Strawberry Danishes (Printer-friendly)

Buttery puff pastry with creamy vanilla filling and fresh strawberries, baked until golden

# What You Need:

→ Pastry

01 - 1 sheet puff pastry (approximately 8 oz), thawed

→ Cream Cheese Filling

02 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest

→ Strawberry Topping

06 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
07 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
08 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

→ Egg Wash

09 - 1 large egg
10 - 1 tablespoon milk

→ Glaze

11 - ½ cup powdered sugar
12 - 1-2 teaspoons milk
13 - ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Beat until smooth and creamy.
03 - In a separate bowl, toss sliced strawberries with 1 tablespoon sugar and lemon juice. Let sit while preparing pastry.
04 - Roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 8 equal squares, approximately 4 inches each.
05 - Place squares on prepared baking sheet. Score a smaller square inside each piece, leaving a ½-inch border without cutting through dough.
06 - Spoon 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture into center of each square, spreading within scored area. Top with strawberry slices.
07 - Whisk egg and milk in small bowl. Brush pastry edges lightly with egg wash using a pastry brush.
08 - Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown and puffed. Rotate baking sheet halfway through for even browning.
09 - Cool danishes for 10 minutes. Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cooled pastries.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between the crisp, golden pastry and the creamy, sweet filling is absolutely worth the minimal effort
  • These look impressive enough for brunch guests but come together in under an hour
02 -
  • Work quickly once the pastry is out of the fridge, it becomes sticky and hard to handle when warm
  • The scored border is not just for looks, it keeps the filling from spilling over and creates those beautiful puffed edges
03 -
  • Freeze extra sliced strawberries in single portions, so you can make these anytime without special planning
  • A light dusting of powdered sugar through a sieve makes a prettier finish than the glaze if you are short on time

Return