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Last Updated on April 11, 2025 by Melanie
Apple Cream Cheese Braid Danish – A tender apple danish with cream cheese filling. This braid is beautiful for a brunch or dessert buffet. A stunning dessert that’s perfect for fall.
I love day dreaming about food. It’s fun. Try it some time if you never have.
I love dreaming up plans for what’s in season. Now this is by no means some radically new concoction. But I made up this sweet dough and couldn’t wait to pair it with apples and cream cheese for fall.
If the thought of a braid intimidates you don’t let it. I used to look at recipes like this and think no way. But it’s much easier than it looks. I promise.
Just promise that you’ll use well-floured parchment or a silicone mat so it won’t stick on you. Because then you might just want to throw in a ball and hurl it at the wall. It’s not like I’ve ever wanted to do that with dough before. *wink*
I’m not usually a danish type girl. But when I do think of danish I think of….You know that stuff that starts with and E* and comes in a blue and white box at the grocery store. Decent stuff but I don’t buy it. I’ve had it before though.
This ended up being so much better than even in my day dream. So much better than E*.
I’m hooked. I’m already dreaming up what else I can combine it with or how to switch it up.
This apple cream cheese braid danish oozes with cinnamony goodness. Yup. There goes spell check. Cinnamony isn’t even a word. C’mon how is that possible?
Appley – Cinnamony – Cream Cheesy goodness. Oh cheesy is a word. Good. One out of three ain’t bad. Don’t tell anyone that I just used words that aren’t words.
Love you all!
Thanks for stopping by!
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Apple Cream Cheese Braid Danish
- Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
- Yield: 1 large braid 1x
Ingredients
Sweet dough
- 6 Tablespoons butter (softened)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk (not skim- I used 2%)
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 1/4 - 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg (lightly beaten)
Apple filling
- 2 medium-large apples (peeled and chopped)
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 3 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
Cream cheese filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Vanilla Drizzle (optional)
- 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 5 5 1/2 teaspoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
Dough:
- Heat butter, sugar, water and milk to 120F.
- Combine 2 cups flour, salt and yeast in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center. Add butter mixture. Mix in additional 1/2 cup flour and egg. Knead on low speed for about 7-8 minutes scraping down bowl as needed. Add additional 1/2 cup of flour while kneading if necessary. Dough should be smooth.
- Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise for about an hour or until doubled in bulk.
Apple Filling:
- Meanwhile, over low heat combine apples, butter, sugar, cinnamon and cornstarch. Heat until apples are softened, about 5-7 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- In a small bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and lemon juice. Mix until smooth.
- After dough has doubled in bulk. On floured parchment or silicone mat roll out dough into a large rectangle about 12 x 10.
Cream Cheese:
- Spread cream cheese filling down the center. Arrange apple mixture on top.
- Using a pizza cutter cut diagonally from end of dough towards center in 1 inch strips. Do this on both sides.
- Starting on one side of the braid pull one strip up and over the braid. Repeat with the other side. Continue alternating until braid is complete.
- Cover loosely with plastic. Let rise for about 30-40 minutes.
- Bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes or until braid is golden brown.
Drizzle
- Combine powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Drizzle over braid. Serve warm or allow to cool and then serve. Delicious either way.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
Inspiration from: Baking Illustrated
Melanie, I am drooling over here! I’ve tried making braided things like this before and have always failed miserably. I’ll have to try the parchment paper + flour trick and see if I can get the dough to behave 🙂
Thanks for stopping by. I do hope you’ll give it another try and that it works out for you!
When I try to rolled out my dough and it doesn’t behave, I just let the dough rest for another
5 to 8 minutes. After that it is easier to handle.
Great tip. I think that makes a huge tip. Thanks for sharing Maria!
This Danish looks like a work of art. Just want to reach in to my screen and grab a piece 🙂
Thanks for your kind words. So glad you stopped by!
This is such a beautiful danish! It will be great to serve anytime, but especially to those we love for a special breakfast during the holidays!
Thanks Robyn! Such a privilege to have you stop by! Special breakfast sounds great.
This looks so beautiful and I cant wait to try! Looks so delicious! I am glad I stopped by from wake up Wednesday!
Thanks! I’m so glad you stopped by too. My first time to wake up Wednesday! 🙂
Wow! This braid is absolutely stunning. And those apples look so dreamy in their cream cheese bed! I’m totally drooling… And I love daydreaming about food too! It’s by far my favorite part of blogging! Gorgeous post, dear!
Thanks Allie! I have to agree, best part of blogging. Glad you’re here!
This is gorgeous!
Thanks Ashley!
This is gorgeous! I daydream about food all the time, too. (=
Thanks Gloria! I’m glad you stopped by today. 🙂
it looks delish!
Thanks Dina!
Hi Melanie. Thanks so much for linking up this delicious Apple Cream Cheese Braid Danish to my Sweet Wednesday Link Party! Beautiful pictures, great job!
Have a Sweet Day.
Heather
MySweetMission.net
It was my first time. Glad I could be a part of it! Thanks so much for doing the link party!
I love day dreaming about food and thinking of new recipes I’d like to try too! It’s such a fun way to spend the time 😉 This danish looks amazing, I love apples and cream cheese together!
I know. It’s so fun, right? Thanks Consuelo!
Your braid looks absolutely beautiful! It looks like it came from a bakery! And it sounds so delicious!
Thanks Maria! Glad you stopped by!
Hi! This looks REALLY great – I’ve been making something like it for years – mine has a cinnamon, brown sugar, butter filling. Love the cream cheese and apple though. One question – do the apples get soft in that length of baking time? Thanks!
That sounds delicious too Debbie! In step 4 you’ll see the apples are cooked over low heat for a few minutes to soften them up first. Hope you get a change to try it.
Melanie- this danish bread looks so good. At Christmas I make something like this, and definitely got some ideas from you. I pinned. Nice to see you at the Weekend Retreat Link Party. Just popping by to say hi and see what you’re up to. I would love it if you would drop over for a visit at http://www.kneadedcreations.com Deb @ Kneaded Creations
Thanks Deb! Nice for you stop by. I’m glad you were able to get some new ideas! 🙂
Wow! Absolutely beautiful pictures! You make it look so easy and delicious! Pinning and going to give this one a try! 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Show Stopper Saturday!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
Thanks for your kind words Krista! I’m glad to be a part of Show Stopper Saturday.
Step 1: Heat butter, sugar, WATER and milk. That ingredient isn’t mentioned. How much water?
Sorry for that error. I can’t believe no one else caught that. Thank you. Hope you get a chance to make it!
One of my FAVOURITE recipes, it is such a lovely way to use the apples from our tree. So yummy, looks fancy but is a relatively simple process. Haven’t ever had someone not like it. My husband and kids have dairy allergies so I make it for family get together so I won’t eat it all by myself ☺️
Thanks Katrina! So glad to hear that this is one of your favorites.
I’m thankful you took the time to leave your feedback. Come back soon!
I have been making this recipe for years, it is one of our favourites and whenever I bring it to share with others everyone always loves it! Thank you so much for sharing it! 💗💗
That’s awesome. Thank you for the excellent feedback. Greatly appreciated!