Easy Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Danish Wreath: A Festive Holiday Breakfast Treat

Kickstart your holiday mornings with this delightful Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Danish Wreath! This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a stunning, bakery-worthy breakfast pastry that’s surprisingly easy to make. Featuring a sweet and tangy cherry pie filling nestled alongside a rich, creamy cream cheese mixture, all wrapped in flaky crescent roll dough, it’s topped with a luscious almond-infused icing that perfectly complements its festive flavors. Whether it’s for Christmas morning, a special brunch, or just a treat to brighten any day, this danish wreath promises a memorable and delicious experience.

Why This Easy Danish Wreath Recipe Will Become Your Favorite

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This Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Danish Wreath isn’t just a pretty face; it’s a smart choice for busy mornings when you want something special without all the fuss. The genius behind this recipe lies in its simplicity and the use of readily available ingredients that deliver incredible flavor and texture. Store-bought crescent rolls are the ultimate shortcut, providing a buttery, flaky base without the need for intricate pastry making. Combined with a vibrant cherry pie filling and a homemade cream cheese mixture, it creates a symphony of sweet, tart, and creamy notes in every bite.

What makes this particular recipe truly shine is its adaptability and festive presentation. While its wreath shape makes it perfect for the holidays, the ease of assembly means you can enjoy it year-round. It’s essentially a creative twist on our beloved candy cane danish, offering another beautifully shaped breakfast treat that’s ideal for sharing. Plus, the sweet almond drizzle ties all the elements together, adding an extra layer of gourmet flavor that feels indulgent. This recipe works because it balances convenience with impressive results, making you look like a pastry pro with minimal effort.

Essential Ingredients for Your Delicious Danish Wreath

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Crafting this stunning danish wreath requires a handful of common ingredients, most of which you likely already have in your pantry or can easily find at any grocery store. The beauty of this recipe is that it leverages convenience items, like crescent rolls and canned pie filling, while still delivering a homemade taste. For specific measurements and detailed instructions, you’ll find the complete printable recipe at the very end of this post.

Here’s a quick look at the stars of our show:

• Crescent Rolls: The foundation of our danish, providing a wonderfully flaky and buttery crust with minimal effort. Using two 8 oz cans ensures a generous wreath.
• Cherry Pie Filling: Offers a burst of sweet and tart fruit flavor that pairs beautifully with the creamy filling.
• Cream Cheese: The heart of the rich, smooth, and slightly tangy filling, providing a luxurious contrast to the fruit. Ensure it’s softened for easy blending.
• Granulated Sugar, Egg, and All-Purpose Flour: These combine with the cream cheese to create a perfectly balanced and stable filling. The egg adds richness and helps bind the mixture, while a touch of flour ensures it sets beautifully during baking.
• Powdered Sugar, Almond Extract, and Heavy Whipping Cream: The magical trio for our sweet and fragrant icing. The almond extract adds a sophisticated touch, but vanilla is a great alternative.

Gathering these simple ingredients is the first step toward creating a truly impressive and delicious breakfast pastry that will disappear fast!

Ingredient Insights & Creative Swaps

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Understanding your ingredients and knowing when and how to make substitutions can elevate your baking and adapt recipes to your personal taste or what you have on hand. For this Crescent Danish Wreath, the fillings and icing offer excellent opportunities for customization.

FILLING Customization: This recipe is designed with an approximate equal ratio of cherry pie filling to cream cheese filling, creating a perfectly balanced flavor profile. If you prefer a stronger cream cheese presence or a more subtle fruit layer, you can easily adjust the proportions. Feel free to use a slightly smaller amount of the cream cheese mixture, or conversely, slightly less cherry pie filling. The beauty of this recipe is its flexibility! Beyond cherries, the possibilities for fruit fillings are endless. Consider substituting the cherry pie filling with:

• Strawberry Pie Filling: For a classic, sweet, and bright flavor.
• Raspberry Pie Filling: Offers a delightful tartness that cuts through the sweetness of the cream cheese and icing.
• Blueberry Pie Filling: A popular choice that provides a comforting, juicy sweetness.
• Apple Pie Filling (chopped finely): Great for an autumn or winter-themed danish.
• Peach Pie Filling: For a taste of summer.
• Mixed Berry Pie Filling: Combines several fruit flavors for a complex and delicious result.

ICING Alternatives: The sweet almond-infused icing is a signature touch, adding a sophisticated flavor that truly makes this danish special. However, you have options if you want to modify it:

• Milk for Heavy Cream: If heavy cream isn’t available, or you prefer a lighter icing, regular milk can be used. Start by adding less than the recipe calls for, as milk is thinner than cream. Slowly whisk in small amounts until you achieve a smooth, drizzly consistency. Remember, it’s easier to add more liquid than to thicken it!
• Vanilla Extract instead of Almond: While almond extract provides a unique, bakery-style depth of flavor, vanilla extract is a fantastic and widely loved substitute. It will give the icing a classic sweet aroma that pairs wonderfully with any fruit filling. You can use the same quantity of vanilla extract as almond extract.
• Citrus Zest: For an extra bright flavor, a hint of lemon or orange zest can be added to the icing. It complements fruit fillings beautifully and adds a fresh zing.

These simple adjustments allow you to tailor the danish wreath to your specific preferences, ensuring a delightful treat every time.

Step-by-Step: Crafting Your Crescent Danish Wreath

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These step-by-step photos and instructions are designed to help you visualize each stage of making this incredible recipe. For the complete printable version, including all measurements and detailed instructions, simply Jump to Recipe at the bottom of this post.

