Easy Gluten-Free Cheese Danish Pastries (20 Minutes Prep)

13 Reviews
Published Aug 18, 2020 ∙ Kristina Stosek

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This gluten-free cheese Danish recipe lets you skip the bakery and make flaky, buttery pastries at home. With just 20 minutes of hands-on prep and no complicated rolling, folding, or shaping, these tender, soft Danish pastries are filled with creamy cream cheese and your favorite jam.

3 Gluten-Free Cheese Danish pastries with 3 jars of jam in the background

 

Recipe Highlights

  • Only 20 minutes of hands-on prep
  • No rolling or folding the dough
  • Soft, buttery, lightly flaky pastry
  • Creamy cream cheese filling with your favorite jam
  • Easy enough for beginner bakers
  • Freezer-friendly and great for make-ahead breakfasts

What Makes This Gluten-Free Danish Recipe So Easy?

Traditional Danish pastry requires repeatedly rolling and folding butter into the dough to create flaky layers. This simplified gluten-free version skips those extra steps while still delivering a light, tender pastry.

Instead of rolling the dough, you’ll simply fold small cubes of frozen butter into the risen dough, scoop it onto a baking sheet, add the filling, and bake. It’s an easy technique that creates buttery pockets throughout the pastry with a fraction of the work.

gluten free cheese danish on a baking sheet before baking

Tips For The Best Gluten-Free Cheese Danish

  • Measure flour using a kitchen scale (best results), or the spoon-and-level method.
  • Keep the butter frozen until ready to use.
  • Don’t overmix after adding the butter cubes.
  • Lightly oil your fingers before shaping the wells.
  • Bake until lightly golden rather than deeply browned.

 

Ingredient Notes

Gluten-free all-purpose flour – Use a quality gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum for the best texture.

Arrowroot starch – Creates a lighter, more tender pastry.

Rapid-rise yeast – Gives the pastries their soft, airy texture.

Frozen butter – The key to creating flaky layers without traditional pastry techniques.

Cream cheese – Full-fat cream cheese creates the richest filling.

Jam – Apricot, raspberry, strawberry, cherry, or plum all work beautifully.

two bites taken out of a cheese danish

Gluten-Free Cheese Danish Filling Ideas

The classic cream cheese filling pairs well with almost any fruit preserve. Try raspberry, strawberry, cherry, apricot, blueberry, or plum jam, or switch things up with lemon curd. For extra texture, sprinkle sliced almonds over the filling before baking or add a few fresh blueberries to each Danish.

If you want to try something a little more out there, you could also go for apple slices, caramelized onions, or even chocolate. 

How to Store and Reheat Gluten-Free Cheese Danish

Store leftover Danish pastries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat in a 300°F oven for 5–7 minutes or microwave for 15–20 seconds.

Freeze for up to 2 months.

And, if you love this gluten-free cheese danish, you’ll definitely want to try my gluten-free apricot danish coffee cake next—it’s another easy, delicious dessert that’s perfect for any occasion!

gluten free cheese danish with raspberry jam and lemon glaze

More Gluten-Free Pastry Recipes to Try

If you love these gluten-free cheese danishes, try more homemade gluten-free pastries and desserts. These Gluten-Free French Pastry Cheese Cups are an easy way to enjoy a delicate pastry with a creamy filling, while Gluten-Free Puff Pastry Spinach Cheese Cups are a savory option perfect for brunch. For a fruit-filled treat, try the Rustic Gluten-Free Blackberry Peach Galette, or enjoy the creamy, cake-like texture of the Gluten-Free Danish Apple Ricotta Cake.

Hi, I’m Kristina, a gluten-free recipe developer creating and testing recipes since 2012. Every recipe on this site is made in my kitchen and personally tested (with the help of my very honest family!).

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Easy Gluten-Free Cheese Danish Pastries (20 Minutes Prep)

13 reviews
Published Aug 18, 2020 · Kristina Stosek
Prep Time:
20 min
Cooking Time:
18 min
Serves:
10

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups (333 g) gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
1/4 (36 g) cup arrowroot starch
1/3 cup sugar or sweetener of choice
2 tsp. GF Rapid rise yeast
1 tsp. GF baking powder
2 large eggs at room temperature, whisked
1/2 cup warm milk (120 F)
10 Tbsp. salted butter, divided
1 tsp. Fresh lemon juice
FILLING
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 large egg, at room temperature, separated
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup your favorite jam (options on the blog)
LEMON GLAZE (OPTIONAL)
1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
1 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, or as needed for desired consistency

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, arrowroot starch, coconut sugar, yeast, and baking powder. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter and place the remaining butter in the freezer. Add the eggs, warm milk, melted butter, and lemon juice to the dry ingredients and mix until a soft, sticky dough forms. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
  2. Add the butter: Cut the frozen butter into small cubes and gently fold them into the risen dough.
  3. Shape the danishes: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a large cookie scoop, divide the dough into 10 portions and place them about 2 inches apart. Lightly oil your fingers and press a well into the center of each mound.
  4. Add the filling: Beat the cream cheese, egg yolk, and coconut sugar until smooth. Spoon the filling into each well and top with your choice of jam. Whisk the remaining egg white and brush it over the exposed dough.
  5. Bake: Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the danishes are lightly golden.
  6. Glaze (optional): Whisk the lemon juice and powdered sugar until smooth, then drizzle over the cooled pastries

Nutrition Info

  • Per serving: Calories: 290 | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 18g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g Sodium: 850 mg | Note: These values are estimates and can vary based on specific brands. Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Comments

  1. Kathy

    omg I love pastries, this recipe looks super easy! I will try to make it and let you know how it turns out. Thank you Kathy

  2. Kristina

    yes, please let me know how they turn out. Kristina

  3. Melissa

    How small do you cut the cubes of frozen butter?

  4. Kristina

    about 1/4 - 1/2 inch

  5. Sonja

    Just made these danishes, I am very happy with how they turned out, I have tried other gluten free cheese danishes and they did not make the cut. Thank you thank you!!!

  6. Kristina

    Thank you for letting me know Sonja! I always love feedback

  7. kiki

    can I make the danishes without dairy?

  8. Kristina

    yes absolutely, you can use dairy-free milk and dairy-free cheese or use just jam.

  9. Juliah. H

    omg I can’t believe how easy this danish recipe is and the texture is so good! Thank you, keep up the excellent work

  10. Kristina

    Thank you Juliah

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