Cheese Danish

Enjoy light and airy pastries with this easy crescent roll cheese Danish recipe, featuring crescent roll pastry and a rich and tangy cream cheese filling.

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Make your mornings sweeter with this simple crescent roll cheese danish recipe. Crescent roll dough provides a flaky, buttery base in this recipe, before being topped with a tangy cream cheese filling. The pastry is then finished with a second layer of crescent roll dough and a deliciously sweet glaze. The result is a light and buttery patsy complete with a rich filling. There’s no need to spend hours in the kitchen to achieve perfectly airy cheese danishes with this delightful crescent roll danish recipe. 

Crescent Roll Cheese Danish Ingredients 

You’ll need:

• 2 (8-ounce) cans of crescent rolls
• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs 
• 1 tablespoon of water
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk

Substitutions and Additions 

CREAM CHEESE: Full-fat cream cheese has the best texture and creaminess for the filling in this recipe, but you can also use reduced-fat (or Neufchâtel) instead.

CRESCENT ROLLS: If you can find crescent roll baking sheets without perforations, this recipe comes together even easier as you won’t have to press the seams together. You can also use puff pastry sheets.

FILLING: There are plenty of filling options to mix up the flavors in this recipe. Try adding fresh blueberries, strawberries, orange zest, apricot jam, or raspberry jam!

How to Make This Crescent Roll Cream Cheese Danish Recipe 

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a glass 9×13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. Unroll one package of crescent rolls and press the sheet into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pan. Press the seams together to seal. 

STEP TWO: Using a hand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and one egg in a medium bowl.

STEP THREE: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the crescent dough.

STEP FOUR: Unroll the second package of dough, pinch the seams together, and lay the sheet over the top of the cream cheese mixture.

STEP FIVE: In a small bowl, mix together the second egg with a tablespoon of water to create an egg wash, then brush it lightly over the dough.

STEP SIX: Bake in a preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the top and bottom pastry is golden brown.

PRO TIP: Ovens can vary and sometimes need to be recalibrated. I recommend checking on your danishes earlier in the cooking period and adjust your cooking time as needed. 

STEP SEVEN: When done baking, remove the pan from the oven and allow the Danish to cool for 20 to 30 minutes before topping with the glaze.

STEP EIGHT: To make the glaze, whisk the powdered sugar, remaining vanilla extract, and milk in a small bowl until smooth.

STEP NINE: Drizzle the glaze over the cooled Danish.

STEP TEN: Using a sharp knife, cut it into twelve bars and serve with coffee or hot tea.

How To Serve 

These crescent roll cheese Danishes make for a deliciously sweet breakfast, or as a treat with your afternoon coffee or tea. Serve it with fresh fruit, eggs, and bacon for a delightful meal. 

Storage 

IN THE FRIDGE: Once the dish has cooled and the glaze is set, cover the pan with plastic wrap or place the Danishes in an airtight container. Store them in the fridge for up to 5 days.

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze these danishes baked or unbaked. If you are freezing the danishes once baked, wrap them in plastic once cooled and place them in an airtight container. They will stay fresh in the freezer for up to a month. You can also freeze unbaked danishes by wrapping the pan tightly with plastic or foil for up to 4 months. Defrost at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours before baking. 

Make breakfast extra sweet with these simple and scrumptious crescent roll cheese danishes. Made with light and airy crescent rolls and a tangy cream cheese frosting, they’re full of flavor and incredibly delicious!

FAQ:

Q? Can I use puff pastry instead of crescent roll dough?

A: Puff pastry would work great in this recipe and give you a deliciously airy cheese Danish.  

Q? What is a cheese Danish?

A: Cheese Danishes are a delicious pastry that feature a flaky, buttery pastry filled with a cheese filling. The filling is sweetened, resulting in an almost cheesecake-like flavor. They’re rich, airy, and buttery! 

Q? Can I add fruit to this recipe?

A: Berries would be a delicious addition to this recipe. Wash and dry berries of your choice, and place them in a single layer on top of the cheese mixture before baking.  

Cheese Danish

Enjoy light and airy pastries with this easy crescent roll cheese Danish recipe, featuring crescent roll pastry and a rich and tangy cream cheese filling.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Ingredients

  

• 16 ounces (2 8-ounce) cans crescent dough rolls
• 16 ounces (2 8-ounce) packages full fat cream cheese softened
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract divided
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon water
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Unroll a full sheet of crescent dough and press into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared baking dish, pressing the seam lines together.
• In a medium mixing bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and 1 egg. Spread mixture evenly over the crescent dough.
• Roll out the second sheet of crescent dough, pressing seams together with your fingers. Lay dough over the top of the cream cheese layer.
• Mix remaining egg with a tablespoon of water and brush over the top of the crescent dough top.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until crescent dough is golden brown on the top and on the bottom of the baking dish.
• Allow the cheese danish to cool for 20 to 30 minutes before topping with glaze.
• To make the glaze, whisk together ½ cup powdered sugar, remaining ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, and milk until smooth.
• Drizzle glaze over cooled danish.
• Cut into 12 bars and serve.

Notes

If you use regular crescent roll dough, you don’t have to seal the edges perfectly, because they will puff up and come together while baking.

Lemon juice adds a hint of flavor to the cream cheese filling, but can be omitted if you prefer. For a sweeter Danish filling, increase the sugar to a full cup.

For an extra special touch, sprinkle the glazed Danish with coarse sugar or add lemon to the glaze.

Keyword Cheese Danish Recipe