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This Starbucks copycat cheese Danish recipe is super simple and makes melt-in-the-mouth pastries that no one can resist. This easy-to-make breakfast pastry (store-bought puff pastry sheets) is the perfect way to start the day and way cheaper than buying them from Starbucks! Serve them warm from the oven with a steaming cup of coffee. The soft, sweet cream cheese filling is delicious, nestled into buttery pastry – total comfort food.
Make your very own Starbucks copycat cheese Danish and enjoy the ultimate tasty pastry and cream cheese-filled sweet treat.
Also try cream cheese berry Danishes, a cheesecake tart with berries, Starbucks pink drink, or this recipe for pecan sugar cookies.
Why You’ll Love It
Budget-friendly: Save money by making this copycat recipe from home with a handful of accessible ingredients.
Just like Starbucks: Sink your teeth into this amazing homemade version of the Starbucks cheese Danish.
Double up the recipe: You can easily double this Starbucks cream cheese Danish recipe and freeze the rest for a busy morning.
Ingredients for a Copycat Starbucks Cheese Danish
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Puff pastry: This ready-made frozen puff pastry gives you the flaky, buttery layers that make this Danish cheese irresistible. Puff pastry can be found in the freezer section at most grocery stores.
Cream cheese: Use room temperature for smooth mixing and an even, creamy texture.
Powdered sugar: This adds just the right amount of sweetness. Its fine texture helps it blend seamlessly with the cream cheese.
Vanilla extract: Don’t skip it – it gives that “desserty” taste.
Egg: The egg is used for an egg wash, which gives the puff pastry a beautiful golden-brown finish. It also helps to seal the edges of the pastry, keeping the filling intact while baking.
How to Make a Starbucks Cheese Danish
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the cream cheese filling: In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, blend cream cheese and powdered sugar for 2 or 3 minutes. Add vanilla and mix until fully combined.
Fill the pastry: Transfer the cream mixture to a pastry bag or a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped. Pipe the filling down the center of each pastry.
Apply the egg wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water. Brush the edges of each pastry with the egg wash via a pastry brush.
Bake and serve: Bake and cool slightly before serving.
Substitutions and Variations
Cream cheese swaps: Substitute cream cheese with mascarpone for a richer filling, or use dairy-free cream cheese for a vegan option.
Sweetener options: Replace powdered sugar with honey, maple syrup, or a sugar substitute like stevia.
Added flavor: Add a teaspoon of lemon zest or almond extract to the cream mixture.
Pastry swap: Use puff pastry, croissant dough or even crescent rolls as an alternative to traditional pastry.
Egg wash alternative: For a vegan option, brush the pastry edges with almond milk and maple syrup instead of the egg wash.
Add toppings: Sprinkle the pastries with sliced almonds, crushed pistachios, or a dusting of cinnamon sugar before baking.
Fruity filling: Add a spoonful of your favorite fruit preserves or fresh berries on top of the cream cheese filling.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizer: Serve your cheese danish from Starbucks with fresh fruit salad, chocolate spaghetti, or mango mousse.
Main: Sheet pan eggs make the perfect main as do these sausage burritos or my Italian frittata.
Dessert: End with a Starbucks cheese Danish recipe and a steaming hot coffee or tea.
How to Store Starbucks Cream Cheese Danishes
Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They can be served at room temperature, warmed, or cold.
Freezer: These Danishes can be frozen baked or unbaked for about 2 months.
Thaw: Leave them to thaw overnight in the fridge or at a moderate room temperature for a few hours.
Reheat: For best results, reheat the Danishes in a 350°F oven for 5 to 7 minutes to restore their flaky texture.
Top Tips
Chill the pastry: Keep the dough refrigerated until just before use to ensure it remains flaky and doesn’t become too soft to handle.
Avoid overfilling: Avoid overfilling the pastries with the cream mixture to prevent leakage during baking.
Seal edges properly: Press the edges firmly after applying the egg wash to ensure the pastries stay sealed and maintain their shape.
Monitor baking time: Ovens can vary; start checking the pastries at the 10-minute mark to avoid over-browning.
Cool on a wire rack: After baking, transfer the pastries to a wire rack to cool slightly, which helps maintain their crispness.
Serve fresh: These pastries are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven. If storing, reheat them briefly to regain their flaky texture.
Starbucks Danish Recipe FAQs
No worries! You can mix the cream cheese filling by hand using a whisk or with a hand mixer. Just ensure the cream cheese is softened for easy mixing.
Yes! You can add a dollop of fruit preserves or fresh fruit on top of the cream cheese before baking for a fruity twist.
Make sure not to overfill the pastries and press the edges firmly after applying the egg wash. This helps to seal them tightly.
Yes! Use dairy-free cream cheese and a vegan puff pastry, and substitute the egg wash with almond milk mixed with a bit of maple syrup.
Starbucks Cheese Danish Recipe
Starbucks Copycat Cheese Danish
Equipment
- Sharp Knife or Pizza Cutter
- Stand Mixer or Handheld Mixer
- Pastry Bag or Ziploc Bag
Ingredients
- 1 Sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 4 Ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- ¼ Cup powdered sugar
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 Tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the thawed pastry into 6 equal rectangles, and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese and powdered sugar. Cream together for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix until fully combined.
- Place the cream mixture into a pastry bag or Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe filling down the center of each pastry.
- In a small bowl whisk together the egg and water until combined. Brush the edges of each pastry with the egg wash.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Avoid overfilling: Avoid overfilling the pastries with the cream mixture to prevent leakage during baking.
Seal edges properly: Press the edges firmly after applying the egg wash to ensure the pastries stay sealed and maintain their shape.
Monitor baking time: Ovens can vary; start checking the pastries at the 10-minute mark to avoid over-browning.
Cool on a wire rack: After baking, transfer the pastries to a wire rack to cool slightly, which helps maintain their crispness.
Serve fresh: These pastries are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven. If storing, reheat them briefly to regain their flaky texture.
Nutrition
This easy-to-make Starbucks-inspired cheese Danish delivers melt-in-your-mouth pastries that are perfect for kicking off your day and way more budget-friendly than grabbing them at Starbucks! Enjoy them fresh from the oven with a hot cup of coffee. The soft, sweet cream cheese filling tucked into a buttery pastry epitomizes comfort food.
Other Sweet Breakfast Recipes To Try
- Make French toast-style muffins for a fusion of two breakfast favorites!
- These Italian doughnuts have a lemony, luscious center that oozes out.
- Rainbow unicorn toast will be a hit with kiddies – they are as pretty as a picture.
- Whip up this French toast skillet layered with cinnamon and maple syrup.
- Nothing is more delicious than these soft and cozy sheet pan buttermilk pancakes.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I love anything with cheese on it. And this danish recipe is fantastic.
Tried this recipe yesterday and it is a perfect match to the ones at Starbucks. Delish!