You'll quickly fall in love with this incredible Copycat Starbucks Cream Cheese Danish Recipe! An easy recipe using puff pastry and a quick cream cheese filling, then baked to golden, puffy perfection.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, place a piece of parchment paper or silicone mat on a baking sheet.
In a mixing bowl add cream cheese, egg yolk, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract, beating with a hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
Unfold the puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface and roll smooth with a rolling pin. Cut each sheet into 12 strips, use a pizza cutter to make it easy!
Connect 2 strips of puff pastry to create one long one, and twist each side in the opposite direction. Wind the twisted strip into a spiral, and using a spoon your hand, flatten the center slightly to create a bed for the cream cheese.
Transfer the pastries onto the baking sheet, and spoon a dollop of the cream cheese mixture onto each pastry, a heaping tablespoon. If desired, use a small cookie scoop.
Brush all the pastry edges with a beaten egg white and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden.
Transfer to a cooling rack after 5 minutes, then make the glaze, whisk glaze ingredients in a small bowl, until smooth. Drizzle over warm pastries.
Notes
Variations & Substitutions
Make them less fancy | Instead, you can lightly roll each puff pastry sheet to flatten the creases. Next, cut it into eight four-inch squares. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the edge of the squares with a beaten egg white. Then, pressing gently, fold each corner about 1 inch towards the center. The pastries will look similar to small envelopes. Finally, place each Danish about 2 inches apart on the baking sheets, fill with the cream cheese mixture and brush the pastry with egg white once more.
Sugar Plum Cheese Danish? Try my friend Megan's Starbucks Sugar Plum Danish. Or add a dollop of spiced plum jam on top of the cream cheese filling and make it your own Starbucks Sugar Plum Cheese Danish!
Lemony Cheese Danish | Add a teaspoon of lemon zest to your cream cheese mixture.
Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Danish | Use your favorite dairy-free cream cheese and use plant-based milk in the glaze.
Gluten-Free Cream Cheese Danish | Purchase a good Gluten-Free Puff Pastry dough the rest should be good to go!
Storage Tips
Freezer | To freeze the danishes for later, place them in a freezer-safe bag in a single layer. They will store well for about three months.Refrigerator | You can also store the finished recipe in the refrigerator. In an airtight container, the Danishes will keep in the fridge for about five days.Reheat | Reheat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds or place on a baking sheet in a 350 degree oven. Air Fryer 300 degrees and heat for 1-2 minutes.