Fresh-Picked Strawberry Danish

Strawberry Danish

The secret of great fruit tarts and danishes? Great fruit, of course. If you have great stuff, it’s not all that complicated. Take out some stored dough, and just a little more effort gets you a great dessert. My family and some friends visited Sam Kedem Nursery Garden, near Hastings, Minnesota, where we heard they had perfect strawberries ready for picking (they’re on to raspberries now). So we are well stocked with great strawberries.

Strawberry Danish

1 1/2 pound piece of Brioche or Challah from New Artisan

Cream Cheese Filling
6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
pinch salt
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg

1 pound strawberries, sliced thin

Powdered Sugar Icing
1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons water

For the filling
In the bowl of stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the cream cheese on medium until completely smooth. Add the sugar, salt, zest, and vanilla, and mix on medium until combined. Add the egg, and mix again on medium until combined.

For the icing
Put the powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Add 2 tablespoons water, and mix until combined. If the icing is too thick, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.

Roll out the dough into a rectangle about 1/8-inch thick. Spread with a thin layer of the cream cheese filling, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Add sliced strawberries in a single layer.

Strawverry Danish

Roll it up from the long end…

Strawberry Danish

… and place it on a Silpat, greased cookie sheet, or parchment paper, and allow to rest for 40 minutes. Brush with egg wash (one egg mixed with 1 tablespoon of water), then sprinkle with a little sugar. Make snips in the top with a kitchen shears.

Strawberry Danish

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 to 30 minutes. You can bake on an outdoor gas grill as well (click here for posts on rustic fruit tart, or brioche, both done outside.

Strawberry Danish

Let the Strawberry Danish cool slightly, then add the icing to the top. Cut into pieces and serve.

Strawberry Danish

81 thoughts to “Fresh-Picked Strawberry Danish”

  1. I am so going to make it this afternoon with the last of my sweet home-grown strawberries! ooh yes! The end result screamsd: eat a big piece right now! Lovely! xxxx

  2. Another fruit can be use on this recipe? I have gorgeous figs from my backyard that I will love to use!

  3. This was delicious and easy! I even did a couple of dumb things that messed it up a little, but it was still super yummy and I will definitely be making again!

  4. Do you think this would work with rhubarb? I am always looking for ways to use my rhubarb!

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