Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cheese Danish Recipe
Delight in a flaky, sweet treat with this Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cheese Danish recipe. Utilizing frozen puff pastry and creamy sweetened cream cheese, topped with vibrant cranberry sauce and finished with a zesty orange glaze, these danishes are perfect for transforming holiday leftovers into an elegant, crowd-pleasing dessert or breakfast pastry.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Total Time: 31 minutes
- Yield: 8 cheese danishes 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry dough
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste)
Topping
- 1 cup leftover cranberry sauce
Egg Wash
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp water
Orange Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tbsp orange juice (add 1/4 tsp at a time if you need to thin out the glaze)
- 1/2 tsp orange zest (optional for stronger orange flavor)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Slice the frozen puff pastry sheet into 8 equal rectangles. Using a sharp knife, score the puff pastry, leaving a 1/4 inch border around each rectangle. Poke the center area of each square with a fork to prevent it from puffing up. Place the prepared squares somewhere cool to keep the pastry firm.
- Mix Cream Cheese Filling: In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with granulated sugar and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and creamy. Scoop out about 1 to 2 heaping tablespoons of this mixture and spread it in the center of each puff pastry square, avoiding the edges.
- Add Cranberry Sauce: Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons of leftover cranberry sauce on top of the cream cheese layer in each pastry. Spread gently without touching the edges of the puff pastry to keep borders clear.
- Apply Egg Wash and Bake: Beat the egg with water to create an egg wash. Brush the edges of each pastry square with the egg wash to help them brown beautifully. Bake the danishes in the preheated oven for 16 minutes or until golden and puffed.
- Prepare Orange Glaze: While the danishes bake, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, orange juice, and orange zest in a medium bowl to make the glaze. Adjust the orange juice by adding 1/4 teaspoon at a time until your desired glaze consistency is reached.
- Glaze and Serve: Once the danishes are baked and slightly cooled, drizzle the orange glaze over the tops. Serve immediately for a fresh, flavorful pastry treat.
Notes
- For best results, keep the puff pastry cold before baking to ensure it puffs properly.
- You can substitute cranberry sauce with other fruit preserves if desired.
- The orange zest in the glaze is optional but adds a nice citrus punch.
- Make sure not to overfill the cream cheese and cranberry layers to avoid spilling during baking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and consume within 2 days for optimal freshness.
Keywords: cranberry sauce, cream cheese danish, puff pastry, holiday leftovers, orange glaze, baked pastry, dessert recipe
