Easy Pumpkin Cheese Danish

Oh, how I love this recipe.  It’s one of the easiest I’ve ever made and it couldn’t be more delicious.  I’ve been making the plain cream cheese version of this recipe for years and I’ve just recently concocted a pumpkin spice version.  It’s a perfect little parcel of fall flavors and super easy to whip up when entertaining, especially as an easy breakfast for overnight guests. 

Before I get to the recipe, I’d like to tell you about this book!  Months ago I entered the Foodista Best of Food Blogs Cookbook contest, where any submitting food blogger with a popular voted recipe could win a chance to be published.  The winners were chosen and then announced at the International Food Blogger Conference this year, and although I wasn’t in attendance to hear the good news, I was notified soon after that I would be included!

This big, beautiful cookbook is chock-full of inspiration and delicious food from all over the world.

As for the recipe, you’ll need 3 sheets of puff pastry.  Each sheet is cut into 4 pieces then topped with a heaping tablespoon of filling.  On each filled square, the back of one corner is brushed with a little egg wash and the opposite corner is folded over.  Gently press the two corners together with your fingers, holding it above the filling.  Allow the fused corners to gently lay on top of the filling.  They are then egg-washed, baked, glazed and sprinkled with powdered sugar.  

Low effort – big payoff.  I love it!

Easy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Danish

Adapted from Ina Garten’s Easy Cheese Danish                                                                  [click for printable recipe]

Yield: 12 pastries

Pastry:

8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature

1/3 cup sugar

3 large egg yolks, at room temperature

1/4 cup canned, cooked pumpkin

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tsp. allspice or pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. cinnamon

3 sheets (1 1/2  boxes) frozen puff pastry, defrosted

1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash

Glaze:

1 cup confectioners sugar

1 tablespoon milk

**extra powdered sugar for dusting

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Place the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and cream them together on low speed until smooth. With the mixer still on low, add the egg yolks, pumpkin, vanilla, salt, and spices and mix until just combined. Do not over beat!

Unfold 1 sheet of puff pastry onto a lightly floured board and roll it slightly with a floured rolling pin until it’s a 10 by 10-inch square. Cut the sheet into quarters with a sharp knife. Place a heaping tablespoon of pumpkin-cheese filling into the middle of each of the 4 squares. Brush the border of each pastry with egg wash and fold 2 opposite corners to the center, brushing and overlapping the corners of each pastry so they firmly stick together. Brush the top of the pastries with egg wash. Place the pastries on the prepared sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining sheets of puff pastry and refrigerate the filled Danish for 15 minutes.  Bake the pastries for about 20 minutes, until puffed and brown.

Whisk to combine the confectioners’ sugar and milk until a smooth glaze forms.  Generously drizzle the glaze over pastries and sprinkle them with additional powdered sugar (can re-heat for 10 seconds in microwave).

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Caroline
Caroline
13 years ago

I love anything with a pumpkin spice to it or anything containing butternut squash!

Chels/Catz in the Kitchen
Chels/Catz in the Kitchen
13 years ago

I'm a sucker for Pumpkin Bread. I could eat a slice everyday for the rest of my life, lol!

Chels/Catz in the Kitchen
Chels/Catz in the Kitchen
13 years ago

BTW- Congratulations on getting your recipe in the cookbook. That is really awesome!

Jessica @ How Sweet
Jessica @ How Sweet
13 years ago

Congrats Heather! And these look fabulous! 🙂

Ryan
Ryan
13 years ago

I love pumpkin bread and apple cider doughnuts, favorite fall foods.

Dana M.
Dana M.
13 years ago

I looove caramel apples (anything covered in caramel really :p)

Heather (Heather's Dish)
Heather (Heather's Dish)
13 years ago

congrats! that's huge/great news 🙂

Jackie R
Jackie R
13 years ago

Pumpkin Roll – something about the cream cheese and pumpkin combination is so delicious! Can't wait to try these.

Laura
Laura
13 years ago

I have to say I'm really into Apple Pie right now…I think its because I used to not like it when I was little but have grown a taste for it. Same goes for pumpkin flavored cupcakes with cream cheese frosting!!! YUM!! 🙂

Jessica Crews
Jessica Crews
13 years ago

I love pumpkin cake, apple crisp and hot apple cider!! Those are my favorite fall treats:)

Juice
Juice
13 years ago

I'm a simple girl; my absolute favorite treat is pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Even simpler, I buy the mix from Lehi Roller Mills. Divine!

Ri
Ri
13 years ago

My favorite fall treat is PIE. Pumpkin pie, apple pie, plum pie… love them all! And with real whipped cream. Yum!

Domanique
Domanique
13 years ago

I love anything pumpkin!!

christine
christine
13 years ago

My favorite fall treat is apples picked right off the tree.

thisbarnsonlife
thisbarnsonlife
13 years ago

Glazed Pumpkin Cookies… The smell, when I bring them into the office, lingers all day long and makes me think of Fall!!! YUM!!!!

