This shortcut flaky and buttery raspberry pastry braid starts with a simple frozen puff pastry dough. With an easy cream cheese and fresh raspberry filling and a delicate toasted almond icing drizzled over the top, each bite of this easy raspberry danish is the perfect balance of creamy, sweet, and slightly tart. Recipe makes two braids.
8ounces(227g) full fat block cream cheeseroom temperature
1large eggseparated
2Tablespoons(25g) granulated sugar
1Tablespoon(15mL) lemon juice
½teasponnalmond extract
½teaspoonvanilla extract
⅛teaspoonsalt
6ouncesfresh or frozenraspberries
PASTRY
2sheetsfrozen puff pastrythawed
reserved egg white + 1 teaspoon heavycream or milk
TOPPING
¼cup(30g) sliced almonds
½cup(60g) powdered sugar
1Tablespoon(15mL) heavy cream or milk
½teaspoonvanilla extract
¼teaspoonalmond extract
pinchsalt
Instructions
FILLING
In a medium size bowl using a handheld mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and egg yolk together on medium speed until smooth.
8 ounces (227g) full fat block cream cheese, 1 large egg
Add the granulated sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and almond extracts, and salt, then beat until smooth. Cover the filling and refrigerate until you are ready to use.
2 Tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar, 1 Tablespoon (15mL) lemon juice, ½ teasponn almond extract, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon salt
Divide the raspberries into two 3 ounce portions. Set aside.
6 ounces fresh or frozen raspberries
PASTRY
Place each pastry onto a piece of parchment about half the size of your baking sheet so that when the pastries are side-by-side on the baking sheet, they have enough space for their respective parchment squares. See photos in the post above for a visual.
2 sheets frozen puff pastry, reserved egg white + 1 teaspoon heavy cream or milk
Unfold the pastry thirds, then use a pizza cutter or kitchen shears to cut the edge flaps into 10-12 strips, each about 1" in thickness. Keep the center strip intact as this is where your filling will go.
Remove the cream cheese mixture from the refrigerator. Add about half of the mixture to each pastry, spreading it evenly onto the center third and going all the way to the edges.
Scatter the raspberries evenly over each pastry's cream cheese mixture, using 3 ounces for each pastry.
Fold the strips over the filling alternately to create a "braid." Gently pull each strip on a slight angle, stretching it gently so it reaches across the filling and lands at the base of the next strip on the opposite side. Again, see photos in the post above for a visual.
Transfer the braids to the prepared large baking sheet using the sides of the parchment paper as handles to lift each braid individually.
Brush the braids with the egg wash, then place the pan of braids in the freezer1 for 20 minutes while you preheat the oven.
Preheat the oven to 400ºF (204ºC).
Bake the danishes for 36-40 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool while you make the topping.
TOPPING
Place the almonds in a medium size saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir the almonds with a spatula to keep them moving as they toast. Toast to your likeness, but in general, this will take about 6-8 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
¼ cup (30g) sliced almonds
In a small bowl or a measuring cup with a spout, combine the powdered sugar, milk or cream, vanilla and almond extracts, and salt. Whisk or stir together until the mixture is smooth.
½ cup (60g) powdered sugar, 1 Tablespoon (15mL) heavy cream or milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon almond extract, pinch salt
Drizzle the icing over the warm pastry, then sprinkle with the toasted almonds. Slice and serve immediately. Leftovers stay fresh wrapped or covered tightly in the refrigerator up to 5 days. I prefer leftovers to be toasted in the air fryer, toaster oven, or oven to re-crisp the pastry. Unbaked braid freezes well, up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and continue with baking step. Baked braid freezes well, iced or un-iced, up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and warm before serving.
Video
Notes
Chill in the freezer: you can also cover and store this danish in the refrigerator for a longer-term pause. If you're going to need more than 30 minutes of make ahead time, wrap the danish tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Continue with the recipe as instructed.
Halve the recipe: feel free to use only one pastry to make one braid, or use a different fruit for your second braid. I suggest blueberries, blackberries, or strawberries.
All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.