Cream Cheese Danish

Instructions

In a large bowl add 8 oz of softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, 1 large egg yolk, 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract and the zest of 1 lemon. Make sure to only use the yellow part and avoid the white rind since its very bitter.

Alright now that you have all your filling ingredients in the bowl, beat it on high speed using an electric hand mixer until the filling is smooth and creamy.

Now set that aside and lightly flour your work surface. Then unfold 1 lb package of thawed puff pastry and begin rolling out each sheet of puff pastry lengthwise about 2 inches. so that they measure (9x11 inches).

Now cut off the top 2 corners of the puff pastry. And set them aside. Don't toss them. Bake those along with the danish and eat them with some jam or Nutella.

Take your kitchen shears and begin making slits into the dough along both sides. You'll want to make about 9-10 slits per side. See where the puff pastry is was folded into 3rds, make sure not to cut past that line.

Once you get to the last strip at the bottom you'll be left with 2 flaps, just cut those off and set them aside to bake with the other corner scraps.

Now split your cream cheese filling among both danishes, keeping the filling contained in the middle third of the puff pastry.

Now fold over the top flap and begin crossing over the strips for the braid. So you'll want to just switch from right to left until you get to the last 2 strips. Fold bottom flap up and cross the last 2 strips over.

Now you want to gently transfer the danishes over to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Then make your egg wash by combing 1 egg with 1 tsp of water. Give a good thorough swish then brush it over the danishes using a pastry brush.

Now place the danishes in the oven and bake them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 to 25 minutes or until they're golden brown. Remove the cheese danishes from the oven and let them cool to room temperature.

In a small bowl combine 1/2 cup of powdered sugar with 2 tbsp of heavy cream. Once the pastry has cooled to almost room temperature you can begin drizzling the glaze on top.

Dessert