Breakfast and brunch just got easier! This 30-minute (including bake time!), five-ingredient cinnamon roll Cherry Danish checks all the boxes! Fruit, pastry, and icing: who could ask for more?!
Growing up, our family’s Christmas mornings always started with breakfast. (Breakfast that was more dessert, but still…) Since we were up at a ridiculously early hour each year, my mom’s go-to breakfast had to be quick. (Especially because everyone was anxious to get to the presents!) Every year that I can remember, we had canned cinnamon and orange rolls with a from-scratch Orange Julius smoothie.
We loved the cinnamon rolls and raved over the smoothie. And, I still love both of them to this day!
While there is nothing quite like a hot, fresh-out-of-the-oven, from-scratch cinnamon roll, the canned ones aren’t too bad. Especially considering they require much less effort than the from-scratch ones…
And that is just what these are — sugared cream cheese + cherry pie filling served on top of cinnamon rolls. These “cheater” quick cherry danishes are CRAZY good. And equally straightforward!
I use fruit filling and topping (AKA canned pie filling) for these danishes — spoon a tablespoon of the mixture over the cinnamon rolls and these are ready to be thrown into the oven. The cherry topping makes these danishes not only so pretty and festive for Christmas, but also completely changes the flavors and textures in all the best ways.
Cherry Danish Ingredients
This recipe is super straightforward and needs just a handful of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to make an amazing breakfast–or even serve it for dessert!
Cinnamon rolls: Nothing fancy here, just the refrigerated ones from the dairy case. They often come in a cardboard tube, and include a packet of icing that helps finish these treats off with a bang!
Cream cheese: For the most impressive results, pull out the stops and use the best: full-fat, brick-style cream cheese. Whipped cream cheese won’t work well–the air that’s beaten into it will flatten and get gooey. And why sacrifice flavor with reduced-fat versions? This decadent treat will never win any healthy nutrition contests, so just relax and enjoy a lively splurge!
Cherry pie filling: You’llfindpiefillinginthebakingaisleofmoststores. In my opinion,cherry is the reliable flavor for these danishes, but certainly apple, blueberry, and peach might be worth considering!
The unsung hero ingredients: You’ll also need some sugar and vanilla for your Cherry Danishes. Vanilla adds a very subtle touch that rounds out the flavor profile, and sugar softens the tang of the cream cheese.
How to Make This Cherry Danish Recipe
It is satisfying to the basic, yet utterly spectacular process of making Cherry Danishes for a breakfast treat. It’s so simple that older kids can help whip this together. And (hint, hint) kids who have mastered baking skills could easily make this for a breakfast-in-bed treat for parents!
Unroll the dough: If the cinnamon rolls are packaged in a cardboard tube, give it a crack on the edge of a counter to open it. Then remove each roll, or unroll the group of them (depending) and place on a baking sheet, leaving space for expansion between each roll. Make sure to line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner, since the topping is likely to drip a bit. You’ll thank me at cleanup time!
Make the cream cheese filling: Combine the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla; stir until smooth.
Indent the dough: Use a spoon to create a little divot in each roll. This will be where we load in the scrumptious topping!
Layer on the filling: Add a dollop (a tablespoon or so) of the cream cheese mixture to the indentation on each roll. Follow with a tablespoon or so of cherry pie filling.
Bake, cool, and then drizzle: Bake the rolls according to package directions, for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Drizzle each Cherry Danish with the icing that accompanies the cinnamon rolls. If your rolls didn’t come with icing, you can make some easily by mixing a bit of powdered sugar with enough milk to make a drizzling consistency.
Serve: These Cherry Danish cinnamon rolls are best served when they’re still warm and gooey. Leftovers are nowhere near as tasty, but if you do have a few to spare, store them in a covered, airtight container at room temperature. These morsels do not freeze well.
More Breakfast Treats:
- Chocolate Chip Pancakes
- Strawberry Scones
- Monkey Bread
- Cronuts
- French Toast Sticks
