Apple Cream Cheese Danish Recipe (2024)

This apple Danish braid recipe from scratch involves no canned products like the usual Danish recipes that you see. It’s not difficult to make, and so, so yummy! The apple filling is perfect for fall and a great way to use apples. It makes a delicious dessert or a special breakfast. You have to try it!

Apple Danish Recipe from Scratch

Are you ready to start making some yummy fall recipes using fall produce? I always look forward to apple season! Apples are one of my favorite fruits, and while they are in season, they can be purchased very inexpensively.

We love to make Homemade Applesauce,Mulled Apple Cider, Applesauce Pancakes, and all kinds of other yummy apple things! This year I decided to put an apple-y spin on one of my favorite family recipes, my Cream Cheese Danish.

Ingredients in the Apple Danish Braid Recipe

• Yeast. This can be instant yeast, dry active yeast, or rapid rise yeast. Any will work fine in this recipe.
• Sugar. You will need both white and brown sugar for this recipe.
• Sour Cream. This goes in our dough and makes it so soft and amazing!
• Butter. Butter is also for softness and to deepen the flavor of the dough.
• Salt. Salt helps to bring out the flavor in baked goods.
• Egg. This is our binder to keep things together.
• All Purpose Flour. Regular flour will work fine. I have not yet tried gluten-free flour in this recipe.
• Cream Cheese. This is for the filling! It can be left out if you don’t want this to be a cream cheese danish, but it’s so good!
• Vanilla extract. I use Homemade Vanilla Extract, but you can also use store-bought vanilla.
• Apples. If you already have Home Canned Apple Pie Filling that’s what you want to use in this recipe. If you don’t, you can cook down 2 large apples instead.
• Apple Pie Spice. If you don’t have any, you can make a bulk apple pie spice for later. Mix 3 tablespoons of ground cinnamon with 2 teaspoons each of ground nutmeg and allspice.
• Cinnamon. We also need a little extra cinnamon in this recipe!

Making an Apple Danish Braid: Step by Step

In a small bowl, mix together the yeast, warm water, and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Stir slightly and set aside.

On the stove top, mix together the sour cream, butter, 1/4 cup of sugar, and salt. Stir and simmer slightly until all ingredients are melted. Let this mixture cool slightly before moving onto the next step.

In a large bowl, mix together the sour cream mixture, yeast mixture, and the egg. Combine well.

Add in the flour and knead until combined. Shape into a ball and place a cloth over the top. (You can also wrap the dough in plastic wrap.) Place the entire bowl in the fridge for 2 hours.

Remove the dough from the fridge after 2 hours and knead slightly. Roll out the dough onto a greased cookie sheet into a rectangle (about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick). Using a pizza cutter, cut slits about 3 inches long and one inch wide into each side of the dough.

Mix together the cream cheese (softened), 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar, and the vanilla extract. Stir until the sugar has melted into the cream cheese.

Spread the cream cheese evenly down the middle of the danish.

If you are using fresh apples, peel and slice the apples. (Granny Smith Apples work best but any tart apple will do.) In a saucepan, cook the apples over medium heat (with a little butter) until the apples are cooked. Add in the cinnamon and apple pie spice. If you are using canned apples you can simply add in the spices.

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Spread over the top of the cream cheese.

Use the side strips of the dough to create the braid over the top of the apples and cream cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees in the oven for 20 minutes or until the dough is turning brown on the top.

Enjoy warm! This would also taste yummy with a little glaze on top. Just mix a bit of powdered sugar with milk and drizzle it over the entire loaf. This recipe also freezes very well. Just bake and freeze in freezer bags.

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How to Store Leftover Apple Danish Braid

Place any leftovers in an airtight bag or airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days after baking.

This danish braid also freezes very well. You can freeze the entire baked product in a freezer bag (I like to cut in half and freeze in portions we can eat at one time). Or you can freeze the dough after making it but before baking it.

Allow either the baked frozen danish or the dough to come to room temperature before serving or before using in a recipe.

More Apple Recipes

• Canned Apple Pie Filling
• Recipes Using Canned Apples
• Canning Applesauce from Tart Apples
• Easy Homemade Apple Turnover Recipe

Merissa Alink

Merissa has been blogging about andliving the simple and frugal life on Little House Living since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from theContact Page.

This Apple Danish Braid Recipe was originally posted on Little House Living in October 2014. It has been updated as of October 2023.