Here’s a delightful and easy recipe for Mini Cherry Cheese Danishes 🍒🥐 — flaky, creamy, and just the right size for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!
🍒 Mini Cherry Cheese Danishes
Makes: 12–16 mini danishes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 15–18 minutes
🥐 Ingredients
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1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
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¼ cup granulated sugar
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1 package (2 sheets) puff pastry, thawed
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1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
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1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
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Optional: powdered sugar glaze (see below)
🍰 Instructions
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Preheat oven:
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Set oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Make the cream cheese filling:
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In a bowl, beat together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
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Prepare the puff pastry:
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Unfold puff pastry sheets and cut each into 12 squares (about 2½ to 3 inches each).
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Place squares on the prepared baking sheet.
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Assemble the danishes:
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Spoon 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each pastry square.
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Top with 1–2 cherries (and a little of the filling syrup).
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Brush edges lightly with beaten egg for shine.
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Bake:
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Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed.
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Let cool slightly on a wire rack.
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Optional glaze:
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Whisk ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and ¼ teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
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Drizzle over cooled danishes before serving.
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🌟 Tips & Variations
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🍓 Flavor swap: Use blueberry, apple, or raspberry pie filling instead of cherry.
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🧀 Extra rich: Add a splash of lemon juice or zest to the cream cheese filling for brightness.
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❄️ Make-ahead: Assemble and refrigerate up to 1 day before baking, or freeze before baking for up to 1 month.
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🔥 Shortcut: Use refrigerated crescent dough instead of puff pastry for a softer texture.
Would you like me to give you a “bakery-style” version made with homemade pastry dough and a sweet cream cheese custard filling?
