Cherry Cheesecake Danish
Made with cherry pie filling, cream cheese, and Pillsbury crescent dough, this Cherry Cheesecake Danish recipe makes the most tender and sweet pastries.
Cherry Danish
You are just five ingredients away from a homemade cherry Danish pastry with cream cheese you can have ready in less than 30 minutes, start to finish.
I find that any pastry made with Pillsbury crescent roll dough bakes up pretty heavenly and is always popular with friends and family.
This recipe can be made 2-3 hours before you want to serve breakfast, doubled, or frozen to bake fresh later. If you prefer, you can also make these pastries into mini Danish.
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If you love cherries as much as we do, you should also try this Cherry Coffee Cake.
Ingredients
View the complete recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and suggested substitution amounts.
- Pillsbury crescent roll dough: Or similar brands, make sure it is an 8-count package.
- Cream cheese: Softened. You can substitute low fat cream cheese if desired…but why? It’s PASTRY!
- Cherry pie filling: I use the Wilderness brand whenever possible; use your favorite. You can also make this with other fruit pie fillings, such as apple, blueberry, or peach.
- Granulated sugar
- All-purpose flour: This is an important ingredient since it acts as a stabilizer in the cream cheese filling, keeping it from spreading too much as the pastries bake.
- Vanilla extract
How to Make Cherry Cream Cheese Danish
View the complete recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and suggested substitution amounts.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sugar, flour, and vanilla, stirring until smooth.
Unroll each can of crescent roll dough, cutting the dough into 4 separate ectangles. Use your fingers to smooth the perforated line across each rectangle together.
Roll each rectangle of dough up into a cylinder, starting at the long side of each rectangle.
Now, form each cylinder of dough into a circle, pinching the ends together to secure.
Using your fingrs, press the circle of dough into a small, flat cup to create a place for the cream cheese filling to rest; place onto a greased baking sheet.
Divide the cream cheese mixture between the 8 prepared crescent roll cups on the baking sheet, spooning it into the center of each one.
Bake the Danish, uncovered, on the center rack of the oven for 15-18 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown on the side and bottom of each pastry. Don’t worry if the pastries fall a bit in the center as they cool.
Top each danish with the cherry pie filling. Let pastries cool for a few minutes, then serve at once.
If desired, you can drizzle a powdered sugar glaze the pastries with a powdered sugar glaze, but I never do. They are delicious as is!
Make mini danish
Instead of making 8 pastries, divide the dough into 16 portions to make 16 small cups and proceed with the recipe. Since the pastries are smaller in size, bake them for just 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.
Make danish ahead of time
You can assemble these danish 2-3 hours of time; store in the fridge until ready to bake.
How to Freeze
These pastries to freeze well. After you’ve filled the pastry cups with the cream cheese filling, they can be frozen. Don’t thaw before baking as per the directions.
Keep in mind that they may need a couple of extra minutes of baking time when baking from frozen.
What can I serve with cherry cheesecake danish
We love these Breakfast Meatballs and also these easy Ham and Egg Cups. Crispy Oven-Baked Bacon is a good option (according to my family!) and if you’ve got an Instant Pot, you can whip some Pop-and-Go Egg Bites in just minutes. And, homemade yogurt (also made in your Instant Pot!) would be delicious served topped with granola.
More Favorite Recipes to Enjoy
- This Honey Bun Cake takes a plain yellow cake mix and makes a breakfast treat your family will request again and again.
- This Cherry Pecan Banana Bread makes two big loaves of the most moist banana bread you’ll EVER find.
- These Easy Orange Breakfast Crescent Rolls are a perfect spin on Pillsbury orange Danish and can easily be made into orange cinnamon rolls.
Cherry Cheesecake Danish
Ingredients
- 2 tubes crescent roll dough, 8 count each I like Pillsbury brand
- 6 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp. all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 20 oz. can Wilderness Cherry Pie Filling, substitute your favorite brand
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Unroll each can of crescent roll dough, cutting the dough in 4 rectangles. Use your fingers to smooth together the perforated line across each rectangle.
- Starting at the long side of each rectangle, roll the dough up into a cylinder. Now form each cylinder of dough into a circle, pinching the ends together to secure.
- Now use your fingertips to press the dough into a small, flat cup, creating a place for the cream cheese filling to nest.
- Place the crescent roll cups onto a greased, rimmed baking sheet, four on each side.
- Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sugar, flour, and vanilla, stirring until smooth.
- Divide the cream cheese mixture between the 8 prepared crescent roll cups on the baking sheet, spooning it into the center of each one.
- Bake the danish, uncovered, on the center rack of the oven for 15-18 minutes or until rolls are golden brown on the side and the bottom of each pastry. Don't worry if the pastries fall a bit in the center as they cool.
- Top each danish with the cherry pie filling. Let pastries cool for a few minutes, then serve at once.
- If desired, you can drizzle a powdered sugar glaze the pastries with a powdered sugar glaze, but I never do. They are delicious as is!
Nutrition
Originally published April 19, 2022. Updated November 5, 2024.
5 Stars!!!
the recipe update must have been made with love and care because not only was I able to recreate it, I was able to follow what I consider a no fail instruction list.
Thank You Chef Alli!!!
Hi Amy – I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe and were successful with it – you’ve made my entire day!
Thank you for letting me know,
Chef Alli
I would like to make this but I am not A very good baker, they look delicious and like something I could make for my family that they would love. I’m a little confused what to do with the dough and there are no pics or video. Help please.
Hi Leanor –
Thank you for your comment here and for bringing this to my attention. I will edit this recipe and add some pictures ASAP and then let you know when the recipe has been updated. If you’re struggling, that means others are too, so I appreciate you letting me know what would help!
Chef Alli