Easy Apple Cheese Danish Recipes

APPLE-CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, unfold one pastry sheet and roll into a 15x10-inch rectangle. Transfer to the prepared baking pan, pressing dough to edges of pan. Bake in the preheated oven about 12 minutes or until golden brown (pastry will puff and shrink from sides of pan). Cool on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, in an extra-large skillet, cook apples in hot butter over medium heat about 8 minutes or just until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar, the flour, 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Sprinkle over apples. Cook and stir over medium-low heat for 2 minutes more; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla just until combined. Carefully spread cream cheese mixture over baked pastry to within 1 inch of the edges. Spoon apple mixture over cream cheese mixture.
• On a lightly floured surface, unfold the remaining pastry sheet and roll into about a 13x9-inch rectangle (make sure pastry is large enough to completely cover apple mixture). Place on top of apple mixture. Lightly press edges of top pastry to edges of bottom pastry. Lightly brush pastry with milk. Using a sharp knife, cut a few slits in pastry to allow steam to escape. In a small bowl, combine coarse sugar and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; sprinkle over pastry.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until pastry is slightly puffed and golden brown. Cool on wire rack about 45 minutes. Serve slightly warm. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator. Make-Ahead Tip:
• Prepare the apple mixture as directed in Step 2. Cool and transfer to an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Test Kitchen Tip:
• To save time, prepare as directed, except substitute one 21-ounce can of your favorite fruit pie filling for the apples, butter, 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar, the flour, 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon, and the nutmeg; omit Step 2.

APPLE CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Place the cottage cheese in a strainer lined with cheesecloth or heavy-duty paper towels. Pat dry with paper towels and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Place apples in a bowl, and sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent browning.
• Combine the cream cheese, drained cottage cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, egg, and vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric mixer, and mix 1 to 2 minutes on high speed, until almost smooth.
• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut each of the puff pastry sheets into 9 pieces; you should have 18 total. Roll the pieces out, one at a time, to make 5 x 5-inch squares. To ensure the pastries puff up, avoid using too much pressure or rolling over the edges of the dough.
• Place a square in front of you so that it looks like a diamond. Spoon a generous amount of cheese filling down the middle of each square, leaving 1/4 inch of room at the top and bottom edges. Fan out 4-5 slices of apple down the center of each cheese-filled square. Bring the left and right corners together to meet in the center and pinch to seal.
• Transfer the Danish to a baking sheet and repeat with the remaining pastries. Sprinkle sugar over each bundle and bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is golden brown, about 20 minutes.

EASY APPLE DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
• Separate dough into eight rectangles. Seal perforations.
• Using a brush or spoon, spread melted butter all over crescent rolls. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture (2 tablespoons white sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon).
• Roll up from long side; pinch edges to seal. Holding one end, loosely coil each.
• Now you want to get in there with your fingers and spread out the dough some to make room for the filling. Just pull and stretch to make a nice dent in the middle.
• Open can of apple pie filling and using a knife, cut apple slices into smaller chunks. Just keep poking and slicing around until all your apples are cut into more manageable pieces.
• Place on cookie sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Top each coil with about 2-3 tablespoons of apple pie filling.
• Sprinkle the tops with a bit more cinnamon sugar mixture.
• Bake at 350(F) for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown.
• For the glaze, in a bowl, combine powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Stir until smooth and drizzle over each warm danish. These taste best when served warm.

EASY CHERRY (OR APPLE) CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Unroll one package of crescent roll dough and seal edges to make one large sheet. Place in bottom of an ungreased 9" x 13" baking dish.
• In a bowl, combine cream cheese, 1 cup of the sugar and vanilla. Spread mixture over dough in baking dish. Spread cherry pie filling over cream cheese mixture. (If using apple pie filling, spread apple filling and then sprinkle with cinnamon (optional).
• Unroll remaining package of crescent roll dough and seal edges to form one large sheet. Lay dough over pie filling.
• Mix 1/8 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon together. Sprinkle mixture over top of dough.
• Bake approximately 30 or until golden brown.