Chocolate Cream Cheese Danish

Chocolate Cream Cheese Danish: A Decadent Pastry for Any Occasion

If you’re a fan of indulgent pastries, this Chocolate Cream Cheese Danish is the perfect treat for you. With layers of flaky puff pastry, rich cream cheese filling, and a luscious chocolate ganache, these danishes are a delightful combination of textures and flavors. Whether you’re serving them for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, they are sure to impress your family and guests.

Ingredients

For the Pastry:

• 2 Frozen puff pastry sheets
• 8 oz Cream cheese, room temperature
• ⅓ cup White granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons Pure vanilla extract
• 1 Large egg (for egg wash)
• 1 teaspoon Water (for egg wash)

For the Chocolate Ganache:

• 1 cup Semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ¾ cup Heavy cream

Directions

1. Thaw the Pastry:

• Place the frozen puff pastry sheets on the counter and let them thaw for about 30 minutes. This will make them easier to handle when preparing the danishes.

2. Prepare the Chocolate Ganache:

• While the pastry is thawing, start making the chocolate ganache. Pour the semi-sweet chocolate chips into a heat-safe bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium-low heat until it just begins to steam, being careful not to let it boil.
• Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips and let it sit for 1 minute and 30 seconds to allow the chocolate to melt. Gently stir until the mixture is smooth and fully combined. If you find any remaining chocolate chunks, microwave the mixture in 15-second intervals, stirring well after each, until smooth. Let the ganache sit at room temperature for about 2 hours, or until it reaches a pudding-like consistency.

3. Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling:

• In a small bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese on high speed for 1 minute until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and continue beating for another minute. Mix in the vanilla extract until well combined, creating a creamy and sweet filling.

4. Cut and Prepare the Pastry:

• On a lightly floured surface, unfold the thawed puff pastry sheets. Press any seams together with your fingers. Using a sharp knife, cut each sheet into thirds along the seams, then cut each third in half, creating 6 rectangles per sheet (12 rectangles total).
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water to create an egg wash. Brush the edges of each pastry rectangle with the egg wash to help them achieve a beautiful golden color while baking.

5. Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper to prevent the pastries from sticking.

6. Prepare the Pastries for Baking:

• Place the pastry rectangles on the prepared cookie sheets, six per sheet. Using a sharp knife, lightly score a smaller rectangle within each pastry, leaving a ½-inch border around the edges. Be careful not to cut all the way through the pastry; this will allow the edges to rise around the filling as they bake.

7. Fill the Pastries:

• Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each pastry rectangle, spreading it evenly within the scored lines. This will create a delicious creamy layer inside the danishes.

8. Chill the Pastries:

• To ensure that the pastries remain flaky, place one cookie sheet in the fridge and the other in the freezer. Let the sheet in the freezer sit for 5 minutes before baking. The cold butter in the pastry will help create those desirable flaky layers.

9. Bake the Pastries:

• Bake one sheet of pastries at a time for 17-20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and puffed. Once baked, allow the pastries to cool completely on a wire rack before baking the second sheet.

10. Finish with Chocolate Ganache:

• After the pastries have cooled, spoon the prepared chocolate ganache over the cream cheese filling, leaving some of the cream cheese visible around the edges. The ganache adds a rich, chocolatey finish that perfectly complements the creamy filling and flaky pastry.

11. Serve:

• Enjoy these Chocolate Cream Cheese Danishes as a decadent breakfast treat or a delightful dessert. They are best served fresh but can also be stored in an airtight container for a day or two.

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Baking Time: 20 minutes per sheet
Cooling Time: 2 hours (for ganache)
Total Time: 3 hours
Calories: ~350 kcal per pastry
Servings: 12 pastries

These Chocolate Cream Cheese Danishes are an elegant and delicious pastry that’s sure to impress. The combination of creamy filling, rich ganache, and flaky pastry is simply irresistible. Perfect for a special occasion or when you want to treat yourself to something indulgent, these danishes are a must-try.

Try out this recipe, and let me know how it turns out in the comments below. Happy baking!

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