Cranberry Cream Cheese Danish (Printable)
Buttery flaky pastry with sweet cranberry and creamy cheese layers, perfect for any occasion.
# Ingredient List:
→ Pastry
01 - 1 sheet (8.8 oz) puff pastry, thawed
→ Cream Cheese Filling
02 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
04 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Cranberry Sauce
05 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
06 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 tbsp water
→ Glaze
08 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
09 - 1–2 tsp milk
→ Garnish
10 - 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash, optional)
11 - Zest of 1 orange (optional)
# Steps:
01 - Set oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Combine cranberries, sugar, and water in a small saucepan; cook over medium heat for 5–7 minutes until berries burst and sauce thickens. Remove and cool.
03 - Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth.
04 - Unfold puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface and slice into eight rectangles.
05 - Place rectangles on the prepared sheet and score a 0.4-inch border around each without cutting through.
06 - Brush the scored borders with beaten egg for a glossy finish, if desired.
07 - Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture into each pastry center, spreading gently within the border, then top with 1 tablespoon cranberry sauce.
08 - Bake for 18–20 minutes until golden and puffed.
09 - Mix powdered sugar with milk to create a glaze; drizzle over cooled pastries and garnish with orange zest if preferred.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- This recipe balances creamy and tangy flavors so perfectly it feels like sharing a sweet secret with a good friend
- The flaky puff pastry wrapped around luscious fillings makes it an instant favorite everyone asks for again
02 -
- Don't rush the cranberry sauce—letting the berries burst and thicken properly makes all the difference for texture and flavor
- Scoring the pastry borders carefully ensures the filling stays put while the edges puff up gorgeously
03 -
- Use cold cream cheese to achieve the best texture for the filling; too warm and it gets runny
- A light dusting of flour on your work surface helps prevent sticky pastry and keeps those cuts clean