Easy Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Danish Wreath: The Perfect Holiday Breakfast

Imagine a delightful breakfast pastry that’s as beautiful as it is delicious, a true showstopper for your holiday mornings. This Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Danish Wreath is exactly that – an effortless yet elegant treat perfect for Christmas morning, festive brunches, or any special occasion. Combining the flakiness of crescent rolls with a sweet cherry pie filling and a creamy, tangy cream cheese mixture, all crowned with a delicate almond-infused icing, this danish wreath is designed to impress with minimal fuss. It’s not just a recipe; it’s an experience that brings warmth and cheer to your table.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Crescent Danish Wreath

This recipe for a Cherry Cream Cheese Danish Wreath truly stands out for several reasons. It brings together simple, readily available ingredients to create a breakfast pastry that tastes gourmet. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the impressive result. You’re essentially transforming humble crescent rolls into a festive, elegant danish that looks like it took hours to prepare, but actually comes together in a flash.

The combination of tart cherry pie filling, rich and creamy sweetened cream cheese, and buttery, flaky crescent dough is a match made in heaven. Each bite offers a delightful contrast of textures and flavors. The final touch of a sweet almond glaze elevates the entire experience, complementing the fruit and cheese beautifully. This wreath shape isn’t just for aesthetics; it also makes serving a breeze, allowing guests to easily pull off their own portion.

The Magic of Crescent Rolls for Quick Danish

One of the biggest advantages of this recipe is the use of store-bought crescent rolls. This shortcut eliminates the need for making homemade pastry dough, which can be time-consuming and intimidating for many home bakers. Crescent rolls bake up golden, flaky, and tender, providing the perfect base for our sweet fillings. They are incredibly versatile and allow you to create impressive baked goods with minimal effort, making this an ideal easy danish recipe for busy mornings or when you want a delicious treat without the fuss.

A Flavorful Combination Perfect for Holidays

While often associated with Christmas due to its wreath shape, this danish is a fantastic addition to any holiday table, from Easter brunch to a Mother’s Day treat. It offers a beautiful presentation that instantly brightens any spread. The vibrant red of the cherry filling peeking through the golden crust, topped with a delicate white icing, makes it visually stunning. It’s a wonderful alternative to traditional cinnamon rolls or coffee cakes, offering a fresh and festive option that everyone will adore. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to enjoy a warm, homemade pastry without the bakery price tag.

Essential Ingredients for Your Delicious Danish

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating this delectable Cherry Cream Cheese Danish Wreath. Most of these items are likely already staples in your pantry or can be easily found at any grocery store. The beauty of this recipe lies in its accessibility, proving that you don’t need fancy components to achieve a spectacular result. Make sure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature for the smoothest filling, and have all your measurements ready before you begin for a seamless baking experience.

Ingredient Deep Dive & Smart Substitutions

The Filling: Sweet Cherry & Tangy Cream Cheese

This Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Danish Wreath boasts a generous filling that balances sweetness with a delightful tang. The original recipe calls for a classic combination of cherry pie filling and a cream cheese mixture. This balance creates a rich and satisfying interior that pairs perfectly with the light, flaky crust. For the cream cheese, make sure it’s fully softened to avoid lumps and ensure a smooth, fluffy texture when mixed with sugar, egg, and flour. The flour helps to stabilize the filling, preventing it from becoming too runny during baking.

Substitution Suggestions for the Filling: While cherry is a classic choice for this festive wreath, don’t hesitate to customize it! Feel free to substitute the cherry pie filling with your favorite fruit varieties. Strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, or even apple pie filling would work wonderfully, allowing you to tailor the danish to your personal taste or the season. If you prefer a less sweet danish, you can slightly reduce the granulated sugar in the cream cheese filling. Also, while the recipe suggests equal parts cherry and cream cheese, you can adjust the ratio to your liking – more cream cheese for a richer taste or more fruit for a burst of flavor.

The Dough: Versatile Crescent Rolls

The foundation of this easy danish is refrigerated crescent roll dough. This convenience product is a game-changer for quick baking, providing a buttery, flaky base without the extensive work of traditional pastry. Look for full-sized, eight-count cans of crescent rolls for the best results in forming the wreath shape.