Kirsten
Kirsten
13 years ago

I love anything pumpkin or anything with caramel.

kristin m.
kristin m.
13 years ago

our favorite fall past time is to hand pick our own apples from a local farm and create these monstrous caramel/chocolate/etc, etc apples! these things come out SO HUGE we have to cut them into wedges, otherwise we can't get our mouth around them!

[kristinmik at gmail dot com]

Sue
Sue
13 years ago

Pumpkin Bread!

Your danish sure look delicious! Your recipe published in a cookbook looks even better! That's so exciting! I thought maybe it was going to be YOUR cookbook…can't wait for that one!

Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
13 years ago

Awesome danishes and great news about the cookbook! Congrats!

I think my favourite fall treat is definitely apple pie. Mmm I need to make some!

Ashley E
Ashley E
13 years ago

I am still in love with the good ol' pumpkin cream cheese roll. I think the combo of the spicy pumpkin and the sweet smooth cream cheese is heavenly! Love the new banner by the way 😉

Kadee
Kadee
13 years ago

I loveeeeee cider and cinnamon sugar donuts! 🙂

Nicole Maki
Nicole Maki
13 years ago

I love all the luscious pumpkin foods that are perfect this time of year.

Becca
Becca
13 years ago

There is a little restaraunt cafe by my old house that made the best butternut squash ravioli with roasted hazlenuts…I think I may need to drive back over there soon. YUM!

Michelle
Michelle
13 years ago

My Favorite fall treat would have to be Pumpkin muffins yum!!!Thank you for the chance to win this lovely cookbook..

Susannah
Susannah
13 years ago

Anything pumpkin…nuff said.

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

Congratulations on being published in the book…how exciting.

I would have to agree with you, I love Carmel Apples…well I love carmel anything.

Chelsea
Chelsea
13 years ago

I love pumpkin blondies with cream cheese frosting 🙂

Amy
Amy
13 years ago

I love pumpkin pie!

Lisa
Lisa
13 years ago

Another pumpkin and apple lover – and cranberries……and turkey! Love the smell of a roasting turkey on a Sunday afternoon!!

Aqui na Cozinha - Patty Martins
Aqui na Cozinha - Patty Martins
13 years ago

My sweet favorite is Brigadeiro, one Brazilian sweet.
Kisses
Patty Martins
Brasil

The Merry Elle
The Merry Elle
13 years ago

I love to make homemade chai and spiced pound cake!

lb
lb
13 years ago

Pumpkin Pie, apple pie, pie, pie pie!

Rebecca Hartley
Rebecca Hartley
13 years ago

Apple-ginger-cranberry crisp. It's quite fabulous!

Frolicking Night Owl
Frolicking Night Owl
13 years ago

I love a good homemade pumpkin pie with sour cream mixed into the filling.

Michelle
Michelle
13 years ago

As soon as the leaves turn, I switch my baking immediately to my favorite fall treat- Apple Dumplings!

casey cakes
casey cakes
13 years ago

I love Pumpkin Bread! Helps that it has like 3 cups of sugar in it.

Stacey
Stacey
13 years ago

I love candied apples! I look forward to them every year.

Scrappy Jackie
Scrappy Jackie
13 years ago

My favorite treat is pumpkin cinnamon doughnuts with apple cider… from a pumkin/apple farm near my house… but pumpkin bread, apple pie, made by me are all perfect treats!

Joellen Jeffers
Joellen Jeffers
13 years ago

Pumpkin Scones were my favorite until I tried your Pumpkin Butterscotch cookies! Now I have a new favorite. Thanks for all the great recipes and beautiful blog.

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

Pumpkin Gooey bars from the precious Paula Deen!

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

I'd have to say one of my favorite fall treats is pumpkin whoopie pies, but I am anxious to try the danishes you shared above!

Julie
Julie
13 years ago

Congratulations to you! My favorite fall treat is pumpkin cheesecake.

Karen @ Mignardise
Karen @ Mignardise
13 years ago

Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, with a big cup of coffee.

susie r
susie r
13 years ago

i LOVE sweet potato pecan pie – like they used to make at Killer Shrimp in LA…

Jaggs
Jaggs
13 years ago

Congrats! I never win anything…this may be the time. I just love spanish peanuts mixed with candy corn!

Beth @ Wiccan Make Some Too
Beth @ Wiccan Make Some Too
13 years ago

This is a must make recipe for sure! Great pumpkin idea. Thanks!

Sara Smith
Sara Smith
13 years ago

My favorite fall treat is. . . just one? That's so difficult to narrow down too. But anything with pumpkin spice. Yum!

Kristina @ spabettie
Kristina @ spabettie
13 years ago

apple crisp … and VERY SOON these pumpkin danish! thanks for sharing – I will be making these! 😀

Maria
Maria
13 years ago

I love pumpkin spice coffee and muffins. yummy…

Allison
Allison
13 years ago

Pumpkin pie is my absolute favorite fall treat, but I also LOVE pumpkin bread =) Pretty much anything pumpkin is a winner in my book!