Apple Cheese Danishes (Printable)

Flaky golden pastries with creamy cheese filling and cinnamon-spiced apples, perfect for any occasion.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pastry

01 - 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
02 - 1 egg, beaten for egg wash

→ Cream Cheese Filling

03 - 6 oz cream cheese, softened
04 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Apple Filling

06 - 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
08 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
09 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
10 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
11 - 1 tsp lemon juice

→ Decoration

12 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
13 - 2-3 tsp milk or lemon juice

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring frequently, until apples are tender and coated in a thick syrup. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
03 - In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
04 - Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to smooth any creases. Cut into 8 equal squares and transfer to the prepared baking tray. Lightly score a smaller square border inside each piece without cutting all the way through, then prick the inner center area with a fork to prevent over-puffing.
05 - Spread a generous spoonful of cream cheese filling in the center of each pastry square, staying within the scored border. Top with a spoonful of the cooled apple mixture.
06 - Brush the exposed pastry edges with beaten egg to ensure a deep golden finish during baking.
07 - Bake for 18-22 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.
08 - Mix powdered sugar with enough milk or lemon juice to reach a drizzle consistency. Use a spoon to zigzag the icing over the cooled danishes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Store bought puff pastry does all the heavy lifting so you look like a pastry genius with half the effort.
  • The combination of tangy cream cheese and warmly spiced apples feels like autumn wrapped in flaky dough.
02 -
  • Do not skip scoring the inner square or the filling will spread everywhere and the edges will not puff properly.
  • Let the apple filling cool completely before assembling or the cream cheese will melt and turn runny before baking.
03 -
  • Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the apple filling before baking for a nutty crunch that elevates the whole thing.
  • Dust your work surface with powdered sugar instead of flour when rolling the pastry for a slightly sweeter edge.

Return