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 homemade 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, homemade cinnamon roll, the canned ones aren’t too bad. Especially considering they require much less effort than the homemade ones…
That said, you top a canned cinnamon roll with a cream cheese mixture and cherry pie filling, and I’d pick that over homemade cinnamon rolls any day!
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 easy!
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 easy 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 yummy splurge!
Cherry pie filling: You’llfindpiefillinginthebakingaisleofmoststores. In my opinion,cherry is the perfect 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
I love 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:
Cinnamon Roll Cherry Danishes
Equipment
- Sheet pan (15" x 10") lined
Ingredients
- 2 (12.4-ounce) packages cinnamon rolls
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese full-fat, softened
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling
Instructions
- Preheat oven according to cinnamon roll package directions, typically 400°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Unroll cinnamon rolls and place them an inch apart on the sheet pan.
- Using the back of a tablespoon measuring spoon, press an indent into the center of each cinnamon roll. In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add a dollop of this mixture to each of the cinnamon rolls. Then top each roll with a heaping tablespoon of the cherry pie filling.
- Bake according to cinnamon roll package directions, typically 9–12 minutes.
- Remove and allow to slightly cool for about 1 minute. Drizzle the icing included in the cinnamon roll package evenly over all the cinnamon rolls. Enjoy immediately.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If not eaten right away how to keep them and for how long do they keep for?
Yumm! Just made these as practice run for a Mother’s Day dessert l. It was super easy and yummy!
So glad these were enjoyed! Thank you for the comment 🙂
After reading how you had these with orange julius I got an idea. What if I made these with the Pillsbury orange cinnamon rolls? I gotta say, best idea ever! Thank you! I only made a half of the recipe and I also added about 2 tbsp of cream cheese to the mixture and then reserved 2 tbsp to add to the orange icing to make it even more ooey gooey.. I look forward to trying many more of your recipes.
What a great idea! I love it!!
Delicious! I added some chopped walnuts between the cream cheese and cherries. Mmmmmmm
I’m so happy you enjoyed! Thanks Sheila! 🙂
These danishes look so amazing, so colorful and pleasing to the eye. They are so easy to make which is definitely a plus point when trying out any recipe. A great way to start the day.
No doubt, This recipe looks so delicious in those beautiful pictures!!! Love all those super healthy ingredients!!!
how much is the cost?
These danishes probably cost around $5 to make 🙂
5/5 stars. I made these for my husband and I this past week and we both Loved them! They were so good and super easy!
*Technical issue: I haven’t been able to print out any recipes from your website, as nothing happens when I push the print button. I’ve tried from a couple of different computers with no luck. I’ve previously printed out some of your other recipes in the past without any problems, so I am wondering what the problem could be?
So thrilled these were a hit! Thank you for the comment 🙂 I’m unfortunately not able to replicate the printing problem, but I have some tech guys looking into it; thanks for your patience!
I am able to print your recipes again without any problems! Thanks for all of your awesome recipes and for providing a nice printable for each! I have a binder that I add favorite recipes to (placing in sheet protectors first) and have several of your recipes in my binder!
Your recipes rock!!! Thank you for all of the ideas!
Awe thank you so much Debi! 🙂