Prepare the Puff Pastry Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut it into 4 equal squares (or rectangles, depending on the shape you prefer). Place them on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly score a smaller square inside each pastry square (without cutting all the way through). This helps guide where the filling will go and allows the edges to puff up nicely.

Make the Cream Cheese Filling In a medium bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon juice until smooth and creamy.

Assemble the Danishes Spoon a generous amount of the cream cheese filling into the center of each pastry square. If you like, fold the edges in slightly to create a border. For an extra fancy touch, you can also make a braided Danish by cutting slits along the sides of the pastry and folding them over the filling in a crisscross pattern.

Egg Wash for a Golden Finish Beat the egg with water and brush the edges of each Danish with the egg wash. This helps them bake up beautifully golden and crisp.

Bake to Perfection Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving.

Enjoy! Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm. If you’re feeling fancy, pair it with a homemade latte for the ultimate coffee shop experience at home!