Vanilla Cream Cheese Danish

A chewy, creamy, perfectly sweet danish with cream cheese filling and a crumbly streusel topping. The ultimate pairing for any cup of coffee.

Prep Time10

Cook Time25

Proofing Time1

Total Time1 35

Course: Bread, Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Whisk a pinch of granulated sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons of active dry yeast into 1/2 cup of warm milk and set aside until foamy (about 5 minutes)
In a large bowl or a stand mixer, combine 2 cups of all purpose flour with 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, a large egg and 4 tablespoons of softened butter
Once the yeast has bloomed, add it and mix until a soft dough forms
Continue kneading and gradually add up to another 1/4 cup of flour
When the dough is smooth and soft, transfer it into a lightly greased bowl, cover and rest in a warm place for an hour

Combine 1/4 cup of almond flour with 1/3 cup of all purpose flour, 1/3 cup of granulated sugar and a few drops of almond extract in a shallow bowl
Add 4 tablespoons of cold cubed butter and use a stiff fork or pastry cutter to work the cold butter in until large crumbles form and the butter pieces are broken down small
Chill the streusel until you are ready to assemble the danish

In a large bowl, whisk 8 ounces of softened cream cheese with 1 egg yolk, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt until completely combined
Sift 2/3 cup of confectioners sugar into the bowl and whisk until smooth
Cover and set aside until the dough is ready

Preheat your oven to 350°
Transfer the dough out onto a sheet of parchment paper and gently roll it into a long rectangle
Use the the back of a large spoon to form 2 long wells that run the length of the rectangle leaving the border puffy and a narrow divider between the wells
Transfer the shaped dough on the parchment paper onto a baking sheet
Fill the wells with your vanilla cream cheese filling and crumble the streusel over the everything
Bake the danish for 24-26 minutes or until lightly golden and puffed

Transfer the danish onto a heat proof surface to cool and set up for about 10 minutes
Whisk 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2-3 tablespoons of milk into a sifted cup of confectioners sugar until a smooth glaze forms
Drizzle the glaze over the entire danish
Cut into thick slices and enjoy!