Description

This Easy Cheese Danish is a soft, bakery-style pastry filled with a rich cream cheese center and topped with a buttery streusel crumble. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack, these danishes offer a melt-in-your-mouth texture and delightful flavor that tastes just like your favorite bakery treat—only homemade and even better!

Ingredients

Pastry Dough:

1 cup warm milk

2 tsp active dry yeast

4 egg yolks

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

2 1/2 – 3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

Cheese Filling:

1 lb cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Streusel Topping:

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

Egg Wash:

1 egg yolk

1 tbsp milk

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Instructions

Activate Yeast: Mix warm milk, yeast, and a pinch of sugar. Let sit until frothy.
Make the Dough: Add egg yolks, vanilla, salt, and remaining sugar. Mix in flour gradually and knead until smooth. Add butter and knead until elastic. Let rise until doubled.
Prepare Filling: Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy.
Shape the Danishes: Divide dough into 16 equal portions, shape into balls, and flatten slightly. Make an indentation in the center of each.
Fill and Proof: Add cheese filling to the center of each Danish. Let rise again until puffed.
Make Streusel: Combine flour, sugar, and butter until crumbly.
Assemble: Brush pastries with egg wash, sprinkle with streusel, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes until golden.
Cool and Serve: Let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Add jam or berries on top of the cheese filling for a fruity twist.

For a nutty crunch, top with chopped nuts.

Add lemon or orange zest to the filling for brightness.