Easy Cheese Danish Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
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This homemade cheese danish is the best breakfast treat you’ll ever taste. Inspired by the popular Starbucks pastry, this easy recipe makes buttery, flaky layers that practically melt in your mouth, coupled with a smooth, sweet cream cheese filling that adds just the right amount of indulgence. Enjoy it with your favorite morning cup and it’s the best way to start your day!
I like to enjoy a sweet treat for breakfast from time to time. A few days ago, I made Starbucks-inspired pumpkin and cream cheese muffins, and yesterday, I made a homemade version of another Starbucks favorite – cheese danish!
Cheese danish was a childhood favorite of mine from a specific hotel we used to stay at on family vacations. They were something I looked forward to every morning. Later on, I always ordered it at Starbucks.
This recipe is shockingly easy. Seriously – if you can open a package of puff pastry and mix a few ingredients together, you’ve got yourself a bakery-level cheese danish in no time. The glaze is optional, but my family says it’s a must-have. My kids prefer these over cinnamon rolls! Enjoy these for breakfast, brunch, as a snack, dessert, or as a party treat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ridiculously easy: Made with store-bought puff pastry for ease and convenience. No need for homemade dough or complicated techniques.
- Quick to make: Prep for 10 minutes and your oven will take care of the rest.
- Homemade goodness: Freshly baked at home means no soggy pastry or overly sweet filling – just the perfect balance of buttery, flaky goodness and creamy, velvety cheese filling.
- Easily customizable: Make this cheese danish your own by adding your favorite toppings like fresh fruits, jam, or a sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- Delicious year-round treat: Perfect for all your special occasions and holiday celebrations.
- Make-ahead friendly: Assemble the danishes the night before and pop them in the oven in the morning for an effortless breakfast. You can also freeze extras for a quick treat anytime.
How to Make Cheese Danish
Enjoy the perfect balance of crisp pastry and smooth, sweet cream cheese filling with this beginner-friendly recipe. Simply roll out your puff pastry, cut and fold, add the filling, and bake. Making a batch takes 30 minutes or less from start to finish – way quicker than having to go out to get one from Starbucks!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
- Puff pastry: The foundation of the danish, giving it that signature flaky, buttery texture. I use store-bought frozen puff pastry to simplify the process, but you can also use homemade. Make sure to thaw the puff pastry according to the package’s instructions!
- Cream cheese: The rich, creamy base of the filling. Use full-fat for the best results. I use Philadelphia cream cheese, but feel free to use your favorite brand.
- Granulated sugar: To add sweetness to the filling.
- Egg and water: Combined to make an egg wash, giving the pastry a beautiful golden brown color when baked.
For the glaze:
- Powdered sugar: Creates the sweet, smooth glaze that drizzles beautifully over the pastries.
- Milk: Thins out the glaze for the perfect drizzle consistency.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and flavor to the glaze.
Step-By-Step Instructions
If you’ve never made pastry before, this cheese danish Starbucks recipe is a great place to start. Follow the simple steps below to make a batch of perfectly-baked cheese danish that’s more crave-worthy than the original!
Step 1: Preheat and prep
Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Make the creamy filling
Mix cream cheese and sugar in a small bowl until smooth.
Step 3: Prep the dough
Roll out the puff pastry over a lightly floured surface and cut each sheet into 8 equal rectangles. Work in batches to place them on the prepared baking sheet with a little space between each one.
Step 4: Brush and fold
Combine the egg and water into an egg wash in a small bowl. Brush the edges of each piece with a little egg wash. Then, fold the edges in, no more than ¾ inch on each side.
Step 5: Add the filling
Divide the filling evenly between all pastries and spread it around with the back of a spoon. Brush the edges of the pastry dough one more time with egg wash.
Step 6: Bake
Bake for 15 minutes. Rotate the pan and continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
Step 7: Glaze and serve
Let cool slightly, while making the icing. Whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract for the glaze. Drizzle over the pastries before serving warm or at room temperature.
Substitutions
No special ingredients required for this cheese danish recipe – you only need pantry staples you most likely already have at home. Try these substitutions in case you don’t have some on hand or you prefer to use an alternative:
- Puff pastry: Substitute with crescent roll dough, though the texture will be slightly different.
- Powdered sugar: No powdered sugar? Blend granulated sugar into a fine powder.
- Vanilla extract: Replace with almond or maple extract, depending on your preference.
Expert Tips
- Keep the dough cold: Cold pastry puffs up best in the oven. If it starts to get soft while working, pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes before baking.
- Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter: Clean cuts prevent the pastry from tearing and help it puff evenly.
- Cool before glazing: Wait for the danishes to cool slightly before glazing so the glaze does not immediately melt off.
- Make it fruity: Add fresh fruit like berries or sliced peaches on top of the cheese before baking for variation. You can also divide about ½ cup fruit preserves between all the pastries or 1 small spoonful of your favorite jam and spread it over the cream cheese after baking, before adding the glaze.
- Don’t overload the filling: Too much filling can cause the danish to leak while baking. Stick to about 1 tablespoon per pastry.
How to Store This Recipe
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven for a crisp texture. You can also flash freeze them on a lined sheet pan until frozen solid, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container, and store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
What to Serve with Cheese Danish
A cheese danish pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee, dirty chai tea latte, or a frothy cappuccino for a classic café-style experience. I like pairing them with my copycat Starbucks drinks like iced Americano and peppermint mocha.
For breakfast or brunch, balance the sweetness with a fresh fruit platter, yogurt, or a simple egg dish like a frittata or quiche. If you’re enjoying it as a dessert, pair it with a dusting of powdered sugar and a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. We also love it with chai ice cream!
More Easy Breakfast Recipes To Try
- Lemon blueberry loaf
- 4-ingredient banana bread
- Pumpkin pancakes with pancake mix
- Pumpkin pecan waffles
Cheese Danish Starbucks Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed in the refrigerator overnight
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 medium egg whisked
- 1 tablespoon water
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 °F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix cream cheese and sugar in a small bowl until smooth.
- Roll out the puff pastry over a lightly floured surface and cut each sheet into 8 equal rectangles. Work in batches to place them on the prepared baking sheet with a little space between each one.
- Combine the egg and water into an egg wash in a small bowl. Brush the edges of each piece with a little egg wash. Then, fold the edges in, no more than ¾ inch on each side.
- Divide the filling evenly between all pastries and spread it around with the back of a spoon.
- Brush the edges of the pastry dough one more time with egg wash.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Rotate the pan and continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
- Let cool slightly, while making the icing. Whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract for the glaze. Drizzle over the pastries before serving warm or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Cold pastry puffs up best in the oven. If it starts to get soft while working, pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes before baking.
- Clean cuts prevent the pastry from tearing and help it puff evenly, so use a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
- Wait for the danishes to cool slightly before glazing so the glaze does not immediately melt off.
- Add fresh fruit like berries or sliced peaches on top of the cheese before baking for variation. You can also divide about ½ cup fruit preserves between all the pastries or 1 small spoonful of your favorite jam and spread it over the cream cheese after baking, before adding the glaze.
- Too much filling can cause the danish to leak while baking. Stick to about 1 tablespoon per pastry.
