These Easy Cheese Danishes offer a delightful shortcut to bring your favorite bakery pastry into your own kitchen. Simple to prepare and utterly delicious, they’re perfect for a quick breakfast or a sweet treat anytime.

Effortless Cheese Danishes: A Bakery Favorite, Simplified

Who doesn’t love a warm, flaky danish, fresh from the oven, with a sweet and tangy cream cheese filling? For many, the idea of making such a pastry at home seems daunting, a task reserved for seasoned bakers. But what if we told you there’s a brilliantly simple way to achieve this bakery-quality delight with minimal effort? Our Easy Cheese Danish recipe utilizes a clever shortcut – store-bought crescent roll dough – transforming what could be a complex endeavor into a remarkably accessible and enjoyable baking project.

You might recall the rave reviews received for our Easy Apple Danishes, a recipe that proved just how versatile and time-saving crescent rolls can be. Inspired by that success, we embarked on creating a cream cheese version, and the results were simply phenomenal! These danishes boast a rich, creamy filling nestled in a tender, buttery crust, all crowned with a delicate vanilla glaze. They are a true testament to the fact that gourmet tastes don’t always require hours in the kitchen. This recipe is dedicated to all cheese danish enthusiasts seeking a hassle-free path to their favorite sweet treat.

Mastering Your Crescent Roll Cheese Danishes: Essential Tips for Perfection

While this recipe is incredibly forgiving, a few expert tips can elevate your danishes from great to absolutely exceptional. Whether you’re a novice baker or a seasoned pro looking for a quick fix, these insights will help you achieve perfectly golden, flaky, and irresistibly creamy pastries every time.

• Portion Control and Storage: If you’re not planning to make a large batch of eight danishes, you can easily halve the recipe. Simply use one tube of crescent rolls, and store the remaining cream cheese filling for another occasion. Place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for up to a week. This makes it perfect for a spontaneous single-serving treat or another small batch later!

• Infuse Fruity Flavors: For an extra burst of flavor and a beautiful color contrast, try incorporating a spoonful of your favorite fruit jam alongside the cream cheese filling. Strawberry, raspberry, or even apricot jam are fantastic choices that complement the rich cream cheese beautifully. Just add a small dollop over the cream cheese before baking.

• Room Temperature Cream Cheese is Key: Ensure your cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature before mixing. This is crucial for achieving a lump-free, silky-smooth filling, reminiscent of a perfect cheesecake batter. Cold cream cheese will result in a grainy texture that won’t blend as well.

• Don’t Skip the Brown Sugar and Butter: The melted butter and brown sugar sprinkled on the crescent dough before rolling aren’t just for flavor; they contribute to the incredible caramelization and delicate flakiness of the pastry, making each bite even more satisfying.

• Mind Your Baking Time: Ovens can vary. Keep a close eye on your danishes during the last few minutes of baking. They should be golden brown and slightly puffed. Overbaking can lead to dry pastries, while underbaking can result in a soggy crust.

• The Art of Glazing: Drizzle the vanilla glaze over the danishes while they are still warm, but not piping hot. This allows the glaze to melt slightly and adhere beautifully to the pastry, creating that classic bakery finish. If they are too hot, the glaze might run off completely.

Gather Your Ingredients: Simple Staples for Sweet Success

One of the best aspects of this recipe is its reliance on readily available ingredients. You likely have most of these staples in your pantry and refrigerator right now, making it easy to whip up a batch of these delightful danishes whenever a craving strikes. No fancy or obscure items needed here, just pure, wholesome deliciousness.

Ingredients Needed for Easy Cheese Danishes:

• Crescent Rolls: The star shortcut! Two 8-ounce tubes will make eight generous danishes.
• Cream Cheese: An 8-ounce package, softened to room temperature, forms the luscious heart of our filling.
• Granulated White Sugar: Provides the perfect balance of sweetness to the tangy cream cheese.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor profile, adding warmth and aromatic depth to both the filling and the glaze.
• Butter: Melted butter adds richness to the crescent dough, helping it brown beautifully and develop an even flakier texture. Salted butter is preferred for an extra depth of flavor, but unsalted works too.
• Light Brown Sugar: Sprinkled over the buttered dough, it creates a wonderfully caramelized layer and a subtle molasses note.
• Powdered Sugar: The foundation for our simple yet essential sweet glaze.
• Milk: Used to thin the powdered sugar into a smooth, pourable glaze.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Easy Cheese Danishes

Follow these straightforward steps to create your very own batch of irresistible cheese danishes. The process is designed to be quick and enjoyable, leading to a truly rewarding baking experience.

