Forget complicated recipes and hours in the kitchen. These Cherry Danish are surprisingly easy to make, even for baking novices. They’re flaky, sweet, and about to become your new favorite treat.
The secret to making them simple is store-bought puff pastry, which makes a flaky, buttery base with minimal effort. They are filled with cream cheese and topped with cherry pie filling—another shortcut!
They are bursting with sweet and tart cherry goodness, and you don’t have to tell anyone how easy they were to make! These mini-pastries are perfect for brunch, such as celebrating Mom on Mother’s Day or for an Easter brunch.
Since they are so easy to make, they are a great way to reduce stress when you host a party. In this post, I’ll walk you through the simple steps to create this sweet treat and some tips for working with puff pastry.
Looking for more sweet treats to make for brunch? Try strawberry donuts, Amish cinnamon bread, or pumpkin cream cheese muffins.
🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Puff pastry: Thaw it just enough so it is pliable but still cool. Consult the box to find out the optimal thawing time.
- Cream Cheese: Softened to room temperature.
- Butter: Softened to room temperature.
- Eggs
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Cherry pie filling
🥣How to Make Cherry Cheesecake Cups
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out your thawed puff pastry until it is about 1/4 inch thick. Cut each sheet into 12 rectangles and press them into muffin pans.
- Beat one of the eggs and brush the egg wash over the pastry cups.
- To make the filling, beat the cream cheese, butter, the other egg, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Spoon one tablespoon of the cream cheese filling into each cup. Then, bake for 12-15 minutes. They are done when the edges are golden brown.
- Let your cheese-filled Danish cool down, and then put them in the fridge for an hour. When you are ready to serve, top each with a spoonful of cherry filling.
🍴Serving Ideas
Add these little bites to your next brunch spread. They pair beautifully with a steaming cup of coffee or a chilled mimosa. Arrange them on a tiered dessert stand for that ‘wow’ factor your guests will love.
Create a dessert charcuterie board by adding these Danishes and other sweet treats like chocolate truffles, sliced fruit, and cheeses. It’s sure to be a hit!
These cherry danishes are the perfect companion to your favorite tea blend for a cozy afternoon tea. Serve them on delicate china plates for an added touch of elegance that will make your guests feel pampered.
Kids’ eyes will light up when they see these at a party. Serve them as a special treat, and watch them disappear! They’re just the right size for little hands.
💭How to Store
If you’re serving the Danishes within a day, they can be kept at room temperature. Just make sure they’re in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
For more extended storage, place the danishes in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days. The cool environment helps maintain the pastry’s texture and the cheesecake filling’s integrity.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- You have to plan ahead for this recipe! The puff pastry must thaw, and the butter and cream cheese must be softened to room temperature.
- When rolling out puff pastry, a little flour goes a long way to prevent sticking. But be careful not to overdo it – too much flour can make the pastry tough. Aim for a light dusting, just enough to keep things moving smoothly.
- Make sure your oven is fully preheated before the pastries are baked. A hot oven sets the pastry quickly, creating a crisp base that’ll hold up to the luscious filling and juicy cherry topping.
- Use a tablespoon or a cookie scoop to fill your pastry cups. This keeps things tidy and ensures each mini Danish has just the right amount of filling.
- If you’re feeling ambitious, you can use homemade puff pastry instead. Just be aware that it’s a labor of love, so make sure you have extra time to spare.
- Feel free to swap out the cherry pie filling for any fruit pie filling you love. Blueberry, apple, or raspberry all make delicious alternatives.
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Cherry Danish Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package frozen puff pastry two sheets, thawed
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- 2 eggs divided
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 can cherry pie filling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly flour a clean work surface.
- Open the puff pastry sheet and roll it out until it’s around ¼ inch thick. Cut each sheet into 12 rectangles.1 package frozen puff pastry
- Press the rectangles into muffin pans to form a cup shape.
- Lightly beat one of the eggs and coat each puff pastry cup with a pastry brush.2 eggs
- In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, remaining egg, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer until well combined.8 ounces cream cheese, 2 tablespoons butter, ¼ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add one tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture to each pastry cup.
- Place in the oven to bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the edges of the pastry are golden brown.
- Allow the pastry to cool to room temperature, then transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour.
- When ready to serve, top each Danish with a tablespoon of cherry pie filling.1 can cherry pie filling
Notes
- You have to plan ahead for this recipe! The puff pastry must thaw, and the butter and cream cheese must be softened to room temperature.
- When rolling out puff pastry, a little flour goes a long way to prevent sticking. But be careful not to overdo it – too much flour can make the pastry tough.
- If you’re feeling ambitious, you can use homemade puff pastry instead. Just be aware that it’s a labor of love, so make sure you have extra time to spare.
- Feel free to swap out the cherry pie filling for any fruit filling you love. Blueberry, apple, or raspberry all make delicious alternatives.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
