One of my favorite desserts is cheesecake — however, I rarely have the necessary 4-5 packages of cream cheese in my refrigerator. Plus, cheesecake usually takes more focus, time, and energy than I have these days 🙂
So I’m always on the lookout for simple cheesecake-like recipes… and I’m excited to share one of my new favorites with you today.
It’s so, SO simple, it only uses 1 package of cream cheese, and it’s fully customizable depending on your family’s preferences. Plus, since it’s more of a “danish”, you could almost pass it off as a special breakfast treat (Dave and I may have done this once or twice!)
If you’re a fan of cheesecake but don’t have the time or ingredients… try this recipe.
Recipe for Easy Cream Cheese Danish
Makes an 8″ x 8″ pan (or approximately 9 servings) You can double it for a 9″ x 13″ pan.
Danish Ingredients:
- 1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough; divided
- 1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese
- 1/2 c. sugar
- 1 t. vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1/4 c. chocolate chips (optional)
Glaze Ingredients:
- 1/3 c. powdered sugar
- 1 – 2 T. milk
- 1/2 t. vanilla
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350*F and grease an 8″x8″ baking pan.
Line the bottom of the pan with 1/2 of the crescent roll dough. Pinch the seams together.
In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and egg together until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips if desired.
Spread the mixture over the crescent rolls and then lay the remaining half of the crescent roll dough on top of the cheese mixture. (I found that it was easier to lay the dough on the counter first and pinch the seams together BEFORE I placed the dough on top of the cream cheese mixture).
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Cool for 20 minutes (I put it in the fridge, uncovered).
In a small bowl, mix glaze ingredients together until it reaches the consistency you want. Then drizzle over danish. You could also top with canned cherry pie filling, chocolate syrup, nuts, whipped cream, etc.
Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate (it will stay good for a few days.)
I literally made this recipe for the first time on a Sunday evening while a frozen pizza was in the oven (which only takes about 20 minutes). The danish was completely ready to go in the oven before the pizza was finished — that’s how quick and easy it was to make.
Dave and I both give this simple recipe 2 thumbs up, and it’s SOOOO much easier than cheesecake!
I’ve made this recipe a few times already, but I’m thinking about doubling the filling so it’s “thicker”. I assume I’ll have to adjust the baking time a bit, but I’ll also be able to cut the pieces smaller. Oh the possibilities!
If you share my love of cheesecake, I’d highly recommend giving this simple yet elegant recipe a try.
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Crystal Miller says
Hi do you think you could add a fruit like raspberries or blueberries or jam ?
Andrea says
yes, the fruits would be great in this cream cheese danish!
Lorraine says
You ought to try the cheesecake recipe from King Arthur. It uses only 2 boxes of cream cheese, 2 eggs and 2/3 c. of sugar. Very easy and can’t tell the difference from more “weighty” cheesecakes.
shelly says
This looks yummy!
Debbie says
This recipe looks super easy and delicious! How do you not gain weight???….besides the pregnancy weight, that is. I just know that if I eat too many of these, and pizzas, and other starchy sweet things the weight is going to pile on fast unless I run for an hour each day (which I don’t really want to do). Even then I think I’ll continue to crave comfort foods every day. You’re very fortunate you don’t have my problem.
Debbie says
Thanks for the idea! I know my daughter will love that!
Debbie says
We are hosting a Prom Breakfast for my daughters friends the morning of prom.
Guess what will be a part of the menu? 🙂
The teenagers are all coming in their PJ’s and the table will be set with all our
fine china! Its going to be so cute! Get to see a morning look before all the beautiful dresses and hair dos. Thanks agian for a fast easy dish!
Andrea says
That sounds like such a fun idea Debbie!
You could make “plane” cream cheese danishes (without the chocolate chips) and then include a variety of jams/fruits for the topping so every one can customize their own!
Georgiagal says
I *heart* cream cheese danishes. I like how simple this recipe is and that you don’t need a lot of ingredients.
This will also be a great recipe to serve when we have overnight guests. I usually make a “breakfast buffet” with many different items that are easy, affordable, and most importantly, good! Hope you have a wonderful day~
Candis says
@Family Fandango – we must be related – lol
Family Fandango says
Oh man, would LOVE some right now…my problem is that I would eat the whole tray…preferably at night, in bed, watching netflix on my laptop…
Five4FiveMeals says
Yummy! My MIL makes something similar but she covers it in sugar and cinnamon. So good.