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Cream Cheese Danishes

Cream cheese danishes are light and crisp puffed pastry filled with a lemony cream cheese filling. A labor of love on the weekend that pays off with a quick breakfast during the week.
Prep Time 17 hours
Servings 6 -12

Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • 1/4 Cup Whole Milk warm about 110 degrees F
  • 1 Large Egg room temperature
  • 2 Large Egg Yolks room temperature
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 2 1/4 Teaspoons Instant Yeast
  • 2 Tablespoons Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter room temperature
  • 12 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter cold and cut into cubes

For the Filling:

  • 6 Ounces Cream Cheese room temperature
  • 1/4 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Pure vanilla Extract
  • 2 Teaspoons Grated Lemon Zest
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter melted and cooled
  • Egg Wash 1 Large Egg, 1 Tablespoon of Water

For the Glaze:

  • 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons Milk

Instructions

  1. Grease a large mixing bowl.
  2. Whisk together the milk, egg, yolk, and vanilla in a large measuring cup.
  3. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the flour, yeast, sugar, salt on low just to combine. Add the room temperature butter and mix on low until completely combined.
  4. Add the cold butter and mix on medium until only small bits of butter are visible. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides. Pour in the milk mixture, mix on low until combined. Scrape down the sides, dough will be very sticky. Transfer dough to prepared bowl. Use the spatula to sort of form dough into a ball. Cover bowl in plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator. Refrigerate dough overnight at least or up to 3 days.
  5. To make the filling, add the cream cheese to the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat the cream cheese on high until light and fluffy. Add the egg, sugar, zest, vanilla, salt, and butter to the bowl of the mixer. Mix on medium until smooth and combined. Scrape down sides as needed.
  6. Transfer to a small bowl, cover in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use.
  7. The next morning, transfer the dough to a well floured surface. Use the heel of your palm and knead the dough 12 times to form a ball, adding more flour if needed. Cover lightly with flour and let the dough come to room temperature.
  8. Pat the dough into a 6x6-inch square. Then using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough out into a 16x20 inch rectangle. Taking the shorter ends, fold the dough in on itself into thirds, using a bench scraper. Add more flour if the dough sticks at all. This is the first turn.
  9. Flour your work surface again, flip the dough over, seam side down. Roll out into a 8x16-inch rectangle. Fold the two short ends in on the middle again. Turn and roll out again, two more times. For a total of four turns.
  10. After the last turn, gently press the layers together with your hands, cover with plastic wrap, and then refrigerate for an hour.
  11. After an hour, remove dough from fridge, transfer to a floured work surface. Cut the dough in half. You can make 12 cream cheese danishes or save the dough for later and make a danish with a different filling. If you aren't using the other half, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  12. Roll the dough out into a 10x14-inch rectangle. Use the pastry cutter to trim off and rough edges. Cut the dough in half horizontally, then into thirds vertically to make six small rectangles.
  13. Transfer rectangles to a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Place a spoonful of the filling into the center of each rectangle. Gently fold each corner into the center and pinch the edges together in the middle of the pastry.
  14. Lightly brush each pastry with egg wash and cover lightly in plastic wrap. Place in a warm location and ket rise for 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
  15. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place a rack in the middle position in the oven.
  16. Bake the danishes for 15-17 minutes until lightly golden.
  17. Transfer to wire rack to let cool.
  18. Prepare the glaze. Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk in a small mixing bowl. Dip the whisk into the glaze and then drape falling glaze over the danishes.
  19. Let cool completely before serving.