Easy Strawberry Danish with Lemon Icing
A delightful treat featuring flaky puff pastry topped with sweet strawberries and creamy lemon icing, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the pastry and filling
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, about 8.5 oz (240 g), thawed but cold Keep the pastry cold for best results.
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 large egg For egg wash
- 1 teaspoon water
For the lemon icing
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1-2 teaspoons milk, as needed Adjust to desired consistency.
- 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and finely grated lemon zest until smooth and creamy.
- In a separate small bowl, toss the sliced strawberries with granulated sugar, cornstarch, and fresh lemon juice until evenly coated.
- Unfold the cold puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface. Roll it out just enough to smooth the seams, then cut it into 8 rectangles of equal size.
- Score a smaller rectangle inside each piece, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
- Move the pastry rectangles gently onto your prepared baking sheet.
- Spoon a generous amount of the cream cheese filling into the scored center of each rectangle, then top with the sweetened strawberries.
- In a small bowl, whisk one large egg with a teaspoon of water. Brush the bare edges of the pastry with the egg wash.
Baking
- Bake for about 17-20 minutes until the pastry is puffed up and golden brown.
- Allow the Danish to cool on the pan for 8-10 minutes.
Icing
- While the pastries are cooling, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and milk until smooth.
- Once the pastries have cooled slightly, drizzle the icing over the warm Danish.
Notes
For best results, keep the puff pastry cold before baking. These pastries are great for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. Consider alternative fruits when strawberries are out of season.