This is one of my favorite Cream Cheese Danish, and if you make it lighter then I am all over it!
Simple Cream Cheese Danish
Ingredients:
- 2 cans of crescent rolls
- 1 8oz package of cream cheese at room temp.
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 3/4 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp sour cream
- Optional: pie filling or fruit preserves of your choice
Icing:
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tbsp softened butter
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350.
Open the crescent rolls carefully to avoid unrolling or tearing the dough. You'll need to leave it in it's cylindrical shape. Slice the dough into pieces about 1/4 inch thick (as though you're slicing cookie dough). Place the slices on a cookie sheet and press the center in to make an indentation for the cream cheese filling.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cream cheese, white sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and sour cream. Add a dollop of the mixture to the indentation you made in each circle of dough. I find that about a tbsp works well, but you can use as little or as much as you like. If you like fruit with your danish, you can also add it to the rolls before the cream cheese mixture. (I like cherry pie filling or blackberry preserves, personally.) Bake for 15 - 20 minutes.
While the danish are baking, you can make a quick royal icing to drizzle over the tops. Mix together the confectioner's sugar, milk and butter in a small bowl. You can use a spoon to drizzle it over the tops of the danish, or you can put it into a small zip-top bag and snip of the corner for an easy "piping bag." Take the danish out of the oven and allow them to cool for 10-15 minutes before icing.