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.
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: adapted slightly from America’s Test Kitchen Quick Family Cookbook
Martha’s Everyday Food is a staple in my kitchen and great for go-to recipes when I’m in a rut 🙂
ATK’s Best Recipes.
I put together a collection of my favorite recipes found online or made up in my head for my baby sister who just got married last year- I had two copies printed and bound for the two of us- I reach for that book ever week to make a favorite for my hubby and kids!
I am a cookbook junkie though- it inspires me to look through recipes and get ideas- especially quick simple and good tasting ones!
Cooking In France by Pierre Franey.
Alice Medrich’s “Bittersweet.”
aside from my beloved recipe binder full of our family favorites, which I don’t think counts as a cookbook, it is my Betty Crocker cookbook. Mostly I use the cooking time for meats, but she does have some great american classics in there.
Your blog has been my cookbook! Seriously…I realized yesterday that I was making dinner and dessert all from your recipes!
How to choose? They are like my children! I have an old Betty Crocker I love. The Joy of Cooking is a favorite, but don’t tell the others! I have about 40 cookbooks that I’ve collected in the last 40 years. I don’t cook as much any more but I like to read through them once in a while.
My fave book is called “The treasure” (it’s in Hebrew) and I love it.
I have to admit that the cook book we use most isn’t really a cook book. :/ One Christmas ( think it was last Christmas but I have serious Mom brain and I cant remember) Angela typed up Moms recipes as a gift and I asked for a copy. So there you go. No official cook book, but its a binder full of my favorite dishes and treats. Love you and I hope you find a home soon!
My favorite cookbooks are those ones where everyone at church puts in their absolute favorites. I love them because they usually use ingredients I am really familiar with. But I love America’s Test Kitchen. They sure put in the effort to figure out the “perfect” recipe. 🙂
Although I may not follow his recipes to the letter, I find that I turn to Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything time and time again whenever I want to learn about a new ingredient or find out how to prepare something. It really is quite comprehensive.
These look yummy! I’ve never had them before, but I watch the ATK shows all the time. LOVE THEM!! I don’t have one of their cookbooks yet and I really should get one. Currently my most used one is Our Best Bites.
My extended family make a cookbook every few years of new and old family recipes and I have to say its always one of my favorite books.
Better Homes & Gardens, The Cake Mix Doctor, and the in!ternet
My very favorite cookbook is The Joy of Cooking. But that is a tough choice!
The Taste of Home Cookbook is definitely my favorite go to cookbook.
I use ATK/Cooks Illustrated cookbooks regularly. Unfortunately I only own one of their books, but right now I keep Slow Cooker Revolution on a constant hold at our library. As soon as I turn in one of their copies, I put a hold on the other copy!
Love so many of the recipes you post!!!
I have a large cupboard dedicated to my cookbooks! Most people say that the last thing I need is another one but they don’t realize that I use them all! But my all time favorite is the Great American Favorite Brand Name Cookbook! Lots of great recipes, everyday ingredients and (my favorite thing) lots of pictures since I love to see what the finished product was meant to look like. I would think that this is why so many of us like looking on-line for recipes as most of the time there is a photo as well!
The cookbook I use most is an old ward cookbook (that I somehow just inherited, I have no idea who belonged to that ward). But really I find most my recipes online now. Thanks for the chance!
I love Pioneer Woman’s newest cookbook! I love just looking through it and reading it!
I love my Taste of Home cookbook! It has a little bit of everything and lots of tips and everything I’ve ever tried from it is wonderful!
The danishes look amazing! I bought this cookbook years and years ago called The American Country Inn and Bed & Breakfast Cookbook, and I have used it so much. It was written by husband and wife who were both RN’s that traveled the country to all the b&b’s and got recipes from the owners.
I use my Our Best Bites cookbook all the time!
I have used many recipes from the taste of home magazines and a few of their cookbooks. I am always on the lookout for quick recipes!
My most used cookbook is a compilation of family recipes put together one year for a family reunion. I have 3 or 4 websites I always go to, mel’s kitchen cafe being at the top of that list. Thanks for a great site!
I just have to say, first of all, that I love your blog. I have been a faithful follower for years. I have made many of your recipes, and they’ve been a huge success with my family of seven!
I have MANY cookbooks, but the one that I use the most is actually a family cookbook that I was given for a wedding present. It has many wonderful recipes.
I would love to win something!
One of my favorite books is “Our Best Recipes” from Southern Living, Volume Three. It has the best banana tea bread ever.
My fav of all time……Palmdale 5th Ward Cookbook. Best ever. Has a lot of great “oldies” and comfort food. By the way, I think our babies share the same birthday….April 25th?
Well. Not that this comment isn’t one in thousands, but I just wanted to say thanks for your recipes! I love all the ones I’ve tried and this one looks just as good. Thanks. 🙂
My America’s Test Kitchen Baking Book is currently most used cookbook, but until I bought it a couple of years ago, I was most faithful to my mom’s battered old Betty Crocker cookbook I learned to bake out of when I was in grade school.
I have a church/neighborhoood cookbook that I love. I also go to Betty Crocker for questions on how to cook veggies or meats. I check your website everyday and I have to say your website is my favorite.
I don’t use cookbooks much anymore- too many wonderful recipes on the blogopshere (namely- here!) I would love to have this one though!
When I first went overseas I bought a Chinese cookbook in Japan that has been my favorite cookbook and has saved me from being famished at the end of a long day.
I love the new cook’s illustrated cookbook when i have more time to put into my cooking.
I use to use a cookbook put together with everyone’s favorite recipes from church, but now your website is my favorite “cookbook”. Seriously I LOVE your recipes, thanks so much for sharing!!
Betty Crocker, or TOH for printed books. Also love Pinterest for variety. This one sounds like a winner!
Thanks for the give-away opportunity!
My most used cookbook is the Internet! But I do have a couple ‘old school’ cookbooks that I refer to every now and again!
Joy of cooking!
Sounds delicious… most of my recipes come from family (mom, aunt, sisters, cousins) and your blog – seriously, you have awesome stuff here!
I love everyday food and our best bites cookbooks. That’s when I’m not stalking your blog or other food blogs!
My favorite cookbook is ATK’s Best 30 minute recipe. I would love to have this cookbook!
I love my Tastebook, which is a collection of all of my favorite recipes made into an amazing book.
My mother’s cookbook!
I have several favorites, but both my husband and I have tried lots of recipes from the original “America’s Test Kitchen” cookbook.
My favorite cookbook is Better Homes and Gardens Heritage of America Cookbook!
The history and photos and recipes by regions are incredible! But, truthfully I use the internet for most of my recipes these days!
Are you kidding me? Yes please!!! One of my most helpful cookbooks by far is Joy of Cooking:)
I have a family cookbook I use most often, but for commercial ones, I like Cook’s Illustrated Baking and King Arthur Flour’s Cookie book
The only cookbook I have ever used is the old Betty Crocker red and white checkered book. Then I found your blog and well, I never use cookbooks anymore. All I need is an internet connection and you to keep posting your amazing recipes! Thanks!
I’ve made waffles and pancakes from the Joy of Cooking countless times with my mom. It’s my favorite because of the memories.