Strawberry Danish

Strawberry Cheese Danish

Store bought danishes have nothing on this homemade version! These beautiful Strawberry Cheese Danish pastries are made with store bought sheets of puff pastry, a lemon and vanilla flavored cream cheese and strawberry jam filling and are topped with fresh strawberries and sweet glaze. Each and every bite is heaven!

Whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast, an elegant brunch dish, or a sweet afternoon snack, this Strawberry Danish is sure to impress. They are so quick and easy to make and perfect for an indulgent breakfast or sweet snack with coffee. Truly delicious, so impressive and unbelievably easy to make.

We love serving these gorgeous pastries for holiday brunches, Mother’s Day, or a special weekend treat!

Make any flavor cheese danish you want by simply swapping out the flavor of jam!

Why You’ll Love This Danish Recipe

Flaky, buttery puff pastry meets luscious cream cheese, sweet strawberry jam, and fresh berries in this homemade Strawberry Danish recipe! With a golden, crispy exterior and a drizzle of vanilla glaze, these easy pastries are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet afternoon treat.

Easy to make – Uses store-bought puff pastry for a shortcut without sacrificing flavor.
Bakery-quality at home – Flaky, golden pastry with a rich, creamy center and fresh strawberries makes this a crowd-pleaser.
Perfect for any occasion – Great for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or even a special holiday treat.

How To Make Strawberry Danishes

Why buy store-bought when you can make these irresistible Strawberry Danishes at home? ! Light, flaky pastry topped with a lemon-scented cheese filling and sweet strawberry jam. With minimal prep and a handful of ingredients, you’ll have a tray of beautiful pastries ready in no time. Perfect for brunch, dessert or any time you crave something sweet!

Making this Strawberry Danish recipe is easier than you think! Let’s take a quick look at how to make this and, as always, you can find the full printable recipe in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Danishes

Combine cream cheese, sugar, lemon zest and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl.
Beat together until smooth and creamy.
Cut both sheets of puff pastry lengthways into strips one inch thick.
Pick a strip up with one end in each hand. Twist opposite ways then lightly coil the strip around so you have a round shape. Repeat with the remaining strips. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Use your thumb to press a groove into the center of each pastry then prick it with a fork.
Egg wash the pastry avoiding the very center.
Add half a teaspoon of jam to the center of each pastry.
Spoon just less than one tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on top.
Add another half teaspoon of jam on top of the cream cheese mixture. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 minutes or until the pastry has puffed up and is golden brown.

Make the Glaze, Garnish and Serve

Beat the powdered sugar, milk or cream and vanilla extract together until smooth.
Add the sliced strawberries to the top of each danish.
Drizzle the glaze over the top and enjoy!

We love to top the strawberry danishes with an easy-to-make vanilla (or lemon!) glaze and slices of fresh strawberries. A drizzle of vanilla glaze adds the perfect finishing touch to these easy, homemade pastries – perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet treat!

Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

Make ahead: You can shape the pastries and store them (unbaked) in the fridge, covered, for up to 24 hours.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 day or in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing: Freeze unbaked pastries on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes.

Variations To Try

These homemade pastries are made with golden puff pastry, a luscious cream cheese filling, sweet strawberry jam, and fresh strawberries – all finished with a drizzle of vanilla glaze. They taste just like a bakery-style treat but are surprisingly simple to make at home! Here are some simple variations and swaps you can try to customize this simple danish recipe:

Try raspberry, cherry, blueberry, or mixed berry jam instead of strawberry!
Add a flavored extract to the glaze for a fun flavor twist – almond extract would be delicious!
Drizzle melted chocolate over the top instead of glaze for a decadent twist.
Skip the jam and add herbed cream cheese for a delicious savory option.

Can I use homemade puff pastry?

Yes! If you have time, homemade puff pastry will make this recipe even more delicious. Just ensure it’s rolled to the same thickness as store-bought for even baking.

Can I make these pastries the night before?

Yes, you can assemble the pastries and refrigerate them overnight. Bake fresh in the morning for the best results.

What if I don’t have fresh strawberries?

You can skip the fresh berries or use another fruit like raspberries, blueberries, or even thinly sliced peaches.

Can I reheat leftover danishes?

Absolutely! Warm them in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes to crisp them back up.

Trish’s Tips

It’s important to chill the pastry once it is shaped as cold pastry will perform better and puff up properly in the oven.
Prick the center of the pastries as this stops them from puffing up too much and pushing out the filling.
We tested this recipe a number of ways and discovered it was best to divide the jam. If all the jam is added on top it runs over the edges of the pastry and burns. If all of the jam is added to the bottom it can escape through any gaps. So, dividing it gave the best outcome.
We also tried this recipe with adding strawberries on top of the pastries and baking them. We did enjoy the taste of these pastries but presentation wise they were not the prettiest because the strawberries lost their color once baked. We also found the juice from the strawberries ran in the oven quite a bit and made the pastry a bit soggy. We found it much better to add slices of strawberry on top of the danish pastries once they were baked. This also improved the longevity of any leftover danish pastries.