Easy Puff Pastry Cheese Danish

Ingredients

• 1 sheet puff pastry , thawed
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 6 tablespoons fruit preserves
• fresh fruit , optional

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Unfold thawed puff pastry on the prepared sheet pan and cut into 6 equal rectangles. Score each rectangle about 1/2-inch from edges on all four sides, being careful not to cut all the way through the pastry. Prick the pastry all over inside the score marks with a fork.

3. 3

   In a small bowl, stir together cream cheese, sugar, milk, and lemon zest until mixture is smooth and sugar has dissolved.

4. 4

   Divide cream cheese mixture evenly among puff pastry rectangles. Using a small offset spatula or a dinner knife, spread the cream cheese mixture over pastry up to the scored edge. Top each pastry with 1 tablespoon fruit preserves; garnish with fresh fruit.

5. 5

   Bake in the center of the preheated oven until the crust is flaky and lightly browned, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove to cool on a rack for about 10 minutes.