1. Prepare Your Pan and Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures even baking from the start. Lightly grease a large pizza pan or line it with parchment paper. Parchment paper is highly recommended as it prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze, ensuring your beautiful wreath lifts off easily.
2. Whip Up the Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, room temperature egg, and all-purpose flour. Using a hand mixer, beat these ingredients together until the mixture is completely smooth, light, and fluffy. This creamy consistency is crucial for a luscious filling.
   
3. Form the Crescent Roll Base: Carefully remove the crescent rolls from their packaging. Separate each roll along its pre-cut perforations to form individual triangles. Arrange these triangles on your prepared pizza pan in a circular pattern. Position the wider base of each triangle towards the center of the pan, overlapping them slightly. This arrangement will create a sun-like shape with an empty circle in the middle, forming the foundation of your wreath.
4. Seal the Dough: Using your fingers, gently press together the overlapping edges of the crescent roll triangles. This step is important to create a continuous, smooth dough base that will hold all the delicious fillings and prevent them from leaking out during baking.
5. Add the Cherry Pie Filling: Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly around the base of the crescent roll wreath, staying just inside the inner edge of your pressed dough. Distribute it generously for maximum cherry flavor.
   
6. Layer with Cream Cheese Mixture: Now, carefully scoop the fluffy cream cheese mixture over the cherry pie filling. Use the back of a spoon to gently spread it, ensuring an even layer that covers the cherries. This creates a beautiful two-layered filling.
   
7. Shape the Wreath: Take the pointed end of each crescent roll triangle and gently fold it over the cherry and cream cheese fillings. Bring the tip back towards the center of the wreath. Tuck the end of the dough beneath the inner ring of the wreath, pinching the dough together firmly to seal the filling inside. This creates the signature “wreath” effect and keeps everything neatly contained as it bakes.
   
   
8. Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the pizza pan with your danish wreath into the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until the crescent rolls achieve a beautiful, deep golden brown color. This indicates that the dough is cooked through and flaky.
9. Cool Completely: Once baked, remove the danish wreath from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool down entirely. This step is critical; if you attempt to ice it while warm, the icing will simply melt and run off, creating a messy rather than elegant finish. Patience is key here!
10. Prepare and Drizzle the Icing: While the wreath cools, prepare the sweet almond icing. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, almond extract, and heavy cream. Continue whisking until the mixture is perfectly smooth and has a consistency suitable for drizzling. If it’s too thick, add a tiny bit more cream; if too thin, a small amount of powdered sugar can help. Once the wreath is fully cooled, generously drizzle the icing over the top. This final touch adds both beauty and an extra layer of deliciousness.
    
    

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Success

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Pro Tips for a Perfect Danish Wreath Every Time:

• Pan Choice Matters: I prefer using a cast iron pizza pan for its even heat distribution, which helps create a beautifully golden crust. If you’re using a lighter weight aluminum pizza pan, keep a close eye on your danish; it might cook a bit faster. The key is to bake until the top is a deep golden brown, which ensures the bottom layer of dough is perfectly cooked through.
• Cooling is Crucial: Do not skip the cooling step before icing! If the danish is still warm, your beautifully drizzled icing will melt and run off, making for a less appealing presentation and taste. Allow it to cool completely on a wire rack.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: For the cream cheese filling, ensure your cream cheese and egg are at room temperature. This helps them blend smoothly and prevents lumps, resulting in a perfectly creamy filling.
• Almond Crunch (Optional): For an added layer of flavor and texture, sprinkle some toasted, sliced almonds over the icing just after drizzling. The nutty crunch perfectly complements the sweet and creamy danish.
• Icing Consistency: When making the icing, gradually add the heavy cream (or milk). This allows you to control the consistency precisely. You want it thick enough to drizzle beautifully but not so thick that it’s hard to work with.

Delightful Serving Suggestions for Your Danish Wreath

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While we initially crafted this delightful crescent danish wreath with festive holiday mornings in mind, its versatile flavors and easy preparation make it a perfect treat to enjoy any time of the year. Imagine a cozy Sunday morning, a special family brunch, or simply a sweet accompaniment to your afternoon coffee or tea. This danish is a true crowd-pleaser that fits seamlessly into various occasions.

For a truly exceptional experience, serve it warm from the oven. The slight warmth enhances the flaky texture of the crescent rolls and brings out the aromatic sweetness of the fillings. Pair a slice with a steaming cup of your favorite coffee, a soothing herbal tea, or a glass of cold milk. To make it even more indulgent, consider placing a small bowl of extra cherry pie filling or a dollop of additional almond icing in the center of the wreath for dipping. This adds an interactive element that guests, especially children, will adore.

Don’t limit yourself to cherry! As mentioned, swapping out the pie filling allows you to create variations for different seasons or preferences. A blueberry version would be fantastic for summer picnics, while an apple or pumpkin pie filling could make a wonderful addition to fall gatherings. No matter your choice, always remember the sweet, almond-infused icing – it’s the finishing touch that brings all the flavors into perfect harmony!

More Irresistible Breakfast Recipes to Try

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If you loved this easy danish wreath, you’ll surely enjoy exploring more of our delicious breakfast and brunch creations. From hearty casseroles to sweet cakes, we have a variety of recipes that are perfect for starting your day on a high note or impressing guests at your next get-together.

• French Toast Casserole
• Blueberry Breakfast Cake
• Sheet Pan Breakfast Pizza
• Cranberry Cream Cheese Pastries
• Breakfast Casserole with Ham and Cheese
• Bread Pudding

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