If you're a Starbucks cheese danish fan and want to make this comfort food fave at home, this scrumptious foolproof recipe does not disappoint. These fresh-from-the-oven pastries are flaky, creamy and downright irresistible.
Lately I've been warming them up to have for a mid-morning snack with a cup of coffee. ☕ Or two. ☕☕ (Same with these small batch brownies.) And they're awesome to have on hand for a brunch add-on or afternoon pastry craving.
The best part? You don't need to be a professional baker to recreate them! With just a box of puff pastry dough and a few simple ingredients, you'll be good to go. I'll walk you through it below.
🌿 Ingredients
Look for puff pastry dough in the freezer section of a large grocery store. Before you make this recipe, you'll need to place it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw the dough. Or, you can thaw it at room temperature for about 30-45 minutes.
You can also make this recipe gluten free by using gluten free puff pastry. I tested with Schar GF Puff Pastry Dough and it worked well. (Note: GF dough does tend to crack more easily than regular dough so you may need to ball it up and roll it out again before using once it's thawed.)
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
📝 Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, in a small bowl, whisk the egg and water together and set aside.
Step 2: In a separate medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, lemon juice and salt until smooth using a hand mixer or stand mixer.
Step 3: Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheets and cut each into 6 rectangles (12 total). You'll probably need to re-use the baking sheet to make a second batch for the remaining six.
Step 4: Place on baking sheet and spoon a rounded tablespoon of filling into the center of each. I like to use the back of a spoon to spread it on.
Step 5: Brush the pastry edges with the egg wash to coat lightly.
Step 6: Bake the danishes for 14-16 minutes until puffed and golden. Cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.
✔️ Tips for success
- Keep the dough cold: Work quickly so that the dough stays chilled. Warm puff pastry dough won't rise as well in the oven.
- Use parchment paper: It prevents sticking on the baking sheet and makes cleanup so much easier.
- Don't overfill the pastry: Add about 1 rounded tablespoon of filling to each danish. Too much can spill over while baking.
- Egg wash the edges: Brushing the pastry edges with an egg/water mix creates that golden, bakery-style shine.
🍳 Recipe
Easy Homemade Cheese Danish (Starbucks Copycat)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and water together and set aside.1 egg
- Make the filling: In a separate medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, lemon juice and salt until smooth using a hand mixer or stand mixer.8 ounces cream cheese, 3 tablespoons white sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, pinch sea salt
- Assemble: Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheets and cut each into 6 rectangles (12 total). You'll probably need to re-use the baking sheet to make a second batch for the remaining six. Place on baking sheet and spoon a rounded tablespoon of filling into the center of each. I like to use the back of a spoon to spread it on. Then, brush the pastry edges with the egg wash to coat lightly.1 box puff pastry dough
- Bake: Bake the danishes for 14-16 minutes until puffed and golden. Cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.
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