Recipe for Cherry Puff Pastry

Recipe Details

I adore this Cherry Puff Pastry for breakfast. The recipe is uncomplicated and yields a portable meal loved by all.

• FLAVOR: This buttery pastry encases a dollop of mascarpone filled with sweet cherries and slivers of almonds. The icing sugar glaze topping offers a sweet finish.
• CONSISTENCY: This pastry is airy and flaky in the crust and luscious, syrupy, and crisp in the toppings. This recipe is foolproof.
• TIME: This delightful treat requires just under an hour.
• EASE: With only a few stages for crafting the crust, filling, and glaze, this recipe is truly effortless. Elegant Cherry Puff Pastry can be ready in no time.

Necessary Ingredients

Essential Notes

• Puff pastry- These frozen pastry sheets save time and effort. They have the perfect thickness for the danish and are simple to handle when constructing the crust.
• Cherries- Fresh cherries are best for this Cherry Pastry. Seek ripe, firm cherries attached to their stems, displaying deep crimson color and no blemishes.
• Mascarpone- This forms the base of the sweet cheesy filling. Opt for full-fat mascarpone for richest flavor.
• Cornstarch- This ingredient, combined with cherry juices, results in a sweet syrup for the filling.
• Lemon- Lemon juice imparts tartness and maintains cherries’ bright red color.
• Almonds- Almond slivers add crunch and nutty flavor, offering a contrast to the sweetness of this dessert. Utilize raw and unsalted nuts. Also, almond essence adds an additional burst of flavor.

Add-ins and Changes

• Swap other fruits- Apart from cherries, this pastry would pair well with strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, pears, and raspberries.
• Vary crust- Utilize croissant dough, pie crust dough, buttermilk biscuit dough, or phyllo dough.
• Dairy and gluten-free option- Avoid allergens by using gluten-free puff pastry and substituting dairy-free mascarpone and plant-based milk in this recipe.
• Exchange cherry pie filling- While homemade cherry pie filling is an option, canned version saves time.

Crafting Cherry Pastry

• Prepare mascarpone filling- Combine softened mascarpone with icing sugar, vanilla essence, and almond essence. Then mix in 1 egg, combining gently.

• Prepare cherry filling. Pit and halve the fresh cherries. Then blend them with cornstarch, granulated sugar, and lemon juice.

Top Tip: I advocate using a cherry pitter with fresh cherries to expedite this process. Manual cutting is more time-consuming and yields inferior results.

• Roll out and cut the puff pastry. On a lightly floured surface, roll out both thawed puff pastry sheets to a 12 x 12-inch square. Then cut each sheet into 9 even squares with a 1-inch border around each.
• Apply egg wash. Transfer each square to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush the border of each square with egg wash (1 egg + 1 Tbsp water).
• Incorporate toppings. Center a heaping tablespoon of mascarpone mixture in each square. Then place a portion of the cherry mixture on top.

• Sprinkle almonds and bake. Add sliced almonds atop the cherries and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
• Drizzle with glaze. Combine icing sugar, milk, and lemon juice. Once pastries have cooled, drizzle the glaze over each square. Serve.

Recommendations for the Recipe

• Utilize softened cheese- Allowing the cheese to reach room temperature will facilitate easy blending without lumps. Avoid heating it in the microwave as this partially melts it while leaving the rest hard.
• Use fresh cherries- While you can use frozen (and thawed) or canned cherries, the results are not the same. Fresh pitted cherries will impart the best flavor and texture to your danish.
• Apply egg wash to the edges- This simple step gives the edges of the Cherry Danish that perfect golden brown hue. Do not omit this step.
• Avoid overfilling the pastries- It is possible to exceed the appropriate amount. Use only about 2 tablespoons in total of cheese and cherry filling so that the pastry is not overwhelmed and is able to maintain its structure. Use the cut lines as a guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Serving Ideas

This delectable Cherry Danish recipe is a great addition to the breakfast table or as a delightful treat in the afternoon. Here are some excellent ways to serve it.

• Proteins: Pair this sweet creation with some Easy Poached Eggs with Caramelized Onions, Crispy Air Fryer Bacon, Shakshuka, or Savory Crepes with Chicken and Mushroom Filling.
• Muffins: Serve them with Blueberry Muffins (VIDEO), Cinnamon Apple Muffins (VIDEO), or Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins.
• Pancakes/Waffles: You can offer these Cherry Danishes alongside Buttery Belgian Liege Waffles, Cottage Cheese Pancakes, and Blueberry Breakfast Crepes.
• Pastries: Easy Cheese Danish Pastry (VIDEO), Peach Galette, Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (VIDEO), and Apricot Walnut Rugelach (VIDEO) are all delicious recipes to enjoy with this one.

Prepare This Recipe in Advance

Prepare in advance: You can make the cherry and cheese filling in advance and store them in the refrigerator for a day before assembling these pastries and baking. The puff pastry is already frozen and can remain in that state until you thaw and assemble your danishes.

Storage: Store these Cherry Danish pastries in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freezing: You can freeze these cooled danishes by carefully wrapping them in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer ziplock bag. They can be frozen for up to a month and thawed overnight in the refrigerator.

More Delightful Pastries!

Complete Recipe Instructions

Ingredients for the cream cheese filling

Ingredients for the cherry filling

Ingredients for the glaze

US Customary – Metric

• In a bowl, mix 8 oz softened cheese, 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/4 tsp almond extract.

• Then incorporate 1 egg and mix it gently.

• Remove the pits from 2 cups of fresh cherries and halve them. I recommend using a cherry pitter to expedite this process.

• Combine the cherries with 1 Tbsp corn starch, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 2 Tbsp lemon juice.

• On a lightly floured surface, roll out both sheets of thawed puff pastry into a 12 x 12-inch square using a rolling pin.

• Cut each sheet into 9 even squares and then create a 1-inch border around each square.

• Transfer each quadrate to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread the border of each square with egg wash (1 egg + 1 Tbsp water).

• Position 1 heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese blend into the middle of each square. Then position 1 tbsp of the cherry mixture on top. Sprinkle some sliced almonds on top of the cherries. Then bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.

• Meanwhile blend 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tbsp milk, and 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice. This will be the glaze. Once the pastries are cooled, drizzle the glaze over each square.

Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 22.7g | Saturated Fat: 7.4g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 159mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 18g