 3 favorite cookbooks are:
Mine that I have compiled from recipes mostly found on the internet.
One put together by a local church ward
A Pinch of Salt Lake
Thanks for the great giveaway – I need some quick meals with my health nowadays!
Betty crocker and Our Best Bites – you should totally write a cookbook!
My favorite cookbook is one my sister-in-law compiled with all of our family members favorite, most used recipes. I love it! I also love America’s Test Kitchen recipes!
does the internet count. that is where most of my recipes come from now, my husband complains I never make the same meal twice.
Its tied between anything by Jacques Pepin and Julia Child.
The one I use is the one I put together of recipes from the food blogs I follow…your’s included!
I LOVE my Taste of Home Cookbook, the recipes always turn out, even if I haven’t made it before.
The cookbook that I use the most is one that my mom gave me when I got married two years ago. It was put together by a bunch of women in our church who compiled all of their favorite family recipes!
I have to agree, fast homemade food can be just as delicious as gourmet ones. 🙂 One cookbook that I used most often? IT’s so hard to think of any….because I love to try out different things and recipes all the times and hardly really settle on just one. I guess if my mom publishes a cookbook, that will be it. I love the homemade recipes that she passes on to me. 🙂
Favorite most used cookbook of mine is a toss up of two great ward cookbooks: A Taste of Harbor Pointe and Wonderful Aromas from the Fallon First Ward. Just so many tried and true recipes in each of these books. If I’m not on here finding what I want it’s usually in one of those two cookbooks.
Thanks for another great giveaway!
Most used and most loved cookbook??? Easily YOU!!! I know, you’re not actually a cookBOOK, but I don’t actually own any more cookbooks, since all I use is the internet! But seriously, I love your blog….and I’m NOT just saying that so I can win! 🙂
My first cookbook was a children’s cookbook and I think it a Betty Crocker one. It taught us how to make simple foods and step-by-step instructions even with photos. I used it with my children growing up and now I use it with my grandchildren when they want to cook with grandma. PS My daughter wanted me to let her have it so she can use it with her kiddos, but I wouldn’t let her have it. It is all mine!!!! I think there is a newer version with updated recipes and photos, but I just love my old one from the early 60’s!!!!
I have a lot but the one I turn to the most is my old Betty Crocker one I got for a wedding gift 13 years ago!
The place I go most for recipes is your blog. I love it! The things I like about it the most is that it is so kid friendly and most of them are quick and easy to fix with common ingredients, nothing too crazy. I am a simple girl. I also use a family recipe book or a Betty Crocker cookbook I got when I got married.
My favorite cookbooks are the old Doubleday Cookbooks. They are old but good.
I collect the Cook’s Illstrated series and also have a few from Cook’s Country. They are The Best!!! With the fall weather on the way, I’m looking forward to trying new recipes from The Slow Cooker Revolution.
I have a nice collection of cookbooks that I refer to a lot but one of my favorite is
The New Best Recipe. Their pie crust recipe works wonderfully.
I don’t have a favorite cookbook, but I do have a binder (or 3!) of clipped recipes or passed down recipes; although pinterest is becoming one of my favorite recipe books!
The cook book I use most is a tie between your web site and The Sisters Cafe. I find most of my dinner, snack, dessert inspiration from you two. When I am looking for an idea for dinner I log on. When I have a craving and want to try a certain ingredient, I log on. Honest. I am not lying. Before I knew about your web site– the physical cook book I always turned to was my ward cookbook. I like tried and true recipes.
Mmm, I love me a cheese danish! My favorite cookbooks are compilations of recipes from people at church!
Love ATK!!! They do such an awesome job!!! Thanks for the opportunity!
our best bites is one of my favorites!
I’ve been loving quick, easy, and good tasting recipes especially as of late and I’m always on the hunt for more. I use my Mom’s old neighborhood cook book the most. Nothing fancy but they’re definitely tried and true recipes.
Joy of Cooking and Silver Palate!
For my basic things, I use the Better Homes and Gardens “red gingham” cookbook I received as a gift 30 years ago. I bought one for my daughter 10 years ago but many of my favorite recipes weren’t in it.
My second favorite is Paul Prudhomme’s “Prudhomme Family Cookbook.” Don’t expect any New Orleans style food! That one is pure country Cajun. Paul and his team spent time with each of the 13 brothers and sisters, sampling and recreating their favorite dishes.
My favorite is a homemade cookbook we made at a job I once had. Its called the Dei Alt Schier cookbook and it has great recipes I’ve used for over 30 years!
An old family recipe book. It is the best.
I’m a Cooking Light and Mels Kitchen Cafe fan!
I have the good old Betty Crocker red paid cookbook. I believe, need some updated ones!
I probably use my allrecipes.com cookbook the most. Can’t beat a tried and true (and highly reviewed!) recipe. I would LOVE that cookbook. Love a tasty, quick-to-prepare meal.
These days my go-to place for recipes are binders full of your recipes. It is time to organize them better, but it would be much easier to buy a cookbook of yours. Just waiting for the word that you’ve signed a deal…. I would love to try this cookbook!
My beloved cookbook… a community cookbook from my husband’s aunt. A collection of tried and true family- style recipes from Aunt Betty and her friends; all southern housewives. They never fail me! She even marked it before she gave it to me with the names of the best cooks in the neighborhood.
Cooks Illustrated
My most-used cookbook is from Our Best Bites.
My favorite is probably a homemade cookbook a woman from a previous ward made of her old family recipes. Every one I’ve tried has been amazing!
Cook’s Illustrated! (But oh, how I wish YOU had a cookbook! I think I use your blog more than any of my cookbooks!)
Hands down, Rosie’s Bakery cookbooks. Always awesome and reliable to boot. I do use the web an awful lot for cooking these days though….
After living in West Africa, I grew to love a cookbook called 699 ways to serve Missionary. It was so helpful in making food with ingredients you could only find in Senegal. Love being back in America and having access to all of the variety again!
My Mt. Lebanon Junior Women’s Club cookbook — it’s my go to cookbook, of course, after I’ve scoured your site! Thanks Mel!
honestly, i dont have many cookbooks at all so i need to start building a collection! i have the jessica seinfeld cookbook that i’ve cooked out of and have enjoyed about 1/2 the recipes i’ve made. so not my fave! would love this book as i’ve tried a few recipes from the show and they did not disappoint!
I really love The Moosewood cookbook. It proved to me that you don’t need a lot of meat to have a fabulous and family friendly meal. My favorite is the eggplant enchiladas!
It’s probably my Betty Crocker cookbook, but I have many that come a close second.