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
Truthfully I have quit using my cookbooks almost completely since I’ve become a devoted follower of this incredible food blog. I have a few favorite recipes in a church cookbook I got a couple of years ago. Seriously your blog is a non-paid ATK advertisement, so they should be really thanking you! Thanks for the fun giveaway!
I use my Betty Crocker cookbook and my America’s Test Kitchen the most! But truth be told, since finding your blog, I use your blog the most!
I have a very torn, worn, and loved Betty Crocker cookbook in my cupboard. Not only does it have basic recipes, but it also tells me measurement conversions, which in a moment of insanity, can save my cooking.
I have a fix it and forget it cookbook that I use all the time for crockpot meals! Every one I have tried has been delish and it makes dinner prep so easy!
V
my go-to cookbook is the america’s test kitchen family cookbook. seriously, atk has the best books with the best information!
I am such a sucker for any cookbook – I am growing quite a collection – however my favorite cookbooks are those that are “homemade” such as cookbooks done by church groups, families, school groups or done as a fundraiser. I love that the recipes are favorites that are tried and true – tested through and through and usually use ingredients that I have on hand! I love to search second-hand goodwill stores for such cookbooks that people have donated!
Lately my favorite is Baking: From My Home to Yours. I prefer baking to cooking and that cookbook is full of amazing treats!
The “new” Betty Crocker cookbook. It’s probably from the 70’s, but it was my Grandma’s, and if it worked for Granny, it works for me! Thanks for the chance to win the cookbook!
Honestly, the “cookbook” I use the most is the one I’ve put together. Of which, probably 99% of the recipes are from here! Thank you, and my family thanks you!
My favorite cookbook is one I got 20 years ago that the Relief Society in my home ward put together. We lived one hour from a grocery store so all the recipes are true “home cooking”.
You know I love your recipes, but the most fun cookbook I go to constantly (sometimes just to read the stories) is Shuck Beans, Stack Cakes, and Honest Fried Chicken.
How fun! I love America’s Test Kitchen! The cook books I used the most are of the ward cookbooks I’ve collected. I love knowing the cooks personally, and the types of cooks they are.
My very favorite cookbook is Cooking Through the Years with Ozaukee County 4-H. I love cookboks compiled by civic groups and churches – becasue you know people won’t sumbit a recipe unless it’s one of their VERY favorites!
I love both of my Pampered Chef 29-minute meal cookbooks. Their recipes have easy ingredients and a few steps and the recipes turn out like the picture!
Any cookbook that involves Christopher Kimball. I have several and am always very happy with the things I make out of them.
I usually use your website and pinterest for recipes, but when I need kitchen tips I always get out my Better Homes and Gardens New cookbook.
I love Southern Living Annual Cookbooks and Giada at Home Cookbook.
Those Danishes look *amazing*. I’ve got to get my hands on some puff pastry ASAP.
My favorite cookbook is The Best Recipe (from America’s Test Kitchen– I love those people). You can tell by looking at it: the cover has fallen off, and it practically opens on it’s own to the recipes I use over and over again. I love EVERYTHING from ATK. 🙂
Looks like i picked a good day to check out your blog -new reader here – My book is more like a collcetion of favoite magazines ..mostly with Italian recipies!
The only cookbook I really have is the Betty Crocker cookbook so I could really use this one!
I never win anything….but I adore Test Kitchen and happened upon your site and think you are pretty darn cool. We have a lot of similar feelings about homemade food and trying to feed our families foods that we know what is in them. You are bookmarked and I plan on trying a ton of your recipes! Thanks!
These danish look great! Like a lot of people I have a lot of cookbooks and I go through times when I’ll use one for awhile and then a different one. I live in Arizona but this time of year my favorite is The New England Cookbook by Brooke Dojny. I miss the New England fall having spent half my life in Connecticut.
My favorite cookbook is the Betty Crocker Cookie Book that belonged to my grandmother.
A family coookbook that’s been in the family for….ever! Pick me! Pick me!
I actually don’t have any cookbooks. I just go by recipes given to me by friends and family but I might have to start off with this one!!
Blogs and the internet have become my cookbook. I am hoping to soon get a copy of my mom’s binder of recipes that she has compiled (what could be better than family favorites?).
