Pear Danish

This Pear Danish has a marzipan cream cheese filling, tender sliced pears, in a puff pastry, finished with a drizzle of cinnamon honey. You’ll want to make this brunch or breakfast recipe again and again!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Libby’s Fruits & Vegetables. The opinions and text are all mine.

Whenever we go to a coffee shop, I always look for the cheese Danish. I just love them! So, in keeping with my adoration of this wonderful breakfast treat, I decided to create one at home. Let me tell you, the family has fallen in LOVE with this Pear Cream Cheese Danish pastry!

Why is it called a Danish?

Believe it or not, “Danish” pastries aren’t necessarily native to Denmark! Bakers brought new techniques with them from Austria into Denmark, and Danish bakers adopted these Austrian pastries. Over time, Danish pastries evolved into various sizes, shapes, and varieties, with many different toppings and fillings.

We traditionally think of a “Danish” as a multi-layered laminated pastry with a sweet filling, usually fruit or cream cheese. The crust is made with layers of dough and butter for a rich, flaky texture. While you can definitely make your own puff pastry, I find that buying it at the store is equally delicious and saves me time.

Pear Danish Ingredients

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make these delicious pear danishes:

• Cream cheese, room temperature
• Marzipan (you can also use almond paste but the texture won’t be as smooth and it won’t be as sweet.)
• Large eggs
• Pure vanilla extract
• Puff pastry sheet, thawed
• Water
• Canned pear slices (I use Libby’s brand, drained and cut into smaller slices)
• Honey
• Cinnamon

Make sure to review the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions!

How to Make Delicious Pear Cream Cheese Danishes

1. Prepare: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a lightly floured piece of parchment paper on the counter top or other work surface. Gently roll out the sheet of thawed pastry dough on the parchment with a rolling pin so that it measures about 10 X 14 inches.
2. Puff Pastry Dough: Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough in half lengthwise so that you have two equal squares.
3. Egg Wash: In a small bowl, beat one egg and two teaspoons of water to make an egg wash, making sure to break up the egg yolks completely. Gently brush the egg wash on all sides of both pastry sheets, about 1/2 inch in from the edge.
4. Fold the Danish dough in one inch on the long sides and a half inch up on the short ends, using the egg wash to adhere to each corner.
5. Cream Cheese Filling: Slice the marzipan into small pieces and place it into a mixing bowl. Add the remaining egg and vanilla. Cream together until completely mixed and smooth. Then add the cream cheese and beat until smooth.
6. Fill the Pastry: Evenly divide the cream cheese filling between both pastry doughs, spreading with an offset spatula or wooden spoon just to the edges that have been folded in. Using the egg wash, brush all over the top of the dough. Place the Libby’s Pear Slices on top of the filling.
7. Bake: Transfer the parchment paper holding the Danish pastries to a baking sheet and bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the pastry dough edges are lightly golden brown.
8. Topping: In a small bowl, mix the honey with the cinnamon. Allow the danishes to cool on the baking sheet for 3 – 5 minutes before drizzling with cinnamon honey.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

• You can use croissant dough sheets instead of puff pastry for a slightly different pastry crust.
• Sprinkle some brown sugar or granulated sugar into the cream cheese filling for added sweetness. 
• You can use cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese in this recipe. Cream cheese has a slightly higher fat content, but many prefer the taste of Neufchatel cheese, especially in sweet dishes.
• Drizzle a glaze made from a few tablespoons of milk and icing sugar instead of the cinnamon honey.
• Pure maple syrup can be substituted for the honey.

Can I use fresh pear slices in this recipe?

Yes, you can use fresh pears! Bartlett pears are my favorite variety! However, I recommend cooking them first for the best results. Cook them in a skillet on the stovetop with a few tablespoons of butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar on medium-high heat until they are tender, about 4 minutes. 

How do I store leftover Pear Danish?

These danishes are just as good the next day! Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also wrap cooled pastries individually in a separate piece of plastic wrap. Reheat them in the oven until warmed through.

More Danish Recipes

Try one of these tasty danishes next time:

The flavor combination in this Blueberry Ginger Cheese Danish will awaken your taste buds. The crystallized ginger adds an unexpected and delightful zing to every bite.

Who can resist strawberries? Certainly not me! I could eat these Strawberry Danish Hearts with their sweet cream filling until the cows come home!

It may not be a Danish, so to speak, but no one will pass on these Nutella Knots when they’re placed on the table for breakfast.

Recipes for Pear Lovers

If you love eating pears, you might want to try one of these dishes:

• ​Cinnamon Pear Galette- this beautiful dessert has a buttery, flaky pie crust and a spiced filling that perfectly complements the pears.
• Baked Cinnamon Pear Slices: Pear slices sprinkled with fresh lemon juice, cinnamon and some sugar then baked in the oven until dry and crisp.
• Poached Pears and Goat Cheese Appetizer: a slice of Bosc pear soaked in Mirassou Merlot on top of your favorite cracker. Top it with goat cheese and a pecan half and you’ve got a great appetizer to get your party started! 
• Gorgonzola Pear Chicken: A flavorful chicken breast topped with a Gorgonzola cheese sauce, sliced pears, and sugared pecans.

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