Tips for Working with Crescent Rolls: Keep the dough chilled until you’re ready to use it, as cold dough is easier to handle. When laying out the triangles, ensure there’s a slight overlap to create a continuous base, which will prevent the filling from leaking out during baking.

The Icing: Almond Bliss

The almond-infused icing is the perfect finishing touch, adding a layer of sweetness and a hint of sophisticated flavor that complements the cherry and cream cheese. Made with powdered sugar, almond extract, and heavy cream, it creates a smooth, drizzly glaze.

Icing Substitution Suggestions: If almond isn’t your preference, you can easily substitute the almond extract with vanilla extract for a more traditional flavor. For the liquid, while heavy cream provides a rich, opaque icing, milk (any fat percentage) can be used as a substitute. If using milk, start with a smaller amount than the recipe calls for, as milk is thinner than cream. Add it slowly, a teaspoon at a time, mixing until you achieve your desired drizzling consistency. The goal is a glaze that flows smoothly but isn’t watery.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Crescent Danish Wreath

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a large pizza pan by greasing it or lining it with parchment paper. This ensures easy removal and clean-up.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, room temperature egg, and all-purpose flour. Beat these ingredients together using a hand mixer or a whisk until the mixture is completely smooth and appears light and fluffy. This creates a beautifully creamy filling.
Carefully remove the crescent rolls from their packaging and separate them into individual pre-cut triangles. Arrange these triangles on your prepared pizza pan to form a large circle or wreath shape. Position the wider end of each triangle towards the center of the pan, overlapping them slightly. This arrangement will resemble a sun with rays, leaving an open circle in the middle.
Using your fingers, gently press together the overlapping sections of the crescent roll triangles. This creates a seamless and sturdy base for your danish wreath, ensuring the fillings stay put.
Evenly spoon the cherry pie filling around the base of the crescent roll wreath, creating a flavorful ring on the dough.
Next, carefully spoon or dollop the cream cheese mixture over the cherry pie filling. Distribute it evenly to ensure every bite of the danish is filled with both flavors.
To form the wreath, take the pointed end of each crescent roll triangle and gently fold it over the fillings, tucking it under the center of the ring. Pinch the dough together firmly to seal the filling inside and maintain the wreath shape.
Bake the danish wreath for 20-25 minutes, or until the crescent rolls are puffed up and achieve a beautiful deep golden brown color. This indicates that the dough is thoroughly cooked and flaky.
Once baked, remove the wreath from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack. It’s crucial to let the danish cool completely before applying the icing. If you ice it while warm, the icing will melt and run off, making a mess.
While the wreath cools, prepare the icing. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, almond extract, and heavy cream. Continue whisking until the mixture is completely smooth and has a consistent, drizzly texture. If the icing is too thick, add a tiny bit more cream; if too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Pro Baking Tips for the Perfect Danish Wreath

Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your cream cheese and egg are at room temperature. This helps them combine smoothly with other ingredients, creating a homogeneous and lump-free filling.
Don’t Overfill: While it’s tempting to load up on filling, be mindful not to overfill your crescent rolls. Too much filling can make it difficult to seal the dough and may cause leakage during baking.
Seal Tightly: After spooning in the fillings, take extra care to pinch the crescent dough together tightly when folding it over. This creates a secure package for the delicious interior.
Golden Brown is Key: Bake until the dough is a deep golden brown. This ensures that the bottom layer of the crescent rolls is fully cooked through and wonderfully flaky, not just the top.
Cool Completely Before Icing: This tip is crucial! Warm danish will melt the icing, resulting in a runny, messy glaze. Patience here is key for that beautiful, set drizzle.
Add a Crunch: For an extra layer of texture and flavor, consider sprinkling toasted, sliced almonds over the top of the icing once it’s set. This adds a lovely crunch and enhances the almond flavor.

Can I use a different filling?

Absolutely! While cherry is traditional and delicious, you can get creative with your fillings. Strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, or blueberry pie filling are all excellent substitutes. You could even try a mixed berry blend for a different twist. Just ensure it’s a prepared pie filling for the best consistency.

How do I store this crescent danish wreath?

To maintain its freshness and flavor, store the danish wreath in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh and delicious for 4-5 days. If you’ve added an icing, it might soften slightly in the fridge, but the flavors will still be great.

Can I make this ahead of time?

