Description
This Crescent Roll Cream Cheese Danish is a quick and easy breakfast treat made with flaky crescent roll dough and a sweet, smooth cream cheese filling. Topped optionally with a delicate vanilla glaze, this recipe offers a delightful combination of buttery pastry and rich filling, perfect for weekend mornings or special occasions.
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 packages crescent roll pastry dough sheets
- 2 Tablespoons melted butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze (optional)
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure your danishes don't stick and bake evenly.
- Prepare Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Use a hand mixer to blend these ingredients until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Prepare Dough Rectangles: Unroll the crescent roll dough sheets. Since the dough usually comes in triangles, press the perforations of two adjoining triangles together to create 8 rectangular shapes.
- Butter and Sugar Coating: Lightly brush about one teaspoon of melted butter onto each dough rectangle. Then sprinkle approximately half a tablespoon of brown sugar over the buttered surface of each rectangle to add sweetness and help with caramelization.
- Form the Danish: Roll each rectangle lengthwise into a log shape, gently pinching the edges to seal. Coil each dough log into a circular shape and press your fingers gently to create a shallow indentation in the center on top of each coil. Arrange all coils on the prepared baking sheet.
- Fill the Danishes: Spoon approximately one tablespoon of the cream cheese filling into the center indentation of each dough coil carefully, ensuring the filling is well contained.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the danishes for 15 to 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown on top and the dough is cooked through.
- Cool: Remove the danishes from the oven and transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely before glazing.
- Prepare Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream (or milk), vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until smooth and pourable.
- Glaze Danishes: Drizzle the prepared glaze over the cooled danishes evenly. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Storage: Keep leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Variation: For added flavor, place a spoonful of your favorite jam or fresh berries in the cream cheese filling before baking.
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened to make mixing easier and achieve a smooth filling texture.
- For a lighter glaze, use milk instead of heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast Pastry
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
