You don’t need to be an expert baker to make these mini Cream Cheese Apple Danish pastries. Using frozen puff pastry does most of the work—resulting in warm, tender, gooey, sweet little treats perfect for breakfast or dessert.
About these danishes
If you enjoy toaster strudel, these mini Cream Cheese Apple Danishes are a grown-up, homemade version. They combine baked apple slices, a sweet cream cheese filling, flaky puff pastry and a dusting of powdered sugar for a comforting, bakery-style bite.
Pre-made frozen puff pastry makes this recipe approachable for bakers of any skill level. You’ll usually find the pastry in the frozen section near pie crusts. Thaw it fully before working so it rolls and bakes beautifully.
Serve them as a dessert, a sweet appetizer, or a special breakfast treat. The same puff pastry technique works for other quick pastries and pop tarts if you want to experiment.
Recipe Ingredients
- Rockit™ apples — about 9 small apples (or 4 regular apples).
- Frozen puff pastry — 2 packs, thawed.
- Cream cheese — 8 oz, softened to room temperature.
- Cane sugar — 1/2 cup to sweeten the cream cheese filling and for sprinkling.
- Vanilla extract — 1 tsp.
- Lemon juice — 1 tsp.
- All-purpose flour — 1–2 tbsp for dusting the surface.
- Egg white — about 1/4 cup, used as an egg wash to help the pastry brown and seal.
- Powdered sugar — 1 tbsp for dusting before serving.
See the instructions and recipe card below for exact measurements and steps.
How to make these danishes
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly flour a work surface and unfold the thawed puff pastry.
2. Use a pizza cutter or knife to slice the pastry into 18 equal squares.
3. In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with cane sugar, lemon juice and vanilla until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag (or use a spoon) and place a dollop onto each pastry square.
4. Thinly slice the apples and arrange a few slices on top of the cream cheese on each pastry square.
5. Fold each pastry by bringing the corners toward the center and gently twisting them to secure the filling. Brush each danish with egg white and sprinkle lightly with cane sugar.
6. Bake at 400°F for about 15 minutes, until the pastry is golden and puffed. Remove from the oven, dust with powdered sugar, and serve warm.
Recipe FAQs
Make sure the puff pastry is completely thawed and handle it gently to retain its layers. Twist the corners tightly so the filling stays enclosed; if needed, dampen your fingertips or use a little egg wash to help the pastry seal.
If pastries puff open during baking, it’s often because the tops weren’t secured tightly or they were overfilled. Use a smaller amount of cream cheese or fewer apple slices to keep a neat presentation.
Cream cheese is ideal for its texture and sweetness, but other soft cheeses like mascarpone or brie can work. For brie or other savory options, omit the sugar in the filling.
Store cooled danishes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Puff pastry will lose some crispness over time, so they’re best enjoyed fresh. Reheat briefly in a warm oven to revive the texture.
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Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Mixing bowl
- Cutting board and knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Hand mixer (optional)
- Piping bag or spoon
- Pizza cutter or sharp knife
Ingredients
- 9 Rockit™ apples (or 4 regular apples)
- 2 packs frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1–2 tbsp all-purpose flour, for dusting
- 8 oz softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup cane sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup egg white (egg wash)
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Lightly flour a surface and spread thawed puff pastry flat.
- Cut pastry into 18 equal squares.
- Beat softened cream cheese with cane sugar, lemon juice and vanilla until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag or use a spoon to place filling on each square.
- Thinly slice apples and arrange slices on top of each cream cheese portion.
- Bring the four corners of each square toward the center and gently twist to seal. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with cane sugar.
- Bake for about 15 minutes, until golden and puffed. Cool slightly and dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Nutrition (per danish)
Serving: 1 danish | Calories: 142 kcal | Carbohydrates: 15 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 8 g
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; pastry texture will soften over time.
- To preserve presentation, avoid overfilling each pastry—less filling reduces the chance it will spill during baking.
- For a savory version, substitute or omit the sugar and use a soft cheese like brie.
More of our favorite Apple Dessert Recipes…
- Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip
- Strawberry Apple Crisp with Streusel Topping
- Apple Nachos
- Cream Cheese Apple Danishes
- Apple Galette with Puff Pastry
- Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling
- Apple Cranberry Crisp
- Simple Apple Pie with Store-Bought Crust
- Apple Cinnamon Bars
Tracking in MyFitnessPal: Search for “A Paige Of Positivity” and look for “MINI APPLE CREAM CHEESE DANISH” for a nutrition reference. For the most accurate results, enter your own ingredients into your food diary.
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