DIY Chocolate Chip Danish

posted in Recipes on 6/28/2015

I started with a Crescent Recipe Creations refrigerated seamless dough sheet, they are so easy to make. It takes 30 minutes from fridge to tummy, tops! How’s that for a quick treat? It takes longer to go to the store and buy a Danish!

Are you ready to surprise your family with a flaky, buttery pastry oozing with sweet cheese and chocolate goodness? First, gather your ingredients: crescent dough, cream cheese, sugar, chocolate chips and vanilla extract. That’s it!

While the oven is heating up, unroll the pastry and shape it into a rectangle. I highly recommend doing this step directly on the baking sheet as it is very hard to move the Danish once it’s filled. With a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, cut slanting strips along both sides, about 1 inch apart and 1 1/2 inch deep. (leave the center uncut). Make sure you have the same amount of cut strips on both sides.

In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread mixture on uncut center of dough. Sprinkle chocolate chips over cream cheese mixture. The filling is quite versatile. You can add more or less chocolate chips–or use rum-soaked raisins, nuts or a combination of the two. Use grated lemon zest and lemon extract instead of the vanilla for a citrus touch!

Start braiding the Danish by crossing the strips over the filling, alternating from side to side. When you get to the end, trim up any overhanging dough. Bake the braided pastry in the preheated oven until just golden! Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before cutting into pieces.