Blackberry Cream Cheese Danish
A delightful homemade pastry featuring a rich cream cheese filling and tangy blackberry curd, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as an afternoon treat.
Ingredients
For the Blackberry Curd
- 12 oz blackberries Fresh or frozen
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar For blackberry curd
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice Freshly squeezed
- 1 large egg For binding
- 3 large egg yolks Enhances richness
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Melted
For the Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 oz full-fat cream cheese Softened
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar For filling
- 1 egg yolk egg yolk For cream cheese filling
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Adds flavor
- 1 pinch fine salt Enhances flavor
For the Pastry
- 2 sheets puff pastry Thawed and cold
For Topping and Finishing
- 1/4 cup turbinado sugar For sprinkling on top
- 6 oz fresh blackberries For topping
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar For dusting
Instructions
Make the Blackberry Curd
- Puree the blackberries until smooth, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a saucepan.
- Simmer over medium heat until reduced to about 1/2 cup and allow to cool.
Prepare Curd Mixture
- In a separate saucepan, whisk together the reduced blackberry puree, 1/2 cup sugar, whole egg, three egg yolks, and lemon juice.
- Cook this mixture over medium heat until it thickens, then remove from heat and whisk in the melted butter.
Make the Cream Cheese Filling
- In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg yolk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
- Beat until smooth and creamy; chill while preparing pastry.
Prepare the Puff Pastry
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll out the thawed puff pastry on a floured surface and cut into 12 squares.
Assemble the Danishes
- Score a border around each square with a knife and prick the center with a fork.
- Fill the center with cream cheese mixture, brush borders with beaten egg and sprinkle turbinado sugar on top.
Bake
- Place danishes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown.
Finish with Toppings
- Allow baked danishes to cool for 15 minutes, then fill centers with blackberry curd and top with fresh blackberries.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
Consider adding lemon zest to enhance the flavor. For a deeper berry taste, mix in raspberries or blueberries. Experiment with different extracts for unique fillings.