Strawberry Danish: A Sweet Start to Your Day

Nothing says “good morning” quite like a freshly baked Strawberry Danish,

served warm with its flaky puff pastry and lush filling of cream cheese and vibrant strawberries.

This pastry, crowned with a zesty lemon icing,combines the comfort of a classic bake
with the refreshing tang of lemon for a truly uplifting breakfast experience.

Ready to treat yourself and your loved ones? Let’s bake!

For the Strawberry Danish

Puff Pastry – One sheet of frozen puff pastry, slightly thawed. This creates those perfect flaky layers.
Cream Cheese – Make sure it’s at room temperature for easy mixing and smooth texture.
Granulated Sugar – To sweeten the cream cheese filling.
Vanilla Extract – Adds a warm, sweet flavor that pairs beautifully with strawberries.
Strawberries – Fresh, thinly sliced for a juicy and fruity topping.
Cornstarch – Helps absorb excess moisture from the strawberries so the pastry stays crisp.
Egg – Used for the egg wash to give the pastry a beautiful golden color.
Water – To mix with the egg for the egg wash.

For the Lemon Icing

Powdered Sugar – Sifted for a smooth icing texture.
Lemon Zest – Adds a fresh, bright flavor.
Lemon Juice – Thins the icing to a pourable consistency and adds a tangy finish.

Strawberry Danish Recipe

Craving Something Sweet and Satisfying? Imagine starting your day or capping off your meal with a perfectly flaky, irresistibly creamy, and delightfully fruity treat.

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Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Strawberry Danish Recipe

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 20

Resting/Thawing Time: 30

Total Time: 1 5

Servings: danishes

Notes

Ingredients

For the Danish:

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, slightly thawed
4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tablespoons white granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups fresh strawberries, washed, dried, and thinly sliced
½ tablespoon cornstarch
½ tablespoon additional white granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons water

For the Lemon Icing:

½ cup powdered sugar, sifted
Zest from half a lemon
2-3 teaspoons lemon juice

Instructions

Prepare the Puff Pastry:
- Remove the puff pastry from the freezer and allow it to thaw on the counter for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the pastry gently to blend the seams.
- With a pizza cutter, divide the sheet in half and then cut each half into three rectangles. Place these on a baking sheet lined with non-stick spray. Score each rectangle with a ¼-inch border using a sharp knife.
Filling:
- While the pastry thaws, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese and sugar together on high speed for 1 minute. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Toss the sliced strawberries with cornstarch and additional sugar. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each pastry rectangle, spreading it to the edges of the scored border. Arrange strawberry slices on top of the cream cheese.
Baking:
- Whisk the egg and water together to make an egg wash. Brush this mixture over the edges of the pastries.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown.
Prepare the Lemon Icing:
- Combine the powdered sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a bowl. Stir until smooth and pourable.
- Drizzle the icing over the warm pastries.

Nutrition

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Frequently Asked Questions for Strawberry Cream Cheese Danishes:

Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?
- Fresh is definitely best here! Frozen strawberries release too much liquid as they bake, which makes the pastry soggy. If you must use frozen, thaw them first and pat them dry really well — but honestly, fresh gives you that perfect juicy bite without the mess.
Can I make these danishes ahead of time?
- You can prep them in advance, but they’re at their absolute best fresh out of the oven. If you want to get ahead, assemble them (without baking), cover, and chill in the fridge for a few hours. Then bake when you’re ready to serve! Leftovers? Store in an airtight container and pop them in the oven to crisp up again.
Can I freeze them before baking?
- Yes! Assemble them fully (cream cheese + strawberries), place them on a tray, and freeze until solid. Transfer to a bag or container for longer storage. When ready to bake, no need to thaw — just add a couple extra minutes to the baking time.
Do I need to refrigerate leftovers?
- Yep! Because they have cream cheese, it’s safest to refrigerate them if not eaten right away. Just pop them in the fridge in an airtight container. Reheat in the oven so the pastry gets nice and crisp again — microwaving will make them soft and sad (trust me on this one).
Help! My pastry layers slid around in the oven — what did I do wrong?
- Ah, this can happen if the pastry is too warm when you assemble it. Make sure your puff pastry is still slightly chilled but pliable. And don’t overfill them — a generous tablespoon of cream cheese filling is perfect. Also, scoring that border (without cutting all the way through) helps keep the filling in place as they puff up beautifully.