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Call it a Danish, coffee cake, or pastry…this cream cheese filled delight will wow you. And it’s really easy to throw together. Double win.
This is one of my husband’s favorites, but I don’t make it a lot because it’s not especially healthy. And by ‘especially healthy’ I mean, not healthy at all. But it’s soooooo good. It is a regular on the menu for our Christmas brunch, and if he’s lucky, we’ll have a few other brunch opportunities throughout the year. And sometimes, like today, I’m just surprising him with it on a blustery day.
Am I the only one who thinks of Winnie the Pooh whenever I hear the phrase “blustery day”??
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But I digress…
Cream Cheese Pastry
You start with a rather simple cast of ingredients: cream cheese, crescent dough (the sheets if you can find them), butter, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla and eggs. Optional ingredients really take this to the next level. I like to top half with chopped pecans (since not everyone likes nuts), but slivered or sliced almonds would be yummy too.
When I make this for a brunch, I’ll usually do one plain and one with fruit. Blueberries are my favorite, but you could add any variety. If you’re adding berries, just sprinkle them on top of the cream cheese layer.
I’ve tried making this with a homemade pastry. And it was….okay. It’s just not the same. If you would like to try it with a homemade pastry, here’s the one I used (I used white flour instead of whole wheat in this recipe). I have used this dough recipe for lots of other things with success, BTW.
It’s a pretty simple process, like I said. Dough, cream cheese mixture, dough again, topping, bake.
When Greg heard I was making this today, he said, “Merry Christmas!” and clapped. Any recipe that gets applause should be shared, right?
So if you’re in need of some affirmation today…make this, you just might get applause, too!
Ingredients
- 2 pkg. crescent dough
- 2 pkg. cream cheese (16 oz. total) - softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar - DIVIDED
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- Optional: 1 cup pecans or slivered almonds
Instructions
- Unroll one can of crescent dough and press into bottom and slightly up the sides of 9x13 baking dish. (If using rolls, press perforations together)
- In mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, egg, and vanilla
- Beat until smooth
- Spread over bottom layer of dough
- Unroll second can of crescent dough and place over the top of cream cheese filling
- Mix 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon into melted butter
- Spread over the top of dough
- Sprinkle with nuts, if using
- Bake at 350 for 30 minutes until brown and bubbly
Eden says
November 1, 2016 at 12:41 pmThis looks so tasty! Cheese Danishes are my favorite, and this one looks so good!
Susan says
November 1, 2016 at 3:07 pmThanks, Eden! It really is!
Roy Miller says
November 1, 2016 at 1:17 pmThis looks so good. I cannot wait to try it for the holidays. Thank you for posting the recipe.
Susan says
November 1, 2016 at 3:06 pmI hope you do! Let me know what you think.
heidi says
November 1, 2016 at 2:01 pmLooks sooo good and easy to make. I wish I could eat it but blogging is making me fat lol (can’t be my fault) I will definitely share this.
heidi recently posted…Simple Truths To Help You Get Back On The Path To Living Well
Susan says
November 1, 2016 at 3:05 pmlol! When I first started blogging, I was so busy I forgot to eat. Now that I’ve got a rhythm to most days, I don’t have that problem so much anymore. 🙂
Ale says
November 2, 2016 at 3:11 pmMy husband and daughter are sweet tooth as well.. I can never introduce such a dessert at home, they would demand it regularly 😉 looks really tasty!!
The Rambler says
November 15, 2016 at 4:00 pmmmmmmm…..all these ingredients are in my fridge as we type. Do you think adding chocolate chips would be horrible? haha…I mean, if we are going to go bad, lets go all the way. Just for this one time =) Pinned your recipe. Visiting via Turn It Up Tuesdays. =)
Susan says
November 15, 2016 at 8:11 pmGah! I think chocolate chips would be AMAZING!