Looking to elevate your breakfast or brunch with a delicious treat? Try this Easy Cheese Danish recipe. With its flaky layers, creamy cheese filling, and a hint of citrus, these danishes are sure to become a favorite with family and friends.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging yourself, this recipe will impress. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through making these delightful danishes, complete with useful tips, variations, and serving ideas. Let’s dive in!
Why This Cheese Danish Recipe Works
This one’s a total win for home bakers—it skips the fuss by using frozen dinner rolls for the base, cutting down on prep but keeping all the flavor and flakiness you’d expect.
The filling is creamy and tangy, perfectly offset by the fruity sweetness of the preserves. And don’t forget that vanilla glaze—it adds just the right final touch.
With a few smart tricks, you’ll have bakery-worthy danishes coming out of your oven.
Easy Cheese Danish Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Rise Time: 50 minutes
- Bake Time: 15–20 minutes
- Total Time: ~1.5 hours
- Servings: 12 danishes
Equipment Needed:
- 2 baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer (or whisk & strong arms!)
- Pastry brush
- Spoon or small cookie scoop
Ingredients:
- 12 Rhodes Dinner Rolls, thawed but still cold
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 12 tablespoons lemon curd or raspberry preserves
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for icing)
- 4–5 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Prep Your Baking Sheets: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This keeps cleanup a breeze and helps prevent sticking.
- Shape the Dough: Lightly flour your hands. Flatten each thawed (but still cold) dinner roll into a 3-inch disc and space them evenly on the prepared sheets.
- Butter & Sugar: Brush each disc with melted butter, then sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar. This gives a golden, slightly crisp base.
- Rise: Loosely cover the trays with a clean kitchen towel or lightly greased plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot until puffed and doubled in size, about 50 minutes. Tip: turning on your oven light (but not the heat) creates a cozy rising environment.
- Make the Filling: While dough is rising, beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon juice together until silky smooth. Set aside.
- Create the Center: Once the dough has risen, gently press a well into the center of each roll using your fingers or the back of a spoon.
- Fill & Top: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture into each indentation, then dollop 1 teaspoon of lemon curd or raspberry preserves on top.
- Egg Wash: Brush the outer edges of the rolls with the beaten egg. This helps them bake up golden and shiny.
- Bake: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15–20 minutes, until golden brown and the filling is set.
- Cool Slightly: Let the danishes cool on the pans for 5 minutes before glazing.
- Make the Icing: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 4 tablespoons of milk. Add the extra tablespoon of milk if needed to thin. The glaze should be smooth and pourable but not runny.
- Drizzle & Enjoy: Drizzle icing over warm danishes and serve! They’re delightful warm or at room temp.
Pro Tips
- Skip the Stick: Keep your hands lightly floured when working with the dough to avoid stickiness without drying it out.
- Flavor Boost: Add a tiny pinch of salt to the cream cheese filling to enhance the sweetness.
- Mix Preserves: For a fun twist, swirl raspberry and lemon curd together on top for a marbled finish.
- Make-Ahead Tip: You can shape and fill the rolls the night before, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Bring to room temp and bake fresh in the morning.
- Glaze Trick: Pour glaze into a zip-top bag, snip a tiny corner, and drizzle like a pro.
Storage and Leftovers:
To keep any leftovers fresh, store the danishes in an airtight container or wrap them tightly with plastic wrap. They’ll stay good at room temperature for 1-2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them for 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave before enjoying.
Recipe Variations and Tips:
For a zesty twist, mix some grated lemon zest into the cream cheese filling. Feel free to experiment with different fruit preserves like strawberry, blueberry, or apricot to discover exciting flavor combinations.
If you’re pressed for time, substitute store-bought crescent roll dough for Rhodes Dinner Rolls. Simply press the seams together to form a cohesive dough sheet before continuing with the recipe.
Enhance your danishes with a dollop of whipped cream or a dusting of powdered sugar for added indulgence. Enjoy them alongside a hot cup of coffee or a refreshing glass of iced tea for a complete breakfast or brunch experience.
Print
Easy Cheese Danish
Searching for a delightful pastry to enhance your breakfast or brunch? This Easy Cheese Danish recipe is just what you need.
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 danishes 1x
Ingredients
- 12 Rhodes Dinner Rolls, thawed but still cold
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 12 tablespoons lemon curd or raspberry preserves
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for icing)
- 4–5 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prep Your Baking Sheets: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This keeps cleanup a breeze and helps prevent sticking.
- Shape the Dough: Lightly flour your hands. Flatten each thawed (but still cold) dinner roll into a 3-inch disc and space them evenly on the prepared sheets.
- Butter & Sugar: Brush each disc with melted butter, then sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar. This gives a golden, slightly crisp base.
- Rise: Loosely cover the trays with a clean kitchen towel or lightly greased plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot until puffed and doubled in size, about 50 minutes. Tip: turning on your oven light (but not the heat) creates a cozy rising environment.
- Make the Filling: While dough is rising, beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon juice together until silky smooth. Set aside.
- Create the Center: Once the dough has risen, gently press a well into the center of each roll using your fingers or the back of a spoon.
- Fill & Top: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture into each indentation, then dollop 1 teaspoon of lemon curd or raspberry preserves on top.
- Egg Wash: Brush the outer edges of the rolls with the beaten egg. This helps them bake up golden and shiny.
- Bake: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15–20 minutes, until golden brown and the filling is set.
- Cool Slightly: Let the danishes cool on the pans for 5 minutes before glazing.
- Make the Icing: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 4 tablespoons of milk. Add the extra tablespoon of milk if needed to thin. The glaze should be smooth and pourable but not runny.
- Drizzle & Enjoy: Drizzle icing over warm danishes and serve! They’re delightful warm or at room temp.
Notes
- Good ingredients matter! Even for simple recipes, fresh and quality ingredients make a big flavor difference.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment! Feel free to tweak the recipe to your own taste. You’ll learn and find what you like best as you go.
- Make it pretty! You can add a little extra with lemon zest, sliced almonds, or fresh berries on top of the glaze.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
