This is the best Cream Cheese Danish Recipe from scratch! It’s beautiful and delicious and would be perfect for breakfast, brunch, or any time of day as a delicious snack.
Cream Cheese Danish
Years ago, I was searching online for a Cream Cheese Danish Recipe, and everything that kept coming up was a cream cheese mixture folded into a container of crescent roll dough or in puff pastry sheets.
That’s not at all what I had in mind!
I wanted a delicious, homemade Danish that was soft and fluffy and didn’t taste like a dinner roll.
With that in mind, I set out to create my own delicious Danish totally from scratch. Using an old Mennonite recipe as inspiration, I created this Cream Cheese Danish braid.
If you want the real deal that is better than what you could get from a bakery, not some convenience store version, then you will love this recipe!
Ingredients in the Easy Cream Cheese Danish Recipe From Scratch
- Warm Water and Yeast. You need these two things together, plus a pinch of sugar to help the yeast get going. This will ensure that your yeast is good and that it’s started for your recipe.
- Sour Cream. This is one of the secret ingredients that makes for the perfect soft dough!
- Butter. This is your other secret ingredient for making that rich, soft dough. This dough is amazing!
- Sugar. I just use plain cane sugar for this recipe.
- Salt. This is to add a little bit more to the flavor of the bread.
- Egg. We need just one egg to help this dough stick together and to help t be nice and rich.
- All Purpose Flour. This is the base flour for your dough. I have not have yet tried using Gluten Free Flour in this particular recipe.
- Cream Cheese, Sugar, and Vanilla Extract. These are your filling ingredients. You could leave out the sugar if you want these to not be as sweet or if you know you are going to add a glaze on top. I use Homemade Vanilla Extract.
I was so happy to finally find a “scratch” recipe for cream cheese danish. Thank You! You are awesome! I mixed the dough last night and put it together and baked it today. Your recipe and instructions are easy and much appreciated. I took your suggestion of adding a sweet powdered sugar glaze, and the results are amazing! I will never again have store bought cream cheese danish. Thanks again.
Virginia, Little House Living reader
Step by Step Instructions for Making Cream Cheese Danish
Mix together the warm water, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5 or so minutes.
In a saucepan, begin making the dough.
First, mix together the sour cream and the butter on low heat. Stir continually until the butter melts so that it doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan.
Add the sugar and the salt to the sour cream and butter mixture. Stir on low heat until the sugar is melted. Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool for a bit before adding the yeast.
Add the egg to the sour cream mixture and then mix in the yeast.
Add in the flour and mix well. Mine is not mixed well in this picture.
Cover the dough and let it chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. You can even make this dough the night before and leave it in the fridge overnight if you want to bake it fresh first thing the next morning.
Mix together the cream cheese filling. Stir 1/4 cup sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla extract until well combined. It helps if the cream cheese is softened.
After the dough is refrigerated for at least 2 hours, roll it out with a rolling pin like you are rolling out pizza dough right onto the sheet pan. You can cover it with parchment paper or use a lightly floured surface if you are worried about it sticking.
I love using a Stone Baking Sheet for recipes like this. I’m convinced that they cook better!
Cut slits along both sides of the dough about 2 inches long and at least 1 inch apart. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Spread the cream cheese mixture down the center of the dough, between the slits.
Fold the flaps of dough back over to the center to make it look like a braid.
Bake at 350F for 15-18 minutes in the oven on the baking sheet or until golden brown on the top. If you have trouble getting this to be golden brown but it’s cooked on the inside, you can always do an egg wash with a brush over the top before baking.
*You may need to bake it longer than this!
Yum! Doesn’t that look delicious?
Off the charts delicious! Great recipe true measurements and great instructions wonderful pictures I have made it 4 times now with fruit filling and without both ways fantastic and this will be what I bring to all my Christmas visits
Thank you for this wonderful recipe I am going thru your website now for other treasures.
Donna, Little House Living reader
Make Ahead Cream Cheese Danish
Want to make this recipe ahead of time? You can easily freeze this Cream Cheese Danish! Just prepare it according to the directions above.
After baking, allow it to cool before wrapping in plastic wrap and freezer paper and place in the freezer whole.
I’ve done this many, many times! I like to make multiple batches of the Danish at once and then freeze extras for later.
