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
Ivory family Favorites, by the make a wish foundation. No pictures but I love every recipe I have made. I am dying for an America’s test kitchen book!
Hi Mel!
I wouldn’t say I have any particular cookbook that I use on a regular basis as majority of my meals come from family, friends…and YOU! Being able to pull out my families favorite recipes that have been handed down to me by grandparents, sister, friends, mother-in-law and my own mother puts together the PERFECT cookbook I could ever have! Yes, I know, it’s cheesy sounding…but so true!! There’s so much sentiment and history behind them all making cooking much more exciting!
I love the Blue Ribbon Cookbook by Diane Roupe. All the recipes turn out great every time!
Don’t really have a favorite. Haven’t found one I just love yet. Probably use Betty Crocker the most often. Have to say your blog is the first place I go for ideas and inspiration. Haven’t made anything I didn’t like yet.
ATK The New Best Recipe is second only to this website in my house!
Hi Mel –
The cookbook I use most often is Rachael Ray’s 365: No Repeats, A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners. The recipes quick, 30 minutes of course, and I can almost always find a recipe to make with what I have on hand. (As well as about four recipes to add to my menu planner for when I get groceries next!)
Um…blogs and Pinterest are making my collection of cookbooks rather obsolete, but the new Cook’s Illustrated book is great. Would love if you put your recipes in a book though!
I always go to my trusted hand written family cookbook. It has a ll my mothers recipes and simple recipes like how to cook a soft boiled egg.
My favorite cookbook is ATK’s best recipes over 10 years.
I used to consult my Taste of Home annual editions fairly regularly, but nowadays I use the internet–especially your blog! I also have a growing stack of Cook’s Country and Cook’s Illustrated magazines that I can’t bear to part with…
When I use an actual cookbook I usually turn to my Cooks Illustrated Best 30 minute meals book, but honestly I get most of my recipes from blogs. I would love to have a new cookbook though!
Mels Kitchen Cafe!!! I know that technically your blog is not a cookbook, but I use it more than any of the cookbooks that I have for recipes! 😉
I have a recipe book that my Grandma gave me years ago. They got all the church members to submit their favorite recipes and created a recipe book to mark the 100 year birthday of our congregation. It has some of the BEST recipes I’ve ever tried.
I don’t use many cookbooks thanks to wonderful people like you sharing your recipes. I do have a few old cookbooks from different wards I have been in that I love to use. But besides that I am sorry to say my stack of cookbooks don’t get much use. 🙂
While growing up, my step mom had the Fanny Farmer Cookbook (that dark maroon one) that I would occasionally break out and bake something. My most successful experience were popovers! at age 16! Unfortunately, I put down my oven mits for about 16 more years and just got around to dusting them off about 4 years ago.
Now, my favorite “cookbook” is the internet–I love the recipes submitted to allrecipes.com by normal, everyday people.
My ward cookbook is my favorite for sure. So many great recipes and so many people that I love!
I have way too many cookbooks but can’t resist adding to my collection. Two that are falling apart are my family cookbook amd an old Betty Crocker.
Those look so good right now!
I actually don’t have a favorite cookbook. I have a ton but only a few recipes from each that I use regularly. I’ve been dying to try out an ATK book!
My best cookbook is the one I’ve compiled myself–all recipes my family and I love gleaned from sources all over! (including your blog, of course!)
I think my favorite is the ATK big red family cookbook. It’s a great resource!
My favorite is an old Relief Society cookbook my stake put together years ago. It’s my “go to!”
This looks like a great addition to my cookbook collection!
I use Mark Bittman’s “How to Cook Everything” constantly.
My favorite cookbook is Mark Bittman’s “How to Cook Everything.”
Oooo, I’d love a America’s Test Kitchen!! Is it bad that I don’t have a favorite cookbook? I always seem to find recipes online to try that I don’t use any of my many many cookbooks. :-/
My most often used cookbook is Pioneer Woman’s first book. Her mac n cheese is stellar!
I really enjoy your site Mel! I’m not sure if it’s my favorite, but I always use my Betty Crocker cookbook.
My grandmother hand wrote her favorite recipes and put them in a pretty recipe box for me when I moved away to college. I think I’ve used that more than any published cookbook, but I do love “Pillsbury: Best Desserts”.
I love the Pioneer Woman’s cookbook but I mainly use recipes from my mom 🙂
This obscure cook book called “family dinners” — simple family meals that taste great
My two most used cook books are Cook’s Country and a family cookbook we made about 15 years ago.
I use Betty crocker’s sharing favorites cookbook. I have many memories of my mom often using it. I would love this cookbook- any cookbook that gives me quick and easy recipes works for me
Those look divine! I have a binder full of recipes I’ve collected that is my main go to. And I call my sister, a lot, for ideas. She’s like my own Betty Crocker!
Taste of Home Baking Book, but mostly online recipes.
The Best Recipe by ATK, when not relying solely on Mels Kitchen Cafe, or perusing back issues of Taste of Home.
Honestly, I use Mel’s Kitchen Cafe for about 65% of my meals. Other than that, my most used cookbooks are all my Cook’s Country magazines.
I have a bunch of cookbooks but the 2 that get the most use are one from my husband’s church and my Betty Crocker. More often than not though, I rely on the Internet for recipes.
I love the Food Nanny cookbook. But I always seem to look here first. Thanks for creating my favorite food blog!!
It’s old Betty Crocker for me! I just know if I have a question this cookbook gives basic advice that is always good.
I don’t have many cookbooks but my fav is the one I’ve compiled from blogs like this one!
The Joy of Cooking
I would say my favorite cookbook to use is my old Betty Crocker Cookbook. It was given to me as a wedding gift and I couldn’t cook at all. Since then I have learned a lot so I would say that cookbook taught me how to cook. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love the ATK Healthy Family Cookbook. You introduced me to ATK, and I’ve spread the word to countless others, so you definitely deserve a random free cookbook or two!
No favorite cookbook – just a bunch of recipes printed out and organized in a binder. Would be nice to have a real cookbook (besides my BH&G cookbook that I rarely use).
By far my most loved, most used cookbook is Farmhouse Cooking. It’s a Mennonite cookbook with tons of great recipes!! Many pages are stained and a little stuck together, that’s an indication of recipes I use a lot( I am a messy cook)
I use my Fanny Farmer cookbook more than any other,,but I picked up a copy of “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” this weekend so it may take over. Thanks for the chance to win.
I like my zbetty Crockery but also love allrecipes.com.
My favorite cookbooks are the annual Cook’s Country Books. They include new renditions of old favorites, and I love my comfort food too.
My recipe binder is most used, but my most frequented cook book is “Lickety-split meals for health conscious people on the go” by Zonya Foco. I LOVE the set up of her recipes. It makes so much sense! I wish every recipe book did that:)
Ooh, this recipe sounds fabulous, and the cookbook does too. One of my favorite cookbooks is the book of family recipes my husband’s aunt compiled for us for a wedding gift. So many good family favorites in there!
I really love cookbooks and have alot, one of my favorites would have to be “Make it Fast Cook it Slow” by Stephanie O’Dea. Easy crock pot recipes that all taste wonderful.