This patriotic berry cream cheese danish is decadent yet simple to prepare. Light and flaky, it makes a great dessert as well as a pastry for your next brunch.
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Are you a dessert for breakfast kind of person? I totally am and lately I am just loving these berry cream cheese danishes with my morning coffee as well as an easy dessert treat after dinner. In the evenings, I do like to put a dollop of whipped cream on top. It tastes amazing with the fresh berries.
Speaking of those juicy berries combined with the creamy cheese and flaky, buttery pastry crust will just melt in your mouth. This cheese danish recipe is another great way to use those summer berries like in my Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad or these Mini Pancake Skewers.
Since using my air fryer, they come together in only a few minutes. You guys know by now I love quick and easy. Just use a store-bought puff pastry dough like in my Chocolate Puff Pastry or Brie and Cranberry Puff Pastry to cut the time even more and you can have yourselves a delicious mixed berry cream cheese danish.
Ingredients
- Puff Pastry - I recommend a store bought one to save time.
- Egg - This will be used to create an egg wash giving the danish a golden-brown top along with sealing the edges.
- Strawberries - Fresh berries that are hulled to use in the filling with a few extra to enjoy on the side.
- Blueberries - Fresh berries that are juicy to mix in with the strawberries. You will also want to have a few extra to enjoy with the danish.
- Confectioner's Sugar - Gives the berries and cream cheese filling a touch of sweetness along with additional sugar to create the sugar glaze over the danish.
- Lemon Juice - Blends well with the sweetness of the berries, sugar and cream cheese.
- Cream Cheese - Full fat is recommended to give the danish that creamy texture with the berries mixed in.
- Cream - Blended with the confectioner's sugar to provide a thick glaze drizzled over top the danish.
Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.
Instructions
Let's pre-heat the air fryer and prep the pastry and berries. This cheese danish comes together so simply and will be ready in minutes to enjoy!
Slice ½ puff pastry sheet into two equal parts. Lightly score each side, creating a border about ½ inch from the edge. Poke holes in the center of the pastry using a fork
Gently transfer the prepared puff pastry onto Air Fryer tray and lightly brush the sides with beaten egg. Slowly insert tray into the middle cooking chamber.
Air Fry puff pastry for 10 minutes.
Hull strawberries then cut each piece into 4 equal sizes. Transfer the strawberries into a small bowl, then add ½ teaspoon confectioners' sugar and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Mix well.
Transfer the blueberries into another small bowl, then add ½ teaspoon confectioners' sugar and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Mix well.
In another bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and lemon juice. Blend well until all the ingredients are smooth and creamy.
Using the rounded tip of a wooden spoon and following the boarder earlier created, push and flatten the middle of the puff pastry, creating a hollow space for the filling.
Spread the cream cheese filling. Place prepared strawberries on one side of the hollowed out puff pastry.
Place prepared blueberries on the other side of the pastry. Do the same for the other prepared puff pastry. Air Fry for 5 to 6 minutes.
In a separate small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and cream. Mix well until smooth, creamy, and the right consistency. Gently transfer the cream cheese and berry-filled puff pastry onto a plate and drizzle with the sugar glaze.
Hint: make sure you have a deep enough space in the middle of the pastry to prevent the berry filling from leaking out during cooking.
Variations
- Switch up the fruit. Don't have blueberries or strawberries on hand? Try blackberries or raspberries to keep it a berry danish. You can also use other types of fruit for the filling such as cherries and pears. Give it a tropical taste by using mangos, and pineapple.
- Add chocolate chips. Mixing chocolate chips in with the berries gives the danish and even richer taste. You can simply add the chocolate chips to the cream cheese mixture to blend in. If you enjoy chocolate, try this Chocolate Puff Pastry.
- Add a crunch. If you want to add a bit of crunch to the cheese danish, throw in a handful of chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds to the cream cheese mixture. Nuts pair so well with the berries.
- Add a spread. Looking to change up the flavor profile? In place of cream cheese, you can use Nutella, hazelnut or peanut butter. You can also add a spoonful to the cream cheese for a thicker filling.
- Use a berry jam or preserve. This can be used in place of fresh berries.
See this spicy version of this recipe on my website! (placeholder for in-content link)
Tips
Top tip: Always preheat the air fryer. Puff pastry needs a hot air fryer for the dough to rise and be fluffy. By making sure the oven is set and timer is on will help guarantee a light and airy pastry.
- Use fresh, quality ingredients. Use the freshest berries and a newly opened store-bought puff pastry. Properly seal and store the remaining uncooked puff pastry in the freezer.
- Air Fryers can vary. This recipe was made using an Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven so temperatures may vary. Use the manual with your air fryer for proper time, temperature and setting.
