Raspberry Cream Cheese Reduced Sugar Danish

Sometimes when I get a hankering for something sweet but, I don’t want anything that has too much sugar.  This raspberry cream cheese Danish uses an all fruit raspberry filling, and Swerve or Stevia to sweeten the cream cheese, which does not have a huge impact on raising blood sugar.  You can certainly use regular sugar ingredients if you would like.  Here’s how I make it:

First, take your puff pastry out of the freezer and allow it to defrost completely so it will not break when it is unfolded.  This recipe uses both sheets to make two Danish pastries.  You can cut the recipe in half or freeze one for later if you wish.  Also, bring one 8 oz. package of cream cheese to room temperature.

Once cream cheese is at room temperature, place in a small bowl along with 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/2 cup of powdered Swerve (It is an all natural sugar substitute you can buy on line), or you can use Stevia, or regular powdered sugar if you are not concerned with the glucose impact. 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Once both puff pastries are thawed completely, open one up with the short end toward you, and you will see three sections where the folds were.

Place 1/2 the cream cheese mixture in the center of one of the puff pastries you can spread it with a rubber spatula.

For this recipe I used a 15. 25 oz. jar of All Fruit seedless raspberry, which is sweetened with fruit juice.  You can use whatever jam you like such as cherry or strawberry.

Place about 1/3 of the jar or whatever amount you like over the cream cheese.

Next, cut 12 strips on both sides of the dough and alternately fold the strips over crisscross pointing downward as shown, and continue to the end.  Repeat the same with the next puff pastry if making both.

Place both on a parchment paper lined baking sheet so they are not touching.

Brush each Danish with beaten egg and bake @ 400 degrees for about 30-40 minutes or until rich golden brown and bubbly.  Ovens will vary so you will need to check it.  Do not under cook it or it will be soggy.

Allow Danish to cool well before slicing and sprinkle slices with powdered sugar before serving.  Danish can be stored in the frig and reheated or, one can be frozen for later.

The powdered sugar sticks better if the Danish is not too warm.  Enjoy and happy cooking!

Prep Time: 30 min                                           Cooking Time:  30 – 40 min

Difficulty: Easy                                                  Servings:  12

Ingredients:

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees

1  package of 2 puff pastries

1  15.25 oz. Jar seedless raspberry All Fruit

1  8 oz. package of cream cheese

1  teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup powdered Swerve, stevia, or reg. powdered sugar plus more to sprinkle on slices

1 egg