Ingredients
Danish Components
- Crescent Rolls: The foundation of these Cheese Danishes is two tubes of crescent rolls. The dough is pre-made and easy to handle, giving you the soft, flaky texture you want in a Danish without the time and effort of making dough from scratch.
- Cream Cheese: Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature for the smoothest consistency when mixing with the other ingredients. It gives the filling its signature creamy, slightly tangy flavor.
- Granulated White Sugar: This adds sweetness to the cream cheese filling, making it the perfect balance to the rich, buttery dough.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Vanilla enhances the flavor of the cream cheese filling, adding depth and complexity.
- Salted Butter: Melted butter is brushed onto the crescent rolls to ensure a rich, golden-brown finish and a buttery flavor.
- Light Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds sweetness and a subtle caramelized flavor that pairs beautifully with the cream cheese.
Glaze Components
- Powdered Sugar: This makes the glaze smooth and sweet, perfect for drizzling over the warm danishes.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla in the glaze ties the flavors of the Danish together.
- Milk: A small amount of milk helps to thin the glaze to the perfect consistency, making it easy to drizzle over the danishes.
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (177°C). This will ensure that your danishes bake evenly and get that golden-brown finish.
2. Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the room temperature cream cheese, white sugar, and vanilla extract. Use a hand mixer or a whisk to blend these ingredients until the mixture is smooth and uniform. The result should be a creamy, sweet filling that will spread easily onto the dough.
3. Prepare the Crescent Dough
Unroll the two tubes of crescent dough. Each tube contains eight triangles, but for the Danish shape, you’ll want to press the perforations together to form rectangles. You should have a total of eight rectangular pieces.
4. Add the Butter and Brown Sugar
Brush the melted butter generously over the surface of each crescent dough rectangle. This adds flavor and helps to brown the dough. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of brown sugar onto each rectangle. The brown sugar will caramelize as the danishes bake, creating a deliciously sweet and slightly crispy exterior.
5. Shape the Danishes
Next, roll each rectangle from the long side to form a coil. Seal the edges to ensure the filling stays inside. Once rolled, gently curve each coil into a circular shape and pinch the ends together to form a round shape.
6. Fill the Danishes with Cream Cheese Mixture
Place the prepared coils on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each coil. Be careful not to overfill, as the filling may spill out during baking.
7. Bake the Danishes
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the danishes for 15-18 minutes, or until they are golden brown and the dough is fully cooked. Keep an eye on them toward the end to avoid over-baking.
8. Prepare the Glaze
While the danishes are baking, make the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk in a small bowl. Stir until the glaze is smooth and has a pourable consistency. If you prefer a thicker glaze, simply add more powdered sugar. If you like a thinner glaze, add a little more milk.
9. Glaze the Danishes
Once the danishes are out of the oven and have cooled for a few minutes, drizzle the glaze over the warm danishes. The glaze will soak into the danish, adding a perfect sweetness that complements the cream cheese filling.
Notes
- Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese: Cold cream cheese can result in a lumpy filling. Make sure your cream cheese is soft and easy to mix before adding the other ingredients.
- Seal the Dough Well: Ensure the edges of the crescent dough are sealed tightly to keep the filling from spilling out during baking.
- Don’t Overfill: It can be tempting to load up on the cream cheese filling, but be sure to use just enough so that it doesn’t overflow during baking.
- Customize the Filling: If you want to get creative, try adding a little lemon zest, cinnamon, or nutmeg to the cream cheese filling for extra flavor.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the danishes and refrigerate them (unbaked) the night before. When you’re ready to bake, just preheat the oven and bake as directed. This makes for an easy breakfast or brunch option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes