Lemon Cream Cheese Danish Made Easy
There’s nothing like the flavor of lemon to brighten up your kitchen, and this Lemon Cream Cheese Danish does exactly that. It’s buttery, flaky, sweet, and tangy all in one perfect bite. With store-bought puff pastry and a handful of fresh ingredients, you can pull off bakery-style pastries with minimal effort right from home. These are great for a brunch tray, special breakfast, or just a weekday treat when you’re craving something extra.
Lemon Cream Cheee Danish
This recipe comes together quickly and looks like it came straight from a pastry case. If you love using puff pastry in easy breakfast recipes, you’ll also enjoy lemon cream cheese dump cake, lemon lush, or cherry cheesecake dump cake. The lemon curd gives it that sunny pop of flavor while the sweet cream cheese layer balances everything beautifully.
The best part is that there’s no complicated dough to make. You can use lemon pie filling or lemon curd, depending on what you have in your pantry. Either way, the results are sweet, citrusy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. If you’ve never made your own danish before, this is a great starter recipe.
What You Will Love About This Recipe
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It uses puff pastry, so there’s no need to make dough from scratch
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The lemon and cream cheese combo is light, bright, and just sweet enough
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Great for brunch, holidays, or anytime you want something special without a lot of work
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They look impressive but are truly simple to make
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You can prep the filling ahead to make morning assembly even quicker
Ingredients
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
17.3 ounce package puff pastry
¼ cup flour
½ cup prepared lemon curd
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
¼ cup powdered sugar
How To Make Lemon Cream Cheese Danish
- Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, vanilla, sugar, and lemon juice.
- Gently flour your clean work surface, and unfold the puff pastry.
- Using your fingertips, gently press the creased areas flat. Use a rolling pin if necessary.
- Use a cookie cutter or glass to cut out 4 circles.
- Repeat steps 4-6 with the remaining sheet of puff pastry.
- Place circles onto a baking sheet.
- Gently score the border about ½-1 inch inside each puff pastry circle.
- Using a fork, poke several times inside each of the circles.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture into each circle, keeping it inside the border.
- In a small bowl, mix together egg and water until frothy.
- Brush the border of each with egg mixture.
- Bake for 18-21 minutes or until golden brown.
- Allow cooling for 10 minutes on the baking sheet.
- Heat lemon curd in the microwave for 25 seconds, then spoon on top of each danish.
- Sprinkle a pinch of lemon zest and dust with powdered sugar prior to serving.
Tips & Tricks
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Let your cream cheese fully soften so it mixes easily and creates a smooth filling
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Scoring a border helps the edges puff up while keeping the filling neatly in the center
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Use a 3 to 4 inch biscuit cutter or glass to cut perfect circles
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Be sure to dock (poke with a fork) the center to keep it from puffing up too much
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Lemon curd and lemon pie filling both work well — use what you have
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Add the lemon curd after baking to keep that bold lemon flavor fresh and bright
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different fruit topping?
Absolutely. You can swap the lemon curd for raspberry jam, cherry pie filling, or even fresh fruit with a glaze.
Can these be made ahead?
You can make and bake them ahead, but wait to add the lemon curd and powdered sugar until right before serving for the freshest taste and texture.
Can I freeze these?
They freeze well after baking but before topping. Let them cool completely, then freeze in an airtight container. Reheat in the oven and top just before serving.
Do I have to use a circle cutter?
No, you can also cut squares or rectangles for a more rustic look. Just make sure to score and dock the centers before filling.
Lemon Cream Cheese Danish
Delicious Creamy Lemon Cream Cheese Danish reminds me of my mothers old fashioned homemade lemon pastries. Semi homemade and super easy using puff pastry.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 17.3 ounce package puff pastry
- ¼ cup flour
- ½ cup prepared lemon curd or lemon pie filling
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, vanilla, sugar and lemon juice.
- Gently flour your clean work surface, and unfold the puff pasty.
- Using your fingertips, gently press the creased areas flat. Use a rolling pin if necessary.
- Use a cookie cutter or glass to cut out 4 circles.
- Repeat steps 4-6 with the remaining sheet of puff pastry.
- Place circles onto baking sheet.
- Gently score border about ½-1 inch inside each puff pastry circle.
- Using a fork, poke several times inside each of the circles.
- Spread cream cheese mixture into each circle, keeping inside the boarder.
- In a small bowl, mix together egg and water until frothy.
- Brush the border of each with egg mixture.
- Bake for 18-21 minutes or until golden brown.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes on baking sheet.
- Heat lemon curd in the microwave for 25 seconds, then spoon on top of each danish.
- Sprinkle a pinch of lemon zest and dust with powdered sugar prior to serving.
I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!
