Cherry Danish

5 from 2 votes

Simple to make and deliciously sticky, this cherry Danish is filled with a sweet cream cheese filling, tart cherries and topped with a sweet icing, making it irresistible.

Prep Time10

Cook Time12

Total Time22

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cherry Danish Recipe

Servings: Danish

Calories: 153kcal

Ingredients

5 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ teaspoon almond extract
¼ cup sugar
21 ounces cherry pie filling
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
16 ounces flaky crescent rolls, placed in the freezer for 30 minutes (two 8-ounce tubes)
¼ cup slivered almonds, optional

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons whole milk

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, set it aside.
Using a medium bowl and a handheld electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream together the cream cheese, granulated sugar and almond extract until smooth. Set it aside.
In a small mixing bowl using a fork, beat the egg and water to make an egg wash. Set it aside.
Open only 1 package of crescent rolls, and remove them from the tube. Do not unroll them, instead, keep them in the long cylinder shape and place them on the cutting board.
Using a sharp knife, cut the long cylinder into 12 equal pieces.
Using your fingers and thumb, flatten each round circle in the middle. Place each circle on the prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart. With a pastry brush, paint the edges and sides of the dough circle with the egg wash.
Using a small spoon, spoon a small amount of the cream cheese filling into the center of the crescent dough.
Using a small spoon, place 2 cherries on top of the cream cheese filling.
Bake in the oven for 10 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Allow the Danishes to cool for 5 minutes before drizzling with glaze.
In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until no lumps are visible. Lightly drizzle the glaze over each Danish. You can garnish the Danish with a few sliced almonds.
Open your second tube of crescent rolls and repeat.

Video

Notes

Recipe adapted from: https://thebestblogrecipes.com/blueberry-cream-cheese-danish/
Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature so that you don't end up with any lumps in your filling.
The crescent rolls will dry out and not shape easily if left on the counter. This is why we recommend freezing them and then cooking them in batches.
Gently press the cherries down to make sure they stay centered. You can also use a fork to ensure a small amount of filling per Danish.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your pastry at the lower end of the recommended baking time.

Nutrition