For the best results, it’s recommended to assemble and bake the danish wreath just before you plan to serve it. However, you can prepare the cream cheese filling and have your pie filling ready in advance. Store the cream cheese mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The morning you plan to bake, simply roll out your crescent dough, assemble, and bake. This ensures the flakiest crust and freshest taste.

Serving Suggestions: Elevate Your Danish Experience

This Cherry Cream Cheese Danish Wreath is inherently special, but a few thoughtful serving suggestions can elevate it even further. While it’s absolutely perfect on its own, especially with a cup of freshly brewed coffee or a soothing tea, you can enhance the experience for a truly memorable breakfast or brunch.

Consider serving it warm from the oven to enjoy the full flaky texture of the crescent rolls and the gooey, rich fillings. For an extra touch of indulgence, place a small bowl of additional cherry pie filling or extra almond icing in the center of the wreath for dipping. This adds an interactive element and allows everyone to customize their sweetness level. A sprinkle of fresh berries, like raspberries or blueberries, can also add a pop of color and freshness, especially if you’re serving it for a spring brunch.

Don’t limit this delightful pastry to just holiday mornings. Its versatility means it’s equally at home at a casual weekend breakfast, a thoughtful dessert, or even as a light snack throughout the day. The bright, fruity notes combined with the creamy cheese and sweet pastry make it a crowd-pleaser for any gathering, big or small.

More Delightful Breakfast & Brunch Recipes

If you loved this easy and delicious danish wreath, you’re in for a treat! Here are more fantastic breakfast and brunch recipes that are sure to become family favorites:

French Toast Casserole: A make-ahead favorite perfect for feeding a crowd.
Blueberry Breakfast Cake: Moist, fruity, and perfect with your morning coffee.
Sheet Pan Breakfast Pizza: A fun and customizable way to serve breakfast.
Cranberry Cream Cheese Pastries: Another easy pastry using refrigerated dough.
Breakfast Casserole with Ham and Cheese: A savory, hearty option to balance out the sweets.
Bread Pudding: Comforting and versatile, a classic for a reason.

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Crescent Danish Wreath

This festive Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Danish Wreath is an easy Christmas morning breakfast or holiday brunch idea, featuring flaky crescent rolls, a sweet cherry pie filling, tangy cream cheese, and a delightful almond glaze.

5 from 2 votes

IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

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Course: Breakfast, Brunch

Cuisine: American

Servings: 16 servings

40 mins

Calories: 279

Author: Amanda Davis

Ingredients

16 oz crescent rolls (2 8 oz cans, 8 count each)
21 oz cherry pie filling
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg (room temperature)
¼ cup all purpose flour

Icing

¾ cup powdered sugar
½ tsp almond extract (or vanilla extract)
2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream (2-3 Tbsp, adjust for consistency)

Things You’ll Need

Hand mixer
Large pizza pan

Before You Begin

You can use a smaller portion of the cream cheese filling if you want a smaller ratio. As written, this recipe yields a danish with approximately equal parts cherry and cream cheese filling.
Milk can be substituted for the cream in the icing – use less as the icing will be thinner. Add slowly until desired consistency is reached.
It’s important to cool the wreath completely before icing or the icing will just run off the pan completely.
I used a cast iron pizza pan. A lightweight pizza pan may cook the wreath a bit more quickly. Cooking until the top is a deep golden brown helps to ensure that the bottom layer of dough is cooked through as well.
Top with toasted, sliced almonds for extra flavor and a bit of crunch.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease or line a large pizza pan with parchment paper.
In a medium mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, sugar, egg, and flour until smooth and fluffy.
Remove crescent rolls from packaging and separate into pre-cut triangles. With the wide side of each triangle toward the center of the pan, overlap crescent rolls to form a circle – it will look like a large sunshine with an empty circle in the middle.
Use your fingers to press together the triangles where they overlap to form a smooth base.
Drop cherry pie filling by the spoonful around the base of the wreath.
Scoop the cream cheese mixture over the cherry pie filling.
Wrap the pointed end of each crescent roll over the fillings and back toward the center of the wreath, tucking the end beneath the ring and pinching the dough together.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the crescent rolls are a deep golden brown.
Cool completely.
When the wreath is cooled, whisk together powdered sugar, almond extract, and heavy cream. Whisk until smooth and a good consistency for drizzling. Add more cream as needed to achieve desired consistency.

Nutrition

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The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.