- Use cold puff pastry dough. Do not use frozen dough for this recipe. The puff pastry needs to be thawed. Make sure the dough is still cold when you put it in the air fryer but not too soft or it will not rise. If it is completely thawed out before you try to use, place in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes or freezer for 5 minutes to firm back up.
- Use softened cream cheese. Let sit on the counter until softened. Do not use cream cheese straight from the refrigerator because it will not mix well.
- Use a sharp knife. For scoring the pastry, make sure the knife is sharp for those cuts. This is done easiest on a pastry that is still firm.
- Use a wooden spoon. This is the perfect utensil to push and flatten out the middle of the pastry for the filling to go in.
- If you prefer the pastry to puff evenly, place the seam at the top.
- If you chill puff pastry after filling for a few minutes, it will puff more in the air fryer.
- Let cool before glazing. This gives the filling time to set and the glaze will set better not running off the pastry.
- Stir glaze before applying. Give the prepared sugar glaze a stir before drizzling over the filled puff pastry.
Serving suggestions
These cream cheese danishes are great to enjoy for breakfast, brunch or dessert. For a breakfast, pairing them with a savory dish such as these Egg White Frittatas or this Sheet Pan Eggs and Bacon and Vegetables would taste great. The savory and the sweet goes so well together.
This cream cheese danish recipe is the perfect dessert to enjoy after a meal. You can add a dollop of whipped cream like I do or a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream for an even sweeter treat.You can also enjoy it with a cup of matcha tea or a homemade Vanilla Bean Frappuccino while reading on your patio during these warm summer months.
Storage
Once cooled, store the berry cream cheese danish in an airtight container or bag and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
To preserve longer, wrap in plastic wrap then store in a freezer safe container or bag for up to 3 months in the freezer.
To reheat puff pastry from the refrigerator, place in the air fryer on 370F for 5-7 minutes or until warmed.
To reheat puff pastry from frozen, let thaw overnight in refrigerator then place in air fryer on 370F for 5-7 minutes.
FAQs
They are best served warm so that the crust is flaky. They need to cool for a minute or two once removed from the air fryer so that they set, and the glaze can be applied.
Yes, they can be made ahead of time and heated back up in the air fryer. Reheating instructions are included in the storage section.
Using chilled dough along with lightly brushing the outer edges with the egg wash will help seal in the pastry.
Related Recipes
Here's a few more simple desserts you can make in your air fryer:
- Air fryer apple fritters have much less oil than deep-fried ones.
- Banana lumpia turon is a classic Filipino treat.
- Air fryer pineapples taste amazing topped with vanilla ice cream.
- Cream cheese muffins are flavored with sweet Biscoff spread.
- Brownie bites are easily eaten in just two bites.
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Recipe
Cream Cheese Danish
Ingredients
- ½ sheet puff pastry
- 1 small beaten egg
BERRY FILLING:
- 4 to 6 pieces medium fresh strawberries
- ½ cup fresh blueberries
- 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar divided
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
SUGAR GLAZE:
- 3 ½ tablespoons confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon cream I used all-purpose cream
ADDITIONAL: on the side
- fresh strawberries
- fresh blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer at 370F (188C). Set at 18 minutes.
- Prepare a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Gently place ½ puff pastry sheet.
- Slice ½ puff pastry sheet into two equal parts. Lightly score each side, creating a border about ½ inch from the edge. Poke holes in the center of the pastry using a fork.
- Gently transfer the prepared puff pastry onto Air Fryer tray and lightly brush the sides with beaten egg. Slowly insert tray into the middle cooking chamber, near the rotisserie catch.
- Air Fry puff pastry for 10 minutes.
- Hull strawberries then cut each piece into 4 equal sizes. Transfer the strawberries into a small bowl, then add ½ teaspoon confectioners' sugar and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Mix well.
- Transfer the blueberries into another small bowl, then add ½ teaspoon confectioners' sugar and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Mix well.
- In another bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and lemon juice. Blend well until all the ingredients are smooth and creamy.
- Remove the Air Fryer tray from the cooking chamber.
- Using the rounded tip of a wooden spoon and following the boarder earlier created, push and flatten the middle of the puff pastry, creating a hollow space for the filling.
- Spread the cream cheese filling. Place prepared strawberries on one side of the hollowed out puff pastry. Place prepared blueberries on the other side of the pastry. Filling up equal parts, strawberries and blueberries should meet at the middle of the pastry. Do the same for the other prepared puff pastry.
- Return the Air Fryer tray to the middle cooking chamber, near the rotisserie catch. Air Fry for 5 to 6 minutes.
- In a separate small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and cream. Mix well until smooth, creamy, and the right consistency.
- Remove the Air Fryer tray and allow the puff pastry to cool for 1 minute. Gently transfer the cream cheese and berry-filled puff pastry onto a plate and drizzle with the sugar glaze.
- Serve with fresh berries on the side.
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