Easy Cheese Danish

Instructions:

Preparing the Pastry:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the puff pastry: Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. If it’s not pre-rolled, roll it into a 12-inch square. Cut into 4 equal squares.
3. Egg wash: In a small bowl, beat 1 egg. Brush the edges of each pastry square with the egg wash. This will give the pastry a beautiful golden color as it bakes.

Making the Cheese Filling:

1. Mix the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and lemon zest (if using). Beat until smooth and creamy.
2. Assemble the Danishes: Spoon a generous amount of the cheese filling into the center of each pastry square. Fold the corners of the pastry towards the center, slightly overlapping them over the filling, or you can leave them open in a square or diamond shape for a different look.
3. Bake: Place the prepared Danishes on the lined baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
4. Cool: Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Preparing the Icing (optional):

1. Make the icing: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk or powdered sugar as needed. The icing should be thick but pourable.
2. Drizzle over the cooled Danishes: Once the Danishes are cool, drizzle them with the icing using a spoon or a piping bag.

Enjoy your homemade Cheese Danish as a delicious start to your day or as a sweet treat anytime!