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Home » Recipes » Homemade Roll Recipes

Crescent Roll Cream Cheese Danish

Published: Nov 29, 2023 by Marye

Crescent roll cream cheese danish are simple sweet rolls that start with a can of refrigerated dough! Put them together in the shape of a Christmas tree or a wreath for a pretty holiday brunch.
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 20 minutes minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Close up of the sweet rolls on a white plate.
Cheese danish put together in the shape of a wreath for pinning to Pinterest.
Overhead view of the rolls grouped to look like a Christmas tree with text for Pinterest..

If you're looking for an easy holiday breakfast or brunch you can't go wrong with this one!

Overhead view of a christmas tree made with easy cream cheese danish.
This easy cream cheese danish Christmas tree is the perfect holiday treat!
Table of Contents
  • 🗝️ Key takeaways
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 📖 Variations
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🎥 Video
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

🗝️ Key takeaways

This easy Christmas breakfast is so cute for the holidays but quick enough to enjoy all year long!

  • There's just 10 minutes of prep time.
  • I think they are so cute for Christmas morning.
  • Use powdered sugar for the filling to keep it smooth and creamy.

I love to sit with a cup of coffee in one hand and an easy cream cheese danish in the other watching the family opening presents on Christmas morning.

On the other hand, I really hate staying up late the night before getting my cheese kolache ready because I forgot to make them ahead of time.

It's happened... more than once. I finally got smart and now I keep a can of crescent rolls in the fridge...just in case. Great idea, right?

🧾 Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for this recipe.

📖 Variations

  • Add a little lemon zest to the cream cheese for a tangier filling.
  • Some people use cherry pie filling instead of maraschino cherries.
  • You can use any kind of fruit pie filling or jam - you just won't get the Christmas tree effect... which is fine in the middle of summer.
  • Blueberry pie filling is especially good!
  • Brush the top of the crescent roll dough with a little beaten egg yolk and sprinkle with sugar before baking.

🔪 Instructions

These are just an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom.

Step by step images showing how to make these cream cheese danish.
  1. Blend the softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar and vanilla in a small bowl.
  2. Open the crescent dough tube and take out the roll of dough - don't unroll it. Put it on a cutting board and cut the dough in 11 slices with a sharp knife.
  3. Arrange the rounds as shown above - to look like a Christmas tree or in a circle for a wreath (shown below). Make a well in the center of the dough circles except the bottom one and fill with the cheese mixture and a cherry. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on the "trunk".
  4. Bake until done. Remove from the oven and drizzle with glaze.

🎥 Video

🥫 Storage

Danish of any kind are always best the day they are made. If you have leftovers you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days..

You can also freeze these for up to 3 months. Be warned, however, that the filling may get a bit grainy.

The sweet rolls formed into a wreath.
Make these cream cheese crescent rolls into any shape you like! Wreath, tree, heart for Valentine's Day...

💭 Tips

Expert Tip: I prefer powdered sugar over white sugar for sweet cream cheese filling because it doesn't get grainy and it helps the filling hold together.

  • Make these crescent roll cheese danish recipe with full-fat cream cheese. The light and non-fat types get runny.
  • Be sure the cream cheese at room temperature.
  • The crescent rolls or sheets need to be cold.
  • You can use either the original crescent rolls or the buttery ones. They're both delicious.
  • Be sure to gently pat dry each cherry before setting it in the filling - that way the white filling will stay white.
  • You can make this bigger by doubling the recipe and adding more rows to the "tree".

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Do danishes need to be refrigerated?

Yes. Since there is dairy involved be sure to put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just warm them slightly before serving for the best flavor.

Can cream cheese danish be frozen?

Yes it can but the filling sometimes gets a grainy texture. It's still fine to eat.

Can I use puff pastry instead of crescent rolls?

Sure. It's a little different but it will work. roll the sheets up and the cut in rounds like with the crescent rolls.

A roll being removed from the serving platter.

📚 Related recipes

Still looking for brunchy food? What about...

