Cream-Filled Danish Rolls (Quick Puff Pastry Version)
Introduction
These Cream-Filled Danish Rolls combine the buttery flakiness of puff pastry with a rich, silky custard center. Using a quick 15-minute puff pastry, you can enjoy bakery-style Danishes at home without the long wait. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet treat with coffee.
Ingredients
Quick Puff Pastry Dough:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
1/4 cup ice water
Custard Filling:
1 cup whole milk
2 large egg yolks
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon heavy cream or milk
Finish:
1 egg, beaten with a splash of water (egg wash)
Instructions
Make Quick Puff Pastry:
In a large bowl, whisk flour and salt together.
Add cold butter cubes and cut into the flour until pea-sized pieces remain.
Gradually add ice water, mixing lightly until dough just comes together. Form into a rough rectangle and chill for 10 minutes.
Roll dough into a 10×8 inch rectangle, fold like a letter, rotate, and roll again. Repeat folding once more to create layers.
Make Custard Filling:
Whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch in a bowl.
Heat milk until simmering, then slowly pour into egg mixture while whisking.
Return mixture to medium heat and stir until thickened.
Stir in vanilla extract and chill completely.
Assemble Rolls:
Roll puff pastry into strips. Coil each strip into a tight spiral, leaving a small indentation in the center.
Pipe or spoon custard into the center of each coil.
Brush exposed pastry with egg wash.
Bake & Glaze:
Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15–18 minutes until golden and puffed.
Whisk powdered sugar with cream and drizzle over slightly cooled pastries.
How to Make Perfect Swirls
Keep the dough cold to prevent butter from melting into the flour.
Chill formed rolls briefly before baking to maintain shape.
Use a piping bag for neat custard placement.
Variations
Fruit Center: Add a raspberry or teaspoon of apricot jam atop custard before baking.
Lemon Cream: Mix 1 tablespoon lemon zest into custard for a bright flavor.
Almond Crunch: Sprinkle sliced almonds over egg wash before baking.
Chocolate Drizzle: Replace glaze with melted chocolate for a rich finish.
Tips
Ensure custard is thick to prevent spilling.
Use parchment paper or a silicone mat to avoid sticking.
Apply glaze when pastries are warm, not hot, for clean lines.
Keep dough chilled for maximum flakiness.
Conclusion
These Cream-Filled Danish Rolls are quick, delicious, and look bakery-perfect. With a crisp exterior and creamy heart, they make any morning feel special.
If you want, I can also make a version with full timings so you could do everything from scratch in under 45 minutes—puff pastry included. This is perfect for quick weekend breakfasts.
Do you want me to make that timed version too?
