Description
This easy Cherry Cheese Danish recipe combines buttery puff pastry with a rich cream cheese filling and sweet cherry topping—perfect for brunch, breakfast, or holidays like Valentine’s Day. Made with store-bought puff pastry, it’s beginner-friendly, quick, and always a hit.
Ingredients
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2 sheets puff pastry (thawed)
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4 oz cream cheese (softened)
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1/4 cup sugar
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1 egg yolk
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1 tbsp ricotta cheese
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1/2 tsp vanilla or almond extract
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Pinch of salt
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1/2 tbsp lemon zest
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1 cup cherry pie filling
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1 egg (for egg wash)
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1 tbsp water
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Flour (for dusting)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment.
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Roll puff pastry to 10×10-inch squares and cut out heart shapes.
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Prick centers with fork, leaving 1/2-inch border.
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Mix cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, ricotta, extract, salt, and lemon zest until smooth.
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Spoon cream cheese mixture onto pastry hearts.
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Top with cherry pie filling (4-5 cherries each).
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Brush pastry edges with egg wash.
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Chill assembled danishes for 15 minutes.
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Bake for 15–20 minutes until golden.
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Cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Use reduced-fat cream cheese and sugar-free cherry filling for a lighter version.
- You can prep these ahead and bake fresh in the morning.
- Substitute other fruits like blueberry or raspberry if desired.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American