Crescent Rolls with Cream Cheese (Cheese Danish)

close up shot of a slice of cheese danish with glaze on a spatula

This easy cream cheese danish recipe is a homemade version of the popular pastry that comes out of the oven warm and flaky.

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Table of Contents

What we love about Cheese Danish
Cream Cheese Crescent Roll Danish Ingredients
Cheese Danish Substitutions and Additions
How to make Crescent Rolls with Cream Cheese
How to serve a Crescent Rolls Cream Cheese Danish
Storing Crescent Rolls with Cream Cheese
CHEESE DANISH FAQs
More Recipes You’ll Love
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This homemade cheese danish is everything you could want for a delicious breakfast treat: a buttery, flaky pastry with a creamy soft cream cheese filling inside. Skip the drive-thru or store-bought danishes and make this easy homemade version instead.

If you like fruit filling in your breakfast pastries, you’ll want to try blueberry hand pies and cherry danish.

side shot of cheese danish with glaze on a white plate

What we love about Cheese Danish

These cheese Danish are the perfect breakfast treat. We love the buttery flaky texture of the pastry and the creamy soft custard filling inside.

What does a Cheese Danish taste like?

Cheese Danish is a layered pastry that is stuffed with a luscious tangy custard-like filling that tastes like cheesecake.

Cream Cheese Crescent Roll Danish Ingredients

cheese danish raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

2 (8-ounce) cans of crescent rolls
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1 teaspoon lemon juice
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon of water
½ cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk

Cheese Danish Substitutions and Additions

CREAM CHEESE: Full-fat cream cheese has the best texture for the filling in this delicious recipe, but you can use reduced-fat (or Neufchâtel) instead.

CRESCENT ROLLS: Crescent roll baking sheets without perforations make this recipe even easier since you won’t have to press the edges together. You can also use puff pastry sheets.

FILLING: There are plenty of options to use for filling in this great recipe. Try adding fresh blueberries, strawberries, orange zest, apricot jam, or raspberry jam for great options.

How to make Crescent Rolls with Cream Cheese

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Unroll one package of crescent rolls and press into the bottom and up the sides of a glass 9×13-inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Press the seams together to seal.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

If you use regular crescent roll dough, you don’t have to seal the edges perfectly, because they will puff up and come together while baking.

crescent rolls unrolled and laid at the bottom of a baking dish

STEP TWO: With a hand mixer and a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and one egg.

cream cheese ingredients blended together in a bowl

STEP THREE: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the crescent dough.

PRO TIP:

Lemon juice adds a hint of flavor to the cream cheese filling, but can be omitted if you prefer. For a sweeter danish filling, increase the sugar to a full cup.

cream cheese mixture spread over the dough in a baking dish

STEP FOUR: Unroll the second package of dough, pinch the seams together, and lay over the top of the cheese mixture.

STEP FIVE: Mix the second egg with a tablespoon of water to create an egg wash and brush the egg mixture lightly over the dough.

dough brushed with egg water in a baking dish

STEP SIX: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the top and bottom pastry is golden brown.

cheese danish after being baked in a baking dish

STEP SEVEN: Let the danish cool for 20 to 30 minutes before topping with the glaze.

STEP EIGHT: To make the glaze, in a small bowl whisk the powdered sugar, remaining vanilla extract, and milk until smooth.

STEP NINE: Drizzle the glaze over the cooled danish.

STEP TEN: Using a sharp knife, cut into twelve bars and serve with coffee or hot tea.

PRO TIP:

For an extra special touch, sprinkle the glazed danish with coarse sugar or add lemon to the glaze.

How to serve a Crescent Rolls Cream Cheese Danish

Enjoy your morning coffee with a slice of this delicious pastry treat. For a fancier, coffee-shop drink, try our homemade pumpkin spice latte, iced caramel macchiato, or iced mocha to go with breakfast.

MORE DESSERT RECIPES

Dessert Bars

Dr Pepper Brownies

Cheesecakes

Mini Cherry Cheesecake

Storing Crescent Rolls with Cream Cheese

IN THE FRIDGE: Once the dish is cool and the glaze is set, cover with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

IN THE FREEZER: Unbaked danish can be frozen, wrapped tightly, for 3 to 4 months. Defrost at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours before baking. Baked danish can be frozen for a few weeks.

overhead shot of a baking dish full of cheese danishes drizzled with glaze

This buttery, flaky cheese danish, with its rich, not-too-sweet filling, brings a homemade touch to a weekend breakfast or brunch. After trying this easy recipe, you may never go back to the store-bought version again.

CHEESE DANISH FAQs

What is a Danish pastry?

Danish pastries are those super buttery, light, and flaky pastries with a creamy, fruity filling. You’ve likely seen them in your local bakery section or grocery store.

The buttery pastry is most commonly filled with cheese or jam (or a combination of both) and topped off with a simple glaze. You may have also heard them referred to as just a ‘Danish’.

Should I store my pastry on the counter or in the fridge?

Because of the cream cheese filling and to keep it extra fresh, it is best to store the danish in the fridge.

Can I use puff pastry dough instead of crescent rolls?

Using sheets of puff pastry or crescent rolls would both result in a delicious breakfast treat.

Why is cheese Danish called cheese Danish?

Danish pastries are named and inspired by a pastry recipe that was brought to the United States by Danish immigrants.

How do you eat a cheese danish?

A cheese Danish is best enjoyed warm out of the oven and cut into slices to be eaten either with a fork or using your fingers.

More Recipes You’ll Love

Crescent Rolls Cream Cheese (Cheese Danish)

5 from 7 votes

This easy cream cheese danish recipe is a homemade version of the popular pastry that comes out of the oven warm and flaky.

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 35

Total Time 1 10

Servings

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Ingredients

2 (8-ounce) cans crescent dough rolls
2 (8-ounce) packages full fat cream cheese, softened
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1 teaspoon lemon juice
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon water
½ cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Unroll a full sheet of crescent dough and press into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared baking dish, pressing the seam lines together.
In a medium mixing bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and 1 egg. Spread mixture evenly over the crescent dough.
Roll out the second sheet of crescent dough, pressing seams together with your fingers. Lay dough over the top of the cream cheese layer.
Mix remaining egg with a tablespoon of water and brush over the top of the crescent dough top.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until crescent dough is golden brown on the top and on the bottom of the baking dish.
Allow the cheese danish to cool for 20 to 30 minutes before topping with glaze.
To make the glaze, whisk together ½ cup powdered sugar, remaining ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, and milk until smooth.
Drizzle glaze over cooled danish.
Cut into 12 bars and serve.

Video

Notes

If you use regular crescent roll dough, you don’t have to seal the edges perfectly, because they will puff up and come together while baking.
Lemon juice adds a hint of flavor to the cream cheese filling, but can be omitted if you prefer. For a sweeter danish filling, increase the sugar to a full cup.
For an extra special touch, sprinkle the glazed danish with coarse sugar or add lemon to the glaze.

Nutrition

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This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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Cream Cheese Danish Recipe with Crescent Rolls