Apple Cream Cheese Danishes w/Puff Pastry

These vegan apple cream cheese Danishes are the perfect “fancy” vegan dessert to make without much effort. Made with a simple apple pie filling recipe, delicious cream cheese spread, and store-bought puff pastry to keep things quick and easy.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Since this recipe calls for store-bought puff pastry, the most work you’ll do is preparing the apple pie filling.

Ingredients to Make Apple Cream Cheese Danishes:

• Puff Pastry: Any vegan-friendly store-bought brand will work great

Apple Pie Filling:

• Apples: I like to use Granny Smith apples
• Unsalted Vegan Butter
• Vanilla Extract: for warmth and flavor depth
• Lemon Juice: to brighten the flavors and balance the sweetness
• Sugars: light brown sugar and granulated sugar
• Spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger
• Cornstarch: to thicken the filling

Cream Cheese Filling:

• Vegan Cream Cheese: I like to use Kite Hill cream cheese, but feel free to use a brand of your choice, such as Tofutti or Miyoko’s.
• Granulated Sugar: to sweeten and balance the tartness of the vegan cream cheese. Remember to use organic sugar to ensure that it is vegan.
• Vanilla Extract

Vegan Egg Wash

• Melted Butter: I like to use salted vegan butter to balance out the sweetness.
• Agave or Maple Syrup: this will caramelize while the pastries are baking to achieve perfectly golden brown edges.

Icing (optional)

• Powdered Sugar: be sure to use organic powdered sugar to ensure that it is vegan. 
• Vegan Milk or Lemon Juice:  I always have vegan milk on hand, so that’s what I used for this recipe, but I’d recommend using lemon juice if you want your icing to be a little less sweet.

How to Make Apple Cream Cheese Danishes:

Apple Pie Filling

1. Peel and dice the apples into small ½ to 1-inch chunks.
2. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
3. Add the apples, vanilla, and vanilla. Stir and allow the apples to simmer for about 5 minutes to release the juices.
4. Add the sugars and spices, then continue to simmer the apples until the sugars have dissolved.
5. Stir in the cornstarch and simmer for an additional 1-2 minutes. 
6. Remove the apples from the heat. The apple syrup will thicken more as it cools.

Cream Cheese Filling:

1. Mix together the vegan cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract with a rubber spatula or whisk until smooth. 

Vegan Egg Wash:

1. Melt the vegan butter in the microwave in 10-second intervals.
2. Mix together the melted butter and agave or maple syrup until combined, and set it aside.

Preparing the Danishes:

1. Preheat the oven to 400℉ or the specified temperature on the puff pastry package instructions.
2. Unfold the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and gently roll it out using a rolling pin until the creases disappear. This should only take a few rolls in each direction.
3. Using a lightly floured round biscuit or cookie cutter, cut the dough into circles and transfer them to a parchment-lined baking tray. 
4. Using a smaller round cookie cutter or sharp paring knife, lightly score a ¼-inch border around the perimeter of each pastry. Avoid cutting all the way through the dough.
5. Brush the borders of the puff pastry with a layer of vegan egg wash.
6. Spread about ½  tablespoon of the cream cheese filling in the middle of each pastry within the scored borders. Lightly flatten the filling with the back of a spoon or offset spatula.
7. Add one tablespoons of apple pie filling on top of the cream cheese.
8. Bake according to the package instructions or until the edges of the pastries are golden brown.
9. Drizzle with the icing while the cream cheese danishes are still warm.
10. Allow to cool before serving.

How to Store Your Apple Cream Cheese Danish:

It’s best to enjoy these fresh and warm from the oven but if you have extras left over, they can be stored in an air-tight container or storage bag at room temperature for up to 2 days.  They can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, but I’ve found they become soggy when stored this way, so I don’t recommend storing them this way if this is an issue for you.

How to Reheat Your Pastries:

You can reheat your cream cheese Danish in the oven at 350℉ for about 3-5 minutes or in a toaster oven until they are warm and crispy again, I would recommend keeping a close eye on them in the toaster oven.

More Vegan Desserts You’ll Love:

• Easy Vegan Cream Cheese Danish with Puff Pastry
• Easy Vegan Southern-Style Peach Cobbler
• Easy Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes (Moist & Fluffy)

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