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Fluffy Strawberry Lemon Cream Cheese Danish Braid

Strawberry Lemon Cream Cheese Danish Braid - featured image
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A light, airy, and fluffy Danish braid filled with creamy lemon-flavored cream cheese and topped with sweet strawberries, perfect for an easy homemade dessert or brunch treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed if frozen)
  • 1 large egg (room temperature, for egg wash)
  • 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional)
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar (for glaze, optional)
  • 1–2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (for glaze, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the Filling (10 minutes): Beat softened cream cheese with sugar, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
  2. Prepare the Strawberries (5 minutes): Toss sliced strawberries with sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Let sit while preparing pastry.
  3. Roll Out the Puff Pastry (5 minutes): On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry into a 12×9 inch rectangle. Trim edges if uneven.
  4. Cut the Pastry for Braiding (5 minutes): Cut 1-inch strips along the long sides of the pastry, leaving a 3-inch center section untouched for filling.
  5. Assemble the Danish (10 minutes): Spread cream cheese filling evenly down the center, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Spoon strawberry mixture over the cream cheese.
  6. Braid the Pastry (5 minutes): Fold strips over the filling alternately from each side to create a braid. Tuck ends under to seal.
  7. Apply Egg Wash (2 minutes): Whisk egg with water and brush over the braid for golden browning.
  8. Bake (20-25 minutes): Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 375°F (190°C) until puffed and golden brown. Filling should be bubbly but not runny.
  9. Cool and Glaze (10 minutes): Let cool slightly. Drizzle with lemon glaze made from powdered sugar and lemon juice if desired.

Notes

Keep puff pastry cold until just before baking to maintain flakiness. Do not overload cream cheese filling to avoid soggy pastry. Cornstarch in strawberries helps thicken juices. Tent with foil if edges brown too quickly. Egg wash gives a golden sheen. Can freeze unbaked braid for up to 1 month; add 5-10 minutes to baking time when baking from frozen.

Nutrition

Keywords: Strawberry Danish, Lemon Cream Cheese Danish, Puff Pastry Dessert, Easy Danish Braid, Homemade Danish, Strawberry Lemon Dessert

Find it online: https://norasfoods.com/fluffy-strawberry-lemon-cream-cheese-danish-braid-recipe-easy-homemade-dessert/