Copycat Starbucks Cheese Danish Recipe

There’s nothing quite like starting your morning with a warm, flaky cheese danish - especially when it tastes just like the one from Starbucks. This easy-to-make recipe brings the same rich, creamy filling and buttery pastry right to your kitchen. Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert, these homemade Starbucks cheese danishes are sure to become a favorite.

Why You'll Love These Starbucks Cheese Danishes

The first time I made these cheese danishes, I was amazed at how simple the process was. I’ve always loved picking up a cheese danish from Starbucks as a treat, but being able to make them at home has been a game-changer.

The combination of the flaky puff pastry with the sweet, creamy filling is just as satisfying, and the best part is you can enjoy it fresh out of the oven.

What I love most about this recipe (and what I think you'll love too) is its simplicity. Just a few ingredients are all you need to make it...not to mention, minimal prep time. Seriously, in basically no time at all, you can have yourself a delicious pastry that rivals anything you’d buy at a coffee shop.

And this recipe is legit, just look at what this reader commented: 

Absolutely perfect. Just like the danishes at Starbucks!!!! -Lisa

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make these delicious Starbucks-style cheese danishes:

• 1 sheet puff pastry
• 4oz cream cheese 
• 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk

How To Make Starbucks Cheese Danish

Following just 5 simple steps is all that's standing between you and some delicious homemade cheese danishes.

Step 1: Prepare the Pastry

Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the puff pastry flat on a surface and cut it into 6 equal rectangles. Place them on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Filling

In a bowl, mix the cream cheese, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.

Transfer this mixture to a piping bag, cutting the tip about 2 centimeters wide.

Step 3: Fill the Pastries

Pipe a line of cream cheese filling down the center of each puff pastry square, leaving about a half-inch border around the edges.

Step 4: Egg Wash

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and milk to make an egg wash. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the edges of each puff pastry with the egg wash.

Step 5: Bake

Bake in the preheated oven for 15-16 minutes, or until the pastries are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. Serve warm and enjoy!

My Expert Tips for Making The Perfect Cheese Danish

• Keep the puff pastry cold for maximum puff. Puff pastry relies on cold butter to create those flaky, layered pockets of steam. Keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to cut and fill it. If it starts to feel soft or sticky while you’re working, pop it back into the fridge for 5–10 minutes before baking. Cold pastry hitting a hot oven = tall, flaky, Starbucks-style cheese danish.
• Use room-temperature cream cheese for a silky filling. Cold cream cheese will give you lumpy filling no matter how much you beat it. Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then mix it with the sugar, salt, and vanilla until completely smooth. This will give you that velvety, cheesecake-like center you expect from a Starbucks cheese danish.
• Don’t overfill and keep the filling in the center. It’s tempting to pile on the cream cheese, but too much filling will spill over the sides and make the pastry soggy where it leaks. Aim for a thin, even strip down the middle, leaving about ½ inch of border on all sides. This keeps the filling in place and gives the pastry room to puff around it, just like the Starbucks version.
• Score or lightly press a border for better shape. After cutting the puff pastry rectangles, you can use a knife or the back of a butter knife to lightly score a smaller rectangle inside each piece (about ½ inch from the edges), or gently press the edges down with your fingers. This subtly encourages the edges to puff up while the center stays flatter, helping to “hold” the cream cheese filling in place.
• Egg wash the edges only. Brush the edges of the pastry, not the cream cheese filling, with the egg wash. This helps the edges turn golden and glossy, while the filling stays creamy and pale. Getting egg wash on the sides of the pastry can also glue layers together and limit the rise, so keep the brush strokes neat and just on the border.
• Bake on parchment and give them space. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper so the cheese danishes don’t stick and any leaked filling is easy to clean up. Space the pastries a couple of inches apart so the hot air can circulate around each one. This helps them puff evenly and bake into individual pastries instead of merging together.
• Bake until deeply golden, not just lightly colored. For the best flavor and texture, let the puff pastry get properly golden brown around the edges. If you pull them too early, the centers of the pastry layers can taste doughy and the structure won’t hold as well once they cool. Every oven is different, so if 15–16 minutes isn’t quite enough, give them another few minutes, watching closely.
• Cool slightly so the filling sets, but serve warm. Let the cheese danishes cool on a wire rack for at least 5–10 minutes after baking. This allows the cream cheese center to set a bit so it’s creamy and sliceable instead of molten. They’re best enjoyed warm, when the pastry is still crisp and the filling is soft. If you make them ahead, reheat in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 5–7 minutes to bring back the flakiness—skip the microwave, which will make them soggy.
• Add a simple glaze for extra Starbucks copycat vibes (optional). If you want to make them feel even more like a bakery or Starbucks cheese danish, whisk together ½ cup powdered sugar, 1–2 teaspoons milk, and a drop of vanilla until smooth and drizzle over the cooled danishes. It adds a light sweetness and a pretty finish without overpowering the tangy cream cheese center.
• Customize with fruit or jam if you like. For a fun variation, you can add ½–1 teaspoon of jam or fruit preserves (like raspberry, strawberry, or lemon curd) on top of the cream cheese strip before baking. Just keep the amounts small so it doesn’t overflow. This gives you a fruit-and-cheese danish that still uses the same Starbucks-style base.

