This delicious cream cheese puff pastry with apples is a delicious pastry recipe made with a sweet cream cheese mixture, homemade apple filling, and baked until the puff pastry dough is golden and flaky. A delicious fall recipe that you are sure to enjoy.
If you love pastries as much as I do, then I have a real winner for you. I’ve had a love affair with pastries for as long as I can remember. I love that flaky dough, the fruity, cheesy filling, and of course, that sweet drizzle over the top of it all. I used to routinely buy pastries for my grocery store’s baked goods section. The thing was that even though they had the flavor I loved, they were almost always not as fresh as they could be. I could never seem to time it just right to get them on the day that they were made. That’s when I decided to simply start making my own pastries at home.
Between me, my kids, and their friends, it became apparent that I’d be making them forever after I first gave them a shot. We’d eat them for breakfast. My kids would have them with their friends as an afterschool snack. Sometimes, we’d simply grab them in the middle of the day for snacking if there happened to be any left on the weekend. Now that my kids are off on their own, I still make these pastries to have on hand. I’m happy to say that my daughter has taken up the mantle as a pastry provider, as well. Her family loves them as much as she did growing up.
Cream Cheese Puff Pastry with Apples
This delicious, flaky puff pastry recipe has everything we love about traditional pastries but without nearly the amount of work. They do take a few ingredients and a little prep, but the results are so worth it. And using store bought puff pastry dough takes away a ton of the work. These are the perfect dessert or snack to make on the weekend. If you want to make a double batch, you can even make them on a Sunday and still have enough for a quick breakfast come Monday!
Flaky, golden brown puff pastry is loaded with sweet apple filling, tangy cream cheese filling, and an easy glaze that brings the entire thing together. It’s absolutely everything we love about pastries!
Why You’ll Love This Apple Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Recipe
- It’s easy to make and only uses a few simple ingredients.
- It’s filled with a sweet cream cheese mixture and homemade apple pie filling.
- It is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or snacking!
Apple Puff Pastry Tips and Variations
I have a few tips here to help ensure that you make these as delicious as they can possibly be. I also have some variations that I think you’ll love.
Tips
- Be sure your cream cheese is fully softened to achieve that smooth, creamy texture.
- Don’t try to rush the filling by using higher heat. The key is to bring it to a boil using low heat.
- Always line your baking sheet for easy cleanup.
Variations
- You can make any of your favorite fruity pie fillings for this recipe. Berries, pineapple, peaches, and the like are all delicious with this recipe.
- I prefer the tartness of Granny Smith apples with this recipe, but you can use any apple variety you like.
- For a richer glaze, use cream in place of milk.
What to Serve with Cream Cheese Puff Pastry
Pastries like this are best served with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk. You can also make a breakfast out of them by pairing them with something like sausage or bacon.
Cream Cheese Puff Pastry FAQ
Read on to learn the answer to the most commonly asked questions about this recipe.
What are cream cheese puff pastries?
They’re any pastry made with a base of puff pastry dough and topped with a sweet cream cheese mixture.
How do I make puff pastry crispy?
The key to crispy puff pastry is cooking it at a high temperature. It doesn’t take long for the pastry to cook, and the high temperature will crisp it as it bakes to golden brown.
What’s the difference between pastry and Danish?
Danish is leavened with yeast, while puff pastry rises due to the steam its layers produce as it heats up.
Cream Cheese Puff Pastry with Apples Ingredients
The recipe uses simple ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store.
- Puff pastry dough
- Optional: caramel bits
For the Apple Filling
- Granny smith apples
- Water
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Cinnamon
- Lemon juice
For the Cream Cheese Mixture
- Cream cheese
- Sugar
- Egg yolk
- Lemon juice
- Vanilla
For the Glaze Drizzle
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla
- Milk
How to Make Apple Cream Cheese Puff Pastry
This recipe might seem complicated, but it’s actually very easy. The apple filling, cream cheese mixture, and glaze are all basic recipes that even beginners can do.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Set out the cream cheese to soften and peel, core, and chop the apples.
Step 2: Make the Apple Filling
Bring water, cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice to a boil in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Continue to boil for 3 to 4 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Then, add the apples, stir, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes or until the apples are tender.
Step 3: Make the Cream Cheese Mixture
Beat cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl for about 2 minutes or until fluffy. Then, add the sugar, egg yolk, vanilla, and lemon juice and beat for an additional 2 minutes.
Step 4: Prep the Puff Pastry
Roll out the seams of the puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Then, cut each dough in half and then cut those halves into 3 pieces. You’ll end up with 12 pieces.
Step 5: Make the Puff Pastry
Place each pastry piece onto the prepared baking sheet. Then, add a tablespoon of cream cheese mixture and a tablespoon of apple filling to the center of each pastry. Place caramel bits if desired. Be aware that they won’t melt, but they’re so good. Finally, score the edges about 1/2-inch from the edge, making a square but not going all the way through.
Step 6: Bake
Brush the edges of the pastries with egg wash, then bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden. Let the pastries cool and then drizzle with the glaze.
Try This Delicious Apple Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Today
This apple cream cheese puff pastry recipe is easy to make, but it tastes like it takes a ton of work. Puff pastry is topped with homemade apple and cream cheese fillings and then baked to golden perfection. It sounds involved, but it really only takes about 30 to 45 minutes from start to finish – including the baking time! A recipe this easy and delicious absolutely needs to be tried, and if you do, I know you’ll find yourself making it again and again.
More Puff Pastry Desserts You’ll Enjoy
Lemon Cream Cheese Pastry Ring – A zesty, lemon curd pastry made with cream cheese mixture, a flaky pastry crust, and a sweet drizzled.
Blueberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastries – A bite-sized pastry made with fresh blueberries, cream cheese, and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Danish – The perfect pastry to make for brunch or dessert. It’s made with fresh strawberries, a cream cheese mixture, and a homemade icing.
And, try this Blackberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry from Deliciously Seasoned. A perfect pastry for breakfast, brunch, or dessert that is made with a sweet cream cheese mixture, fresh blackberries, all place din a puff pastry shell and drizzled with a sweet glaze.
Cream Cheese Puff Pastry with Apples
Ingredients
For the Apple Filling
- 4 large Granny Smith apples, peel, core and chop into small chunks.
- 1 ½ cups water
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
For the Cream Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla
For the Glaze Drizzle
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 box puff pastry dough, room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
For the Apple Filling
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, bring water, cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice to a boil, stirring constantly.
- Continue stirring for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens up.
- Once the sauce has thickened, add apples, stir and let simmer for 8-10 minutes or until the apples are tender..
For the Cream Cheese Mixture
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add sugar, egg yolk, vanilla, lemon juice and beat for an additional 2 minutes.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out seams on the puff pastry.
- Cut each dough in half and then cut each strip into 3 pieces (will end up with 12 pieces).
- Place each pastry dough on the prepared baking sheet(s).
- Add a tablespoon of cream cheese mixture and a tablespoon of apple filling to the center of each pastry.
- Score the edges (about ½ inch from the edge) making a square, but do not go all the way through.
- Brush the edges with egg wash.
- Bake in preheated oven for 12-14 minutes or until golden.
- Remove from oven and once cool, drizzle with glaze over the top and enjoy.
For the Glaze Drizzle
- In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla together until combined.
- Once the pastries have cooled, drizzle with glaze.
Notes
Nutrition
Here are a few pics that are perfect to save to your favorite Pinterest boards on Pinterest. Also, you can follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.
Made a mess in my kitchen. However, the end result was delicious.
Hi Sandra, I’m so glad you enjoyed these pastries. Thank you for sharing! :)