General Conference Brunch

In our family, there are two occasions reserved for preparing a nice breakfast - Christmas and Sunday morning on General Conference.  I decided to try my hand at these danishes.  I haven't generally been a fan of danishes, I think they are usually too sugary and the pastry is too dense.   These Fresh Fruit and Almond Cheese Danishes fit the bill quite nicely.  I was given the recipe in a cooking class by Marguerite Henderson - my hero!  They turned out perfect - mild cream cheese sweetness enveloped in soft flaky pastry (thanks to the puff pastry dough) with fresh berries.

Fresh Fruit-Almond Cheese Danish

1 pkg. puff pastry sheets, thawed

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

2 T. half and half

1 egg

2 T. powdered sugar

zest of 1 lemon

1 c. fresh berries of choice: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries

1/2 c. sliced almonds

Place the pastry sheets on work surface; cut each sheet into fourths.  Have two baking sheets lined with parchment or silpat ready.

In a bowl, beat cream cheese, half and half, egg, powdered sugar and lemon zest.  Divide mixture among the 8 squares of pastry, placed the cheese in the center of each square.  Top each with a tablespoon of fruit of choice.  Cut a small slit in the corners of each pastry square, and then fold pastry over the cheese so the center is exposed.  Sprinkle with sliced almonds.  Bake in a 425 oven for 20 minutes or until golden.  Remove from oven, sprinkle with powdered sugar and cool slightly before serving.  Makes 8 danishes.  

Note:  Somehow when I was folding the dough, I kept thinking this will not be pretty.  Don't worry, they don't look pretty going in the oven, but, as evidenced by the picture, they sure look beautiful coming out!