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Oven and Filling: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven heats, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated white sugar, and vanilla extract in a medium-sized bowl. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is creamy, smooth, and entirely free of lumps. This consistency is similar to a perfectly blended cheesecake batter.
2. Unroll the Dough: Open the tubes of crescent roll dough. Each tube typically contains eight triangular pieces. You’ll need to press two triangular pieces together along their longest side to form eight uniform rectangles. Firmly seal the perforations with your fingers to ensure the dough remains intact during baking.
3. Butter and Sugar the Dough: Lightly brush or spread melted salted butter evenly over the surface of each crescent roll rectangle. Following this, sprinkle approximately 1 tablespoon of light brown sugar over each buttered rectangle. This step adds both flavor and helps create a beautiful golden-brown crust.
4. Roll and Seal: Carefully roll up each rectangle from its longest side, creating a log shape. Once rolled, pinch the edges firmly to seal them, preventing the filling from escaping later.
5. Coil the Dough: Holding one end of each rolled-up dough log, loosely coil it into a spiral shape, resembling a snail shell. This forms the base of your danish.
6. Create a Well for the Filling: Now, using your fingers or the back of a spoon, gently press down into the center of each coiled dough piece. Spread the dough outwards slightly to create a noticeable dent or well. This indentation is where your delicious cream cheese filling will reside.
7. Fill and Arrange: Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or spray it generously with nonstick spray. Carefully place the prepared dough coils on the baking sheet. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the creamy cheese filling into the center of each coil, filling the well you created.
8. Bake to Golden Perfection: Transfer the baking sheet to your preheated oven. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the danishes are beautifully golden brown and the filling is set. Keep an eye on them, as baking times can vary.
9. Prepare the Glaze: While the danishes are baking, prepare the simple vanilla glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 4 teaspoons of milk. Continue stirring until the mixture is completely smooth and has a pourable consistency. Add a tiny bit more milk if it’s too thick, or a touch more powdered sugar if it’s too thin.
10. Glaze and Serve: Once the danishes are out of the oven and slightly cooled (but still warm), generously drizzle the prepared glaze over each one. The warmth of the danish will help the glaze set beautifully. Serve immediately and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Chef’s Note: The versatility of this recipe is one of its greatest strengths. If you only need a smaller quantity, simply use one tube of crescent rolls and halve the brown sugar and melted butter. The remaining cream cheese filling can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, ready for your next quick baking adventure. Each batch yields 8 perfectly sized danishes.

Serving Suggestions and Variations

These easy cheese danishes are incredibly versatile. They make a fantastic addition to a brunch spread, a delightful breakfast treat with your morning coffee, or a light and satisfying dessert. Consider serving them with fresh berries on the side for a pop of color and freshness. For those who love customization, the possibilities are endless:

• Fruity Twist: As mentioned, a dollop of strawberry, raspberry, cherry, or even blueberry jam under the cream cheese filling adds a wonderful fruity layer.
• Chocolate Decadence: Sprinkle a few mini chocolate chips over the cream cheese filling before baking for a chocolatey surprise.
• Nutty Crunch: A light dusting of finely chopped pecans or walnuts on top of the filling, or mixed into the brown sugar layer, adds a delightful textural contrast.
• Citrus Zest: Add a teaspoon of lemon or orange zest to your cream cheese filling for a brighter, more aromatic flavor profile.
• Spiced Delight: A tiny pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg in the cream cheese filling can warm up the flavors beautifully, especially for a fall or winter treat.

Storage and Reheating

Leftover cheese danishes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. For the best flavor and texture, it’s recommended to warm them slightly before serving. A quick zap in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or a few minutes in a toaster oven at 300°F (150°C) will bring back that fresh-baked warmth and flakiness.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Easy Cheese Danish recipe is more than just a quick fix; it’s a gateway to enjoying homemade pastries without the usual fuss. The convenience of crescent roll dough allows you to skip the lengthy proofing and rolling processes, making it accessible for even the busiest schedules. The result is a pastry that feels incredibly indulgent, boasting a delicate flakiness and a rich, creamy center that will undoubtedly impress. Whether you’re making them for a special occasion or just to brighten an ordinary morning, these danishes are guaranteed to become a cherished addition to your recipe collection. Get ready to enjoy the aroma of a professional bakery right in your home!

Craving More Easy & Delicious Recipes?

If you loved these simple cheese danishes, you’ll be thrilled to explore more of our easy-to-follow recipes that make baking and cooking a joy. Check out these other favorites:

• Pumpkin Danishes
• Easy Apple Danishes (+Video)
• Strawberry Cheese Danish
• Cherry Crumble Danishes
• Crescent Cherry Cheesecake Cobbler
• Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars
• Blueberry Cheesecake Crescent Rolls

Originally published: June 2011
Updated & republished: July 2020