NOR'S EASY CHEESE FRUIT DANISH BRAID

Nor's Easy Cheese fruit Danish Braid image

I love Cheese danish, cake etc. i wanted to use up some frozen puff pastry I had. I combined it with a cheese filling and used a canned Apricot pastry filing to make this easy braid. You can make it plain cheese, or add any fruit pastry filling you desire. I hope you all enjoy this easy delicious pastry.

Provided by Nor Mac

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 23

Ingredients

1 frozen puff pastry
8 oz cream cheese softened
1/2 c sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanila
1 Tbsp flour
6 oz can of pastry filling. i used to solo brand. i suggest you not use jam. i tried it and it made my braid soggy.
EGG WASH
1 egg slightly beaten with fork
2 Tbsp water
GLAZE
1 c powdered sugar
3-4 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c chopped walnut's or sliced almonds if desired
OPTIONAL HOMEMADE APRICOT FILLING
1 c water
1 c sugar
1 c packed apricots then chopped
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp water
NOTE: DO NOT USE JAM OR JELLY TO SUBSTITUTE PIE FILLING

Steps:

1. Thaw frozen pastry. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Dust with flour. Preheat oven to 350 degree's.
2. Place thawed and unrolled pastry on prepared parchment lined sheet pan.
3. Sprinkle flour on pastry. Roll dough to 12 inches long and width of sheet pan.about a 10 x 12 rectangle
4. With knife, or pizza cutter. Cut the outside 3rd of dough in to slices about 3/4 - 1 inch wide all the way down each side. Do not cut in to center 1/3 of dough. You leave the center 3rd uncut to spread filling.
5. Make cheese filling. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in sugar, egg yolk and vanilla and flour. Beat until smooth.
6. Spread cheese filling down the center of dough evenly. Top with 1/2 the can of fruit filling if desired. ( i used solo apricot)
7. Bring outside strips you cut across filling . One side at a time alternating and crossing over each other until done.
8. Beat egg and water with a fork. Brush over entire pastry. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes until golden.
9. Heat remaing fuit filling in microwave with 2 tablespoons of water until hot. Remove from microwave and stir. Brush over entire hot pastry. You may have some left over. Just save or discard.
10. Mix ingredients together for glaze until smooth. Brush glaze over pastry. Sprinkle with nuts if desired. Cool thoroughly before cutting. Enjoy!
11. Directions for optional homemade apricot filling : Place sugar water and apricots in a saucepan. Bring to a boil reduce to simmer. Cook until apricots are tender and most of liquid is boiled down, and it is thickened. Stir in lemon juice. If you prefer a thicker sauce. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water add to mixture and boil until thick. Remove from heat to cool before using.