  • Jalapeno sausage kolache are (actually klobasnek but whatever) a favorite here in my part of Texas.
  • Raspberry thumbprint scones are a copycat of the ones Starbucks discontinued a few years ago - so good!
  • S'mores stuffed French toast is an extra special holiday treat!
  • We love this cranberry nut bread for eating AND giving as gifts.
  • A basket full of garlic breadsticks.
    How to Make Soft Garlic Breadsticks`
  • Large cinnamon roll with gooey icing on a white plate.
    Texas-Size Cinnamon Rolls
  • Freshly baked cloverleaf rolls in a muffin tin.
    Cloverleaf Rolls Recipe: Old Fashioned & Buttery
  • A bowl of whole wheat dinner rolls with a green and white striped towel.
    Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
Closeup view showing the texture of the sweet rolls.

🍽️ Serve with...

Closeup of two lattes in glass coffee cups.

Salted caramel brulee latte is one of my favorite ways to start Christmas morning.

A closeup of the finished recipe.

Sausage balls are always good - and a fun finger food for holiday brunch.

A cup of Russian tea with the mix behind it.

Russian tea is orangy, spicy, and tangy - perfect to cut the sweetness of these!

📞 The last word

Don't just make these delicious crescent roll cream cheese danish rolls for the holidays! This is an easy recipe that everyone loves anytime!

Make them in plain old rounds and top with a spoonful of your favorite pie filling or jam anytime you want to treat the family to something a little special.

Or, shape a heart for Valentine's Day. Whatever you like... just make them!

These gingerbread waffles are another perfect holiday breakfast recipe that's delicious all year long!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Close up of the sweet rolls on a white plate.

Easy Cream Cheese Danish

4.67 from 3 votes
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Crescent roll cream cheese danish are simple sweet rolls that start with a can of refrigerated dough! Put them together in the shape of a Christmas tree or a wreath for a pretty holiday brunch.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Holiday
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings:11
Calories:157
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces crescent roll dough, the kind in a can in the refrigerated section of your grocers.

Cream cheese filling

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, full fat is best
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 10 maraschino cherries, without stems
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon and sugar mixture

Glaze ingredients

  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk, or cream. May need more.
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375F.
  • Line a cookie sheet with silpat or parchment paper.
  • Heat the cream cheese up in the microwave until it is soft.
  • Add the vanilla and blend well.
  • Stir in the cream cheese until it's smooth.
  • Open the crescent roll dough but leave them rolled up.
  • Slice off 11 evenly sized rolls (or as close as you can get to even...)
  • Place one roll in the center bottom of the cookie sheet - refer to video.
  • Place 4 rolls in a line over that.
  • Place 3 rolls in a line over that.
  • Now place 2 rolls in a row - then 1 roll at the top. You should have the shape of a Christmas tree.
  • Make and indentation in each roll except the bottom one with your thumb.
  • Fill the indentations with the cream cheese mixture.
  • Remove 10 cherries from the jar and pat them dry with a paper towel.
  • Place gently in the center of each of the 10 rolls that form the tree.
  • Sprinkle the bottom roll with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
  • Bake at 375F for 15 minutes or until golden brown and baked through. They'll register 190F to 200F on an instant read thermometer when they're done.
  • Remove from oven.

Glaze

  • If you plan to drizzle with glaze make the glaze with about ⅓ cup of powdered sugar and 1 to 3 tablespoons of milk or cream. Add a few drops of vanilla if you wish.
  • Drizzle the glaze over the rolls, remove to a serving platter, and serve.

Notes

Storage: 
Cover with plastic wrap or put in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They're best if you warm them slightly in the microwave before serving.
To Freeze:
Place in an airtight container with parchment paper betweeen the layers and freeze for up to 3 months.
Tips:
  • I prefer powdered sugar over white sugar for sweet cream cheese filling because it doesn't get grainy and it helps the filling hold together.
  • Make these crescent roll cheese danish recipe with full fat cream cheese. The light and non-fat types get runny.
  • You can use either the original crescent rolls or the buttery ones. They're both delicious.
  • Be sure to gently pat dry each cherry before setting it in the filling - that way the white filling will stay white.
  • You can make this bigger by doubling the recipe and adding more rows to the "tree".

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 196mg | Potassium: 18mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 143IU | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

First published December 9, 2021. Last updated for editorial improvements November 29, 2023.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

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Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

Welcome to my kitchen! ☕

NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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