1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Cherry Cheese Puff Treats

Delightful Cherry Cheese Puff Treats

Featured in: Sweet Desserts

These simple cherry cheese puff treats turn regular store-bought dough into fancy-looking goodies. It's really easy - just spread out the dough, slice it up, and spread on a cheese mix with vanilla and sugar. Add a spoonful of cherry filling for sweetness, then brush with egg for a golden look. They cook up crispy and yummy in just 20 minutes, perfect for last-minute gatherings or weekend snacks. Finish with a sprinkle of sugar dust and maybe some chocolate shavings for extra flair.
Pin it Share it Send it Print it Jump To Recipe
punchofyummy
Updated on Sat, 29 Mar 2025 21:43:33 GMT
Crispy cherry cheese puffs with sweet filling, ready in minutes for a quick homemade snack. Pin it
Crispy cherry cheese puffs with sweet filling, ready in minutes for a quick homemade snack. | pinchofyummy.com

The harmonious mix of crisp, layered dough, silky dairy center, and tart fruit makes these No-Fuss Cherry Cream Cheese Danishes turn boxed puff pastry into treats worthy of a fancy café. Every mouthful delivers buttery, flaky layers that melt into smooth cheese and plump cherries, resulting in a wow-worthy morning meal or after-dinner sweet that seems far more time-consuming than it actually is.

When I first started playing around in the kitchen, figuring out these danishes completely changed my baking game. What I thought was a fancy, complicated pastry turned into an easy win that always gets compliments from family and friends.

Must-Have Quality Components

  • Puff Pastry: Go for the all-butter kind to get the richest taste and most impressive layers.
  • Cream Cheese: Pick up full-fat Philadelphia, and make sure it's perfectly softened for easier blending.
  • Cherry Filling: Grab top-shelf pie filling or use fresh cherries when you can.
  • Vanilla Extract: Real extract brings the most genuine flavor notes.
  • Egg Wash: This little touch gives you that coveted shiny golden crust.

Step-by-Step Baking Guide

Step 1: Getting Your Base Just Right
Work with correctly thawed puff pastry that feels cool but bendable. Open it carefully on a slightly floured counter, being gentle to avoid making folds that might show up later. Cut the edges with care - this builds that lovely raised border while keeping the middle area flat.
Step 2: Whipping Up The Center
Mix your cream cheese until it's totally lump-free before you add anything else. Then slowly mix in vanilla and sugar, sampling as you go until it tastes just right. For fresh cherries, briefly simmer them with sugar and a bit of cornstarch until they thicken up nicely.
Simple cherry treats with creamy cheese filling topped with juicy red fruit on flaky golden pastry. Pin it
Simple cherry treats with creamy cheese filling topped with juicy red fruit on flaky golden pastry. | pinchofyummy.com

Just last weekend, I learned something new - putting the ready-to-bake danishes in the fridge for 15 minutes before they go in the oven makes the edges puff up even better and keeps everything neater. It's now my go-to trick for danishes that look straight from a magazine.

Homemade cherry cheese pastries featuring flaky golden crust and bright fruit topping. Pin it
Homemade cherry cheese pastries featuring flaky golden crust and bright fruit topping. | pinchofyummy.com

These treats have become what I'm known for when friends stay over. There's something truly satisfying about watching a tray of perfectly golden, puffy goodies come out of the oven, knowing they'll be gone in a flash.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use different fruit fillings?
Sure thing, any canned pie filling works fine - maybe try some blueberry, apple, or strawberry for something different.
→ Why do I need to prick the pastry with a fork?
This stops the middle from rising too much and makes a nice pocket for your fillings.
→ Can I make these ahead of time?
They taste best right after baking, but you can get them ready the evening before and pop them in the oven in the morning.
→ How do I know when the puff pastry is properly thawed?
It should feel cool but bend easily without snapping - that's about 30-40 minutes sitting out at room temp.
→ How should I store leftover danishes?
Put them in a sealed container in your fridge for up to 2 days. Give them a quick warm-up before eating.

Cherry Cheese Puff Treats

Crispy puffed dough topped with creamy cheese and sweet cherry filling, these speedy treats make a stunning morning or midday snack.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Total Time
35 Minutes
By: Amelia

Category: Sweet Desserts

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings (6 pastries)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ Main Components

01 1 sheet defrosted puff pastry
02 8 ounces cream cheese, left out until soft
03 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
04 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
05 1½ cups ready-made cherry pie filling

→ Added Extras

06 1 egg beaten with 2 tablespoons water for brushing
07 Chocolate flakes for garnish (if desired)
08 Confectioners' sugar for sprinkling

Instructions

Step 01

Turn your oven on to 400°F and put parchment on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle some flour on your counter and roll the thawed pastry into a 12x9-inch flat rectangle.

Step 02

Slice the dough down the middle lengthwise to get two 4½-inch wide strips, then cut each strip into three equal parts for six total pieces. Make a small border on each piece with a knife and poke the middles with a fork to keep them flat.

Step 03

Stir the cream cheese with the sugar and vanilla until it's completely smooth. Put about 2-3 spoonfuls in the middle part of each pastry square, making sure to stay inside the marked border.

Step 04

Drop roughly 6 cherries onto each cream cheese portion. Brush the edges of the pastry with your egg mixture.

Step 05

Pop them in the oven for 20 minutes, turning the tray around halfway. They should puff up at the edges and turn a nice golden color. Let them cool on a wire rack.

Step 06

Right before you serve them, add a light dusting of confectioners' sugar and scatter some chocolate flakes on top if you want. They're great when slightly warm or cooled down.

Notes

  1. You can eat these pastries warm or cool
  2. Make sure your puff pastry is thawed but still cool when you handle it

Tools You'll Need

  • Cookie sheet
  • Parchment paper or silicone mat
  • Rolling pin
  • Mixing bowl
  • Cooling rack

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Has wheat from the puff pastry
  • Contains milk products in cream cheese
  • Has egg ingredients

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: ~
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~