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Danish Twists with Cream Cheese Filling

posted by Liz Berg on April 30, 2018 (updated 2/13/23)

Danish Twists with Cream Cheese Filling are made with tender, sweet yeast bread dough, a sweet cream cheese center plus a generous drizzle of a powdered sugar glaze!

Way before the Internet, my mom learned of all the latest finds from her bridge club, church or university friends. One summer it was all about the Sara Lee outlet in the metropolis of Des Moines, 30 miles south of my hometown, and their Cream Cheese Danish. What the heck was cheese doing in a sweet roll, my sisters and I wondered???

Danish Twists with Cream Cheese Filling on a white plate with a red handled fork.

Table of Contents hide

1 Why You Must Make

2 Ingredient Notes

3 Recipe Tips

4 Frequently Asked Questions

5 You May Also Like:

6 Danish Twists with Cream Cheese Filling

Why You Must Make

I was not thinking of cream cheese but instead cheddar or Parmesan when picturing “cheese danish” for the first time. What in the world, thought my pre-teen self? Who would eat those?? I loved breakfast pastries, but these sounded a bit strange!

If you’re a fan of cheesecake and/or danish pastries, you’ll love this cheese danish!
It reminds me of my childhood favorite Sara Lee Danish.
Homemade certainly beats storebought 100% of the time. This cheese danish is perfect for any holiday breakfast or brunch!

Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I finally tasted these cream cheese-filled danish after my mom purchased a case for the freezer. I was smitten after that initial nibble! These danish twists with cream cheese filling are reminiscent of those pastries I first tasted in the 1970s!

Danish Twists with Cream Cheese Filling on a parchment lined sheet pan.

Ingredient Notes

Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Salt, Milk
Bread Flour – Higher gluten helps the elastic formation and structure of yeast bread
Instant Yeast – Has smaller granules than regular yeast and does not need to be rehydrated or proofed before being mixed into the flour.
Egg – Have at room temperature for easier incorporation.
Butter – Salted butter is fine, melted and cooled
Milk – Warm milk, about 120°. Hotter may kill the yeast. You will also need additional milk to make the frosting. Use enough to make a good drizzling consistency.
Cream Cheese – Have at room temperature so it will be smooth when blended.
Egg Yolk – Separate the egg into the yolk and white when cold to minimize breaking the yolk. But allow the yolk to come to room temperature for the easiest incorporation into the dough.
Vanilla Extract – Read the label as it should be real vanilla extract, not imitation.
Powdered Sugar – Also known as Confectioners’ Sugar. Sift before using to remove any lumps for a smooth frosting.

Recipe Tips

From that moment on, I adored a cream cheese filling—whether in a Bundt Cake, Tea Roll or these cream cheese danishes, it pushes a recipe over the top!

Make sure your yeast has not expired before you start making the dough.
Using your stand mixer with a paddle attachment is the easiest way to knead the dough, but it can be done by hand, too.
Have your cream cheese at room temperature when making the filling. It will make a smoother filling than if it’s mixed when cold.
My tip for filling these rolls is to scrape the cream cheese mixture into a Ziploc bag, snip off one corner, and pipe it into the centers. The result will be neater than if you use a spoon.
You can use a fork to crisscross the drizzle over the baked and cooled cheese danishes, but you can also utilize another Ziploc bag and snip off a smaller corner to attractively ice these rolls.

Bill, AKA the picky hubby, eyed these after a long day at work. “Are these up for grabs?” he inquired. “Why yes, but let’s freeze most of them, to keep them fresh,” was my practical reply. Day after day, he started his day with one of these marvelous cheese danishes and loved every bite. I think you will, too!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Danish Pastry the Same as Puff Pastry?

They are both varieties of pastry, but Danish Pastry is leavened with yeast and Puff Pastry rises due to the layers of butter that produce steam when the pastry is baked.

What Else Can Be Used to Fill Danish Instead of Cream Cheese?

There are many filling alternatives including fruit jelly, jam or preserves, fruit pie filling, lemon curd, ganache, and Nutella. You can even go the savory route, but you may want to decrease the sugar in the dough and eliminate the frosting.

Do Cream Cheese Danishes Need to Be Refrigerated?

Yes, keep these danishes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Longer than that, place them in a freezer-safe container and keep them for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.