Blackberry Cheese Danish
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Blackberry Cheese Danish is filled with lemon-thyme cream cheese, then topped with fresh blackberries on a buttery puff pastry crust. It's finished with a delightful sugar glaze!
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Why You'll Love It
Blackberry Cheese Danish is an easy recipe made with a cream cheese filling and luscious blackberry jam on a flaky pastry crust.
This danish puff pastry goes great with a hot cup of coffee in the morning, and can also double as an elegant dessert.
It's simply delicious on Christmas morning or makes the perfect summer treat!
Using Fresh Blackberries
First things first. A trip to a roadside market is one of life's greatest pleasures. In the south, produce stands pop up here and there in the summer months, mostly hidden along the back roads on the way to town.
It's always a thrill to discover a new treasure at the market. Finding a big basket of sweet, plump blackberries is like winning the lottery!
Half the fun is deciding what to make. Maybe a pie? A blackberry cobbler? Or, a beautiful display of danish pastries?
Working With Puff Pastry
Puff pastry dough is right up there with refrigerated pie crusts in the 'thank you for making my life easier' section. I truly admire anyone who makes pastry dough from scratch.
Pre-made puff pastry sheets are easy to work with because they come with their own sheet of parchment paper. You just roll it out on a large baking sheet and start adding the toppings of your choice.
In this danish recipe, I'm making a sweet pastry that's one of my favorite recipes. I use laminated dough from Wewalka, but you can also use Pepperidge Farm or any type of puff pastry as long as it's not phyllo dough.
Ingredients
Quantities are listed in the recipe card.
- puff pastry sheet
- neufchatel cream cheese
- powdered sugar
- lemon curd
- fresh thyme
- blueberry jam
- fresh blackberries
- cornstarch
- half and half
How to Make Blackberry Cheese Danish
- To assemble the danish, start by unrolling the puff pastry onto a sheet pan. If your puff pastry doesn't include parchment paper, make sure you roll that out first. Then, roll the edges up all the way around.
2. With an electric mixer, blend together a combination of softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon curd and thyme in a medium bowl. Spread the cream cheese mixture on the puff pastry, then layer a mixture of blackberries and jam on top.
3. Heat oven to 425 degrees and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool pastry on a baking rack for at least 30 minutes.
4. Mix powdered sugar and half & half together in a small bowl. Add a little bit of almond extract if you like. Have some fun while you drizzle the sugar glaze over the entire surface. It will bring out the pastry chef in you!
5. After the pastry cools, slice it with a pizza cutter and serve at room temperature.
Variations
- Use different fruits like strawberries, blueberries or raspberries for a completely different flavor.
- Make apricot danish with dried apricots and jam.
- Try cherry pie filling for a quick and easy cherry cream cheese danish.
- Sprinkle the flaky puff pastry with lemon zest.
- Divide dough into equal squares and create a different flavor on every pastry!
Recipe FAQS
Major grocery stores carry puff pastry in the same section with refrigerated pie dough. I buy puff pastry in rolls, but you can also purchase it frozen in squares. My favorite brand is Wewalka, but there are many different types. Just make sure you are buying real puff pastry and not phyllo dough or croissant dough.
Yes, you can use any cream cheese product that you like. I used a light cream cheese in this danish puff recipe so it would spread easier. But, if you use an electric mixer to blend it, you won't have any issues with it spreading.
Absolutely! I used blueberry jam in this recipe, but you can use apricot, blackberry or raspberry. Just make sure it's seedless or you won't be happy with the final results.
Yes, you can use any type of frozen fruit, but make sure it is completely frozen when it's added to the pastry. If it thaws, there will be too much juice and the pastry will get soggy.
More Fresh Fruit Recipes
Blackberry Cheese Danish is one of the most popular recipes I've ever created. The flaky crust highlights the hint of lemon and thyme in the creamy cheese filling. It's the perfect breakfast, brunch or dessert treat!
Do you love desserts made with fruit? Then, you'll also adore these other recipes...
- Triple Berry Crostata
- Chocolate Raspberry Mousse
- Three Ingredient Peach Pie
- Strawberry Margarita Icebox Pie
- Blueberry Lemon Pastry
- No Bake Pineapple Pie
- Cherry Almond Cobbler
- Blueberry Lemon Crumble
Recipe Card
Blackberry Cheese Danish
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Equipment
Ingredients
CREAM CHEESE LAYER
- 1 sheet puff pastry (purchase a roll that fits a sheet pan or baking sheet)
- 4 ounces neufchâtel cream cheese
- 1 Tbsp. powdered sugar
- 1 Tbsp. lemon curd
- 1 Tbsp. fresh thyme
BERRY LAYER
- 1 cup berry jam (any berry jam will work)
- 2 cups fresh (or frozen) blackberries
- 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
SUGAR GLAZE
- 4 Tbsp. powdered sugar
- 1 Tbsp. half & half
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Roll puff pastry sheet out onto a half-size sheet pan or baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.
- Roll edges up all the way around pastry.
- Mix cream cheese with powdered sugar, lemon curd and thyme in a small bowl.
- Spread a thin layer of cream cheese onto the puff pastry sheet.
- Mix jam, blackberries and cornstarch together in a small bowl.
- Drop blackberry mixture by spoonfuls on the cream cheese layer.
- Spread the mixture evenly over pastry with a spoon.
- Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes until puff pastry is golden brown.
- Allow pastry to cool completely for 30 minutes.
- Mix powdered sugar and half & half together until smooth.
- Drizzle over entire pastry, then cut into rectangles and serve.
- Sprinkle pastry with extra fresh thyme if desired.
Video
Notes
- Both fresh and frozen blackberries work well in this recipe.
- Use a puff pastry sheet that will fit a half-size sheet pan. Make sure you purchase puff pastry and not phyllo dough or crescent rolls which will not hold up to the weight of the filling.
- Blackberry Cheese Danish is delicious for breakfast, brunch or dessert! It also makes a lovely presentation for bridal showers or a holiday brunch.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
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Oh WOW! Blackberry Cheese Danish was featured on Meal Plan Monday and went viral on Pinterest!
Hi! So excited to make this. Do you think it’s a bad idea to use a 9 inch tart pan with this? Assume so, since it might be too much filling, but would love to hear your opinion. Thanks!
Hi Cam. Thanks for writing! I'm not sure if you've seen the video in the recipe card, but if you get a chance to watch it, you can see how much filling it makes. I think that a 9 inch tart pan would be too small, but you can always adjust the filling amount to fit your pan!
This is DEFINITELY a winner!!! I made my own lemon curd, rather than paying $7 for a little jar of it (very simple), and I left out the thyme and added a little extra curd and powder sugar to the cream cheese. For the filling, a little less jam with the blackberries will make the filling a little less loose so it doesn't bleed so much. It is ADDICTIVE!!!
Thank you Lanette! I like your suggestions. It's one of my favorite recipes too!
Absolutely delicious!!
Thanks Allison!
Do I have to use the fresh thyme? Hard to find or is expensive
Hi Vicki. You can leave out the thyme without any problems.
Looks amazing. Does the bottom pastry go crisp though?
Thanks Susy. Yes, it crisps right up. If you want it super crispy, you can pre-bake the crust.
Love your recipes! easy and delicious - God's Blessings
Thank you so much Debbie! 🙂
This recipe is easy to follow and one of the best things I've ever made. My family loves it.
Thanks Sicilia! So happy to hear you love my Blackberry Danish recipe!
Absolutely delightful! This was a hit at the potluck I brought it too.