I love my Taste of Home cookbooks.
I have a ton of cook books, the oldest one is my mother’s Betty Crocker’s Picture Cook Book given to her in 1951, but the book I usualy go to 1st if it’s not a specialty dish is The Joy of Cooking
Hummm… #1 would be Cook’s Illustrated – we get the annual edition of the magazines…also have several books -American Classics etc. Martha Stewart – use her books and website. We also several of the Williams Sonoma series books.
I use allrecipes.com to store my recipies and check for quick dinner ideas, but getting fustrated with all the “campbells soup” type recipes – I want recipes with real ingredients, not boxes/jars of prepacked stuff.
On the weekends my husband is in charge — he goes for Charlie Trotter’s books. Too much for me!
We LOVE your site – I stumbled upon it when trying to find a way to organize my recipes. It is a great combo of healthy/easy for me and gormet for my husgand. Great stuff!
I love all Paula Deen cookbooks, Giada too!! I probably grab Americas Test Kitchen cookbook most though!! It’s awesome!!
Other than the binders of printed recipes from your awesome website and others like it, the only actual cookbook that I have I got for when I went away from home to school. It’s Betty Crocker’s Cookbook. It’s pretty good and I still use it, but I’d love a cookbook from America’s Test Kitchen. I have a friend with one of their cookbooks, and every time I have anything she has prepared it’s amazing!
My self-compiled binder of family recipes, magazine tear-outs, internet printed (many from here) and all with notes written on them to Tweek them for my fam/oven/table. I don’t own an ATK cookbook…but think they may be on my Christmas list this year.
My favorite cookbook is The Three Ingredient Cookbook, by Jenny White. I swear, every time I open that cookbook I find new delicious recipe that I’ve never seen before. It also has great information sections at the beginning. It was a great library find. And after I’d renewed it about half a dozen times decided that maybe I should own it–best decision ever.
I have lots of cookbooks, but the one I tend to use the most is my trusty Joy of Cooking.
My sister-in-law made me a cookbook for my birthday one year called “Man, You Know You Want to Marry Me.” Although I’m not married yet, it’s still my favorite cookbook by far:)
I love the recipes from The Pioneer Woman Reed Drummond….her cookbook Recipe from an Accidental Country Girl.
LOVE the look of that danish – awesome!
My fav/most used cookbook is Dorie’s Baking from my home to yours
I use your website ALOT ever since I found it. But I also use our Better Homes and Garden cookbook, and a family favorites recipe book that my sis-in-law put together.
As of recently I’ve been delving in to the Everyday Paleo cookbook. Even though I’m not Paleo (A style of eating) it had some really good recipes. Also and ATK cookbook. I love them and their magazine!
My favorite cookbook is my Mom’s! She made me one before I left for college. I still use it the most out of any I have. I love her recipes and am so grateful she got them all together for me!
My favorite cookbook right now is Super Natural Every Day. Lots of whole foods.
I love anything ATK does! I think my very favorite cookbook is one compiled and published years ago by Chinaberry Books.
I LOVE a cookbook I got for my wedding. . The favorites cookbook. I have seen it on amazon maybe once and need to find out where my friend bought it so I can share the love!
Like others, I get most of my recipes online. However, one cookbook I turn to often when I need a basic recipe is “How to Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman.
I love and use my 1981 Dining With Pioneers, put out by the TN Chapter of Telephone Pioneers of America, and given to me by my mother-in-law. Simple recipes + simple ingredients = lots of good food!
These look so good! My fav cookbook is one my grandparents put together with all of their recipes and gave to all the kids and grandkids.
Pick me! Pick me! Honestly my most used cookbook is my spiral notebook full of recipes from your website! A close second is my Taste of Home cookbook.
But seriously I love your site! And my MIL wears by America Test Kitchens. Would love this cookbook.
Woot!
My big Taste of Home cookbook is the one I turn to most. I’ve never had bad luck with any of the recipes. I must admit that most of my recipes come from pinterest these days though.
One of my most loved cookbooks is “Favorites” by Grace Ivory Rock and Jane Ivory Metcalf. Great recipes, but no pictures (one of my favorite features of your blog!). Luckily every recipe I’ve tried is fantastic!