Starbucks Cheese Danish Recipe
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Dec 3, 2025 
If you’re anything like me and have a serious soft spot for warm and flaky morning pastries, then this delicious copycat Starbucks cheese Danish recipe is for you. I’ve officially stopped the long lines and saved myself a few dollars by baking these gooey and delicious Danish right at home!
If you think Starbucks is all about the coffee, think again. In my humble opinion, the best thing you can order at any Starbucks is their cream cheese danish. Just thinking about these baked beauties with their thick layer of rich, sweet cream cheese filling with a subtle taste of lemon, all tucked into a buttery flaky puff pastry, has me daydreaming! I love a simple hot breakfast like my crispy waffle recipe, and today’s Danish recipe is another one you should definitely add to your morning routine! These come out of the oven golden, gooey in the center and perfectly puffed. I pair it with my favorite creamy cup of coffee, and wow, that is a morning to savor.
Sommer’s Recipe Highlights
Better for you – These homemade cheese Danishes are so much better than the store-bought version because they’re made fresh and without preservatives! Finally, a pastry you can kinda feel good about.
Quick and easy – This fabulous no-fuss recipe uses just 7 staple ingredients, and in less than an hour, you’ll be devouring these unbelievably delicious treats. To be honest, I don’t have the willpower to wait for them to cool down once they’re fresh out of the oven.
Customizable – You can top these off with anything you like. I love to use fruit preserves, honey, or a generous drizzle of Nutella.
Key Ingredients and Tips
- Puff pastry dough – I like to use buttery frozen puff pastry dough for this recipe, but the key is to make sure that it’s fully thawed yet cold before you bake with it. This way, you ensure that the pastry puffs perfectly and evenly in the oven.
- Cream cheese – For the heart of that gooey and decadent filling, I use regular full-fat cream cheese that’s softened at room temperature. It blends smoothly and it gives the filling that signature decadent texture.
- Granulated sugar – Just a little bit of sugar gives every bite of this yummy Danish that subtle sweetness that balances perfectly with the tangy, cheesy filling.
- Vanilla extract – I make sure to use a high-quality extract to enhance the sweet and rich flavors of the creamy filling. A little goes a long way!
- Lemon zest – To get that signature citrusy zing, I use a pinch of freshly grated lemon zest. Make sure to just zest the yellow part and not the white pithy part underneath because it’s bitter.
- Egg – Last but not least, if you want to get that beautiful, bakery-style golden finish, brush the top of the puff pastry with a whisked egg yolk and a little bit of water.
How To Make
Find the full recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Prep the Oven. To get things started, I preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and I line a big baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make the Filling. Next, I grab two bowls — one big and one small. In the bigger bowl, I add in all of the ingredients — the softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, lemon zest and a dash of salt — for that dreamy, creamy filling. I mix everything until it’s very smooth. In the smaller bowl, I make the egg wash by combining an egg and some water, and whisking it together.
Layer the Puff Pastry. I place a thawed layer of puff pastry on my countertop and brush it all over with some of that egg wash. I top that layer with a second sheet and gently press that down. Then, that second layer gets another coating of egg wash.
Slice the Puff Pastry. I use my handy-dandy pizza cutter and slice the layered puff pastry into 12 rectangles. That means I first make 2 long slices in one direction, then 3 cuts the other way.
Prep the Pastries. Now I place the rectangular puff pastry slices in the prepped baking dish, and poke a few holes down the center of each piece with a fork. It’s important to leave some space between the slices so that the dough has room to rise.
Pipe the Filling. I love to use a freezer bag for this step. I scoop the cheese filling into the bag and cut off a corner so that I can start piping! I squeeze a serious portion of filling right down the center of each pastry slice.
Bake the Pastries. Finally, I set the pastries in the oven for about 15-20 minutes until they’re golden brown and puffed to perfection. I know this last step is hard, but you’re going to have to wait a couple of minutes for the Danishes to cool down before serving!
Expert Tips
One secret trick to making the perfect Cheese Danish is to make sure to thaw the puff pastry sheets in the refrigerator. I avoid thawing them in a hot room because the sheets will stick together.
Recipe Variations
- Fruit – Add a spoonful of your favorite berry jam on top of the puff pastry before baking for a fruity finish.
- Honey – I love to drizzle some honey onto the freshly baked Danish for an even sweeter kick.
- Spices – Sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg into the cheese mixture before baking for a cinnamon-bun-like taste.
Serving Suggestions
These warm, buttery, copycat Starbucks cheese Danish delights are the perfect breakfast. Pair them with your favorite tea, iced or hot coffee like:
- Iced Coffee
- Iced latte with Brown Sugar Syrup
- A handful of fresh berries
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Although this Starbucks cheese danish recipe does have a nice amount of protein, there is also a good amount of fat and calories per serving. As with most tasty baked goods they should probably be enjoyed in moderation.
This is totally your call… A warm Danish heated up in the oven or microwave will have a nice gooey cheese center. But a room-temperature or cold pastry is also delicious and easier to handle.
You can pop it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds so that it softens.
Totally! I prep the pastry dough and pipe the cream cheese mixture a day ahead and store it, uncooked, in the fridge for 24 hours. Then I pop it in the oven the next day.
Storing
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or store in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Help Me Spread the Word about this Fabulous Free Recipe! Sharing this recipe link on Pinterest and Facebook is super impactful, and I greatly appreciate it! Find the share buttons below the recipe form.
More Breakfast Pastry Recipes To Try
Starbucks Cheese Danish Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry thawed (1 box)
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar + 1 tb for tops
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg + 1 tb water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Set out a large baking sheet and line it with parchment paper.
- Set out a small bowl for the cream cheese filling, and an even smaller bowl for the eggwash. Crack the egg into the smallest bowl and add 1 tablespoon of water. Whisk well to create eggwash.
- In the second bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and salt. Mix until very smooth.
- Lay one sheet of thawed puff pastry on a clean work surface. Brush eggwash over the top of the puff pastry. Then lay the second sheet of puff pastry evenly over the top. Gently press. Brush the top of the second sheet with egg wash. Then use a pizza cutter to cut the puff pastry sheet into 12 small rectangles. That's 2 long cuts in one direction and 3 long cuts perpendicular to the first cuts.
- Move the puff pastry rectangles to the baking sheet, 1-2 inches apart. Use a fork to poke holes down the center of each puff pastry rectangle, leaving a half inch rim around the edge.
- Scoop the cream cheese filling into a freezer Ziploc bag. Cut off one corner of the bag to create a disposable piping bag. Pipe the cream cheese filling down the center of each puff pastry sheet, over the top of the punctured holes.
- Bake the cheese danishes for 15-20, until the edges are golden brown and evenly puffed on all sides.
- Allow the cheese danishes to cool for at least 5 minutes on the baking sheet. Then serve warm.
Wonderfully delicious! So much better than the originals found in Starbucks! My husband asks for these constantly and because they are easy to make I never mind making them. Thank you for sharing!
love this, thank you for breaking it down, spend too much time in line per month buying these things!
This is my favorite bakery item to order from Starbucks so I’m really happy I found this recipe to make it at home! It was so easy to make and tasted exactly like a Starbucks cheese danish!! Thank you for the recipe!
So easy to make. They came out flaky just the way I like it. The creamy, lemony, vanilla-filling was so good.
So easy to make at home, and tastes just as delicious as the real thing!
this is the best thing that tastes so much like the ones from starbucks! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe with us! Its going to be a staple