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Chocolate Cream Cheese Danish Recipe

Chocolate Cream Cheese Danish Recipe
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★★★★★

5 from 6 reviews

A delectable Chocolate Cream Cheese Danish recipe featuring flaky puff pastry filled with a smooth and creamy sweetened cream cheese mixture topped with rich homemade chocolate ganache. This delightful pastry is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack that combines creamy, chocolatey, and buttery flavors in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Pastry

  • 2 Frozen puff pastry sheets

Cream Cheese Filling

  • 8 oz Cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup White granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp Pure vanilla extract

Egg Wash

  • 1 Large egg
  • 1 tsp Water

Chocolate Ganache

  • 1 cup Semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup Heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Thaw the Puff Pastry: Place frozen puff pastry sheets on the counter for 30 minutes to thaw slightly while preparing other components.
  2. Prepare the Chocolate Ganache: Place the chocolate chips in a bowl. Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan over medium-low heat until it is steaming but not boiling. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips. Let sit for 1 minute and 30 seconds, then stir gently until smooth. If chunks remain, heat the mixture in 15-second intervals in the microwave, stirring well between each interval. Allow the ganache to stand at room temperature for 2 hours until it thickens to a pudding-like consistency.
  3. Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese using a hand mixer on high speed for 1 minute. Add sugar and beat again for another minute to combine smoothly. Mix in the vanilla extract thoroughly.
  4. Prepare and Cut Puff Pastry: Place thawed pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Using your fingers, press to seal any seam lines. Cut each sheet into thirds lengthwise, then cut each third in half to form six rectangles per sheet. Repeat for the second sheet resulting in 12 rectangles total.
  5. Apply Egg Wash: Beat the egg and water together to make the egg wash. Using a pastry brush, brush the edges of each rectangle with the egg wash to help seal and give a golden finish when baked.
  6. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper for non-stick and easy cleanup.
  7. Score the Pastry Rectangles: Place rectangles on baking sheets, six per sheet. Using a sharp knife, carefully score a smaller rectangle inside each piece about ½ inch from the edges without cutting all the way through, creating a border that allows the edges to rise and puff around the filling.
  8. Fill Pastry with Cream Cheese Mixture: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese filling into the center of each rectangle and gently spread it inside the scored area, avoiding the edges.
  9. Chill the Pastry Sheets: Place one baking sheet in the refrigerator and the other in the freezer. Leave the sheet in the freezer for 5 minutes before baking to help keep the butter in the pastry cold, which improves puffing.
  10. Bake the Pastries: Bake one sheet at a time for 17-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and puffed. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before proceeding to the next sheet.
  11. Add Chocolate Ganache Topping: Once the pastries are fully cooled, spoon the thickened chocolate ganache on top of the cream cheese filling, spreading it to cover the center but leaving some cream cheese visible around the edges for visual appeal and texture contrast.

Notes

  • Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature to ensure a smooth filling without lumps.
  • Do not cut all the way through the pastry edges when scoring the rectangles to keep the filling contained and the edges crisp and puffed.
  • Chilling the pastry before baking helps retain flakiness as the cold butter creates steam pockets during baking.
  • The chocolate ganache texture should be thick but spreadable; chilling it for the full 2 hours is essential for the right consistency.
  • Enjoy these danishes fresh for best texture but they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: Chocolate Cream Cheese Danish, Puff Pastry Danish, Cream Cheese Pastry, Chocolate Ganache Pastry, Breakfast Pastry, Brunch Recipe

Find it online: https://tastybynova.com/chocolate-cream-cheese-danish-recipe/