How To Store Cheese Danish

Because these Starbucks-style cheese danishes are made with a cream cheese filling, they should be stored in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature. Once they have cooled completely, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3–4 days. For the best texture, reheat them in a low oven at about 300°F (150°C) for 5–7 minutes until the pastry is crisp again and the filling is just warmed through.

Starbucks Cheese Danish Recipe FAQ

Can I use a different filling?

Yes, you can definitely switch up the filling. The classic cream cheese filling is delicious, but you can add a spoonful of fruit preserves, a bit of chocolate spread, or even a cinnamon-sugar mixture on top of the cream cheese for a different twist. Just keep the total amount of filling modest so it does not overflow and make the pastry soggy.

Can I use puff pastry from scratch instead of store-bought?

Yes, homemade puff pastry will work if you prefer to make it from scratch. It will give you excellent flavor and flakiness, but it does add quite a bit of prep time. Store-bought puff pastry is what makes this Starbucks cheese danish copycat so quick and easy, and it still bakes up perfectly flaky, so most people find it is the best balance of effort and results.

Can I make these cheese danishes ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare them ahead of time. Assemble the puff pastry rectangles with the cream cheese filling, place them on a baking sheet, and refrigerate them unbaked for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to bake, put them straight into a preheated oven. You may need to add a minute or two to the bake time since they are starting cold, but this method works very well for serving them fresh in the morning.

Can I freeze cheese danishes?

Yes, baked cheese danishes freeze well. Let them cool completely, then wrap each one individually in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They will keep for about 2–3 months. To serve, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight, then warm in a 300°F (150°C) oven for a few minutes until the pastry is crisp and the filling is warmed through.

What can I use as a filling substitute if I’m out of cream cheese?

If you do not have cream cheese, ricotta or mascarpone are good alternatives. Ricotta will give you a lighter, slightly grainier texture unless you blend it very smooth, while mascarpone is rich and creamy, very similar to cream cheese. You can sweeten and flavor them the same way with sugar and vanilla extract to get a similar style filling.

Can I add fruit to the cheese danish?

My Final Thoughts

Making these Starbucks-style cheese danishes at home is a simple and rewarding process.  The result is a delicious, flaky pastry with a creamy filling that’s perfect for any time of day.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy making these as much as I do—don’t forget to let me know how they turn out in the comments below!

More Starbucks Recipes To Try Next

• Starbucks potato cheddar and chive bakes
• Starbucks egg bites
• Starbucks grilled cheese
• Starbucks banana bread