This was amazing! So easy to make and very tasty. This beats anything you can purchase at the store. I made a strawberry reduction to pour over the top of the cream cheese before folding over and baking.
Becca, Little House Living reader
Need to print out this Cream Cheese Danish Recipe? Grab it below!
Cream Cheese Danish Recipe
How to make your own totally from scratch cream cheese danish using an old Mennonite recipe.
Prep Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 38 minutes
-
1/4
cup
warm water -
1
Tablespoon
yeast -
1/2
teaspoon
sugar -
1/2
cup
sour cream -
1/4
cup
butter -
1/4
cup
sugar -
1/2
teaspoon
salt -
1
egg -
2
cups
all-purpose flour -
1 8
oz
package cream cheese -
1/4
cup
sugar -
1/2
teaspoon
vanilla extract
-
Mix together the warm water, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, and yeast. Let it sit in a separate bowl for 5 or so minutes.
-
In a saucepan, mix together the sour cream and the butter on a low heat. Stir together until the butter melts. Make sure you are continually stirring so it doesn’t burn.
-
Add the sugar and the salt into the sour cream/butter mixture. Stir on a low heat until the sugar is melted. Remove from heat and let it cool for a bit before adding the yeast.
-
Add the egg to the sour cream mixture and then mix in the yeast.
-
Add in the flour and mix well.
-
Cover and let it chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours, you can leave it overnight if you want and finish it the next morning.
-
Mix together the 1/4 cup sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla extract. It helps if the cream cheese is softened.
-
Roll out the dough like you are rolling out pizza dough.
-
Cut slits on either side of the dough about 2 inches long.
-
Spread the cream cheese mixture in the center of the dough.
-
Fold the flaps of dough back over the center to make it look like a braid. Bake at 350F for 15-18 minutes. *You may need to bake it longer than this!
-
Yum! If you want you could create a sweet glaze with powdered sugar and milk. Or you could add jam inside with the cream cheese to give it a little fruit flavor! I’m going to make a glaze with mashed up strawberries and a little sugar. Also, if you want to make this ahead of time this recipe works great! Just prepare as directed above, bake, and freeze whole.
Nutrition Facts
Cream Cheese Danish Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 364
Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Trans Fat 0.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 76mg25%
Sodium 305mg13%
Potassium 108mg3%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 725IU15%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 56mg6%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Cream Cheese Danish Variations
Glaze for Danish
Create a glaze with powdered sugar and milk to drizzle across the top. Start with 1 cup of powdered sugar and add 1-2 tablespoons of milk. Stir well and add more powdered sugar as needed until the desired consistency is reached. For extra flavor, add a splash of lemon juice or vanilla flavoring.
Filling for Danish
Add some Strawberry Jam or Spiced Apple Butter Recipe inside with the cream cheese to give it a little fruit flavor!
Mix a little lemon zest into the cream cheese for a new taste.
Looking for a delicious spin on this recipe? You have to try my Apple Danish Braid!
Fruit Topping for Danish
I’m going to make a light fruit topping for this one, using mashed-up strawberries and a little bit of sugar to bring out the natural juices. Just drizzle lightly over the top for a little pop of color and added flavor. You could also use other fresh berries like blueberries to do the same.
Dairy Free Danish
If you need this recipe to be dairy-free, you can replace the filling with a jam or some kind of fruit filling instead of the cream cheese.
This is absolutely my GO-TO RECIPE for something special for brunch or for company – or just because my husband loves it so! It is incredibly easy. When fresh raspberries are in season, I make a warm raspberry glaze to drizzle over the danish as it comes out of the oven. Or fried apples in the Instant Pot. Now that is some good eating! Thanks so much for your lovely blog. I love to visit!!
Rebecca, Little House Living reader
More From Scratch Desserts and Breakfast Treats
If you are looking for some more breakfast inspiration, make sure to head over to our Breakfast Recipes page to find all kinds of delicious goodies!
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Do you plan on making this Cream Cheese Danish Recipe? What toppings and fillings will you use?
Merissa Alink
Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple and frugal life on Little House Living since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.
This Cream Cheese Danish Recipe from Scratch was originally published on Little House Living in February 2011. It has been updated as of November 2025.
