Heart-Shaped Cherry Cheese Danish (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Cream Cheese Filling
01 -
4 oz cream cheese, softened
02 -
¼ cup sugar
03 -
1 egg yolk
04 -
1 tablespoon ricotta cheese
05 -
½ teaspoon almond extract or vanilla extract
06 -
Pinch of salt
07 -
½ tablespoon lemon zest
→ Danish Assembly
08 -
2 sheets puff pastry (1 box)
09 -
1 can cherry pie filling
10 -
1 large egg plus 1 tablespoon water
11 -
Flour for dusting
# Instructions:
01 -
Thaw puff pastry according to package directions. Prepare two baking sheets and line with parchment paper.
02 -
In a medium sized bowl, use an electric mixer to combine cream cheese and sugar. Once well blended mix in egg yolk, ricotta cheese, almond extract, salt and lemon zest. Refrigerate cream cheese mixture until ready to assemble danishes.
03 -
On a lightly floured surface roll out thawed but still cold puff pastry to a 10×10 square and use heart shaped cookie cutter to make hearts.
04 -
Transfer puff pastry hearts to baking sheets and prick puff pastry with fork in a heart shape leaving a ½ inch edge around the heart.
05 -
Divide cream cheese mixture onto each danish (about one heaping tablespoon each). Top with tablespoon of cherry pie filling, about 4-5 cherries per danish.
06 -
Brush edges of puff pastry hearts with egg. Refrigerate danishes for 15 minutes.
07 -
Adjust oven rack to center of oven and preheat to 350℉. Bake danishes for 15-20 minutes or until puff pastry is golden brown.
# Notes:
01 -
Refrigeration before baking prevents filling spread.
02 -
Keep pastry cold while working with it.
03 -
Can substitute vanilla for almond extract.