Cherry Danish Cheesecake Bars

4.86 from 7 votes
Jump to Recipe

This post contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Cherry Danish Cheesecake Bars Recipe – easy to bake cherry cheesecake danish bars that taste just like your favorite cherry danishes, but a million times more flaky, creamy, and delicious!

baked cherry danish pastry bars with a vanilla glaze stacked on a wire rack

Don’t want all the extras in a recipe post? We provide a skip to recipe button in the top left corner, as well as a clickable table of contents, just below, to help make this page easier to navigate.

At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe – my goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

I want each reader to walk away with a solid knowledge of each recipe, with all of the tips I’ve gathered from extensive testing of each recipe. I also answer questions my friends and family have asked about my recipes, to help everyone better understand the processes we use – and why!

baked cherry cheesecake danish on a white plate

Easy Cherry Cheesecake Pastry Bars

If you love delicious cherry cheesecake flavor, you are going too flip for this super simple and tasty recipe. Delicious cheesecake that isn’t too dense tucked between layers of flaky pastry and drizzled with glaze – just like a delicious fresh danish.

These bars are great for dessert – and are easy enough to make for weeknight dinner, and great for the 4th of July picnics and parties alongside Vanilla Sheet Cake , Fourth Of July Jello Cups, or Dragon Fruit Salad! These cheesecake danish bars are even great for breakfast – try it with an Israeli cardamom coffee or dalgona coffee!

We hope you love these delicious danish bars as much as we do – and hope you’ll try our similar Easy Apple Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe – our our super adorable for Christmas Peppermint Buttercreams Candy recipes, too!

baked cherry cheesecake danish on a white plate

How to Make Cherry Cheesecake Danish Bars

To make this recipe, you will need to gather the following ingredients:

  • 2 (8 ounce) cans Refrigerated Crescent Roll Dough Sheets: This is the base for the bars. It forms a tender, flaky, and slightly sweet layer that contrasts nicely with the cream cheese layer.
  • 16 ounces whipped cream cheese: This is the main component of the cheesecake layer. It adds richness, tanginess, and creaminess. Whipped cream cheese is used because it’s lighter and easier to spread than regular cream cheese.
  • 1 cup granulated sugar: Adds sweetness to the cream cheese layer and balances out the tanginess of the cream cheese.
  • 2 large eggs: These act as a binding agent in the cheesecake layer. They help to set the cream cheese mixture and give it structure when baked.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: This enhances the overall flavor of the cheesecake layer, adding a hint of sweetness and aroma.
  • 1 cup cherry pie filling: This adds a fruity layer to the bars, contrasting nicely with the richness of the cheesecake. The sweet and tart flavor of the cherries provides a refreshing counterpoint.
  • 1 large egg white: Typically this could be brushed over the dough before baking to give a shiny, golden appearance. If whisked and spread over the top layer, it can also help the topping stick better.
  • Icing, optional topping: Adds an extra layer of sweetness and creaminess to the bars. It also enhances their visual appeal.
  • Powdered sugar, optional topping: When dusted over the bars, powdered sugar provides a sweet finishing touch and makes the bars look more appetizing and professional.

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:

  • Prep. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Roll out one of the sheets of dough in the bottom of the pan, gently stretching it out to fit.
  • Mix. In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, 2 eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the top of the dough. Spoon the cherry pie filling onto the top of the cream cheese mixture.T op with the other crescent roll sheet and brush it with an egg white.
  • Bake. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is golden brown and puffy and the center of the danish slightly jiggles when you move it.
  • Cool. Allow to cool at room temperature for about 2 hours before slicing and serving. Top with icing or powdered sugar or leave plain.
glazed cherry cheesecake pastry on a cooling rack on a table

Tips and Tricks To Perfect Cheesecake Danish Bars

Prep pan. This can be made straight in the pan without parchment paper, but you will want to grease the pan.

Use parchment paper. I like using parchment paper because it makes it easy to remove the whole danish from the pan and slice and serve it.

Reduce egg according to taste. If you donโ€™t like a more eggy cheesecake filling, it can be reduced to 1 egg. I felt the two eggs was more cheese danish-y but the 1 was more cheesecake-y – feel free to change it up and adapt this recipe to your tastes!

Use different fillings. I used canned cherry pie filling, but you could link to a homemade recipe if you have one. Other pie filling flavors may also be used in this recipe some of our ideas are below:

  • Peach pie
  • Strawberry rhubarb pie
  • Apple cinnamon pie
  • Boysenberry pie
  • Blueberry pie

Try fresh fruit. If you want to use a fresh fruit pie filling, make sure it is not too liquid. Pop it on the stove to reduce slightly if too watery – you don’t want the pastry or cheesecake to get soggy.

Top with sugar. You could sprinkle the top of the danish with granulated sugar after applying the egg wash and before baking as a nice alternative to the icing or powdered sugar.

Try another topping. You can also try a sopapilla-style sugar topping like we use in my apple cheesecake sopapilla bars recipe, drizzle caramel sauce or syrup over the top, or top with a drizzle of chocolate or whipped cream!

Recipe FAQ’S

Can I make the bars ahead of time?

You can make this danish in advance and chill it covered in the refrigerator overnight.

How long will this recipe last in the fridge?

While these cheesecake bars are safe to eat for up to four days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, they are best if consumed within two days.

baked cherry cheesecake danish on a white plate

What to Serve With Cherry Cheesecake Danish Bars

Beverages: You can serve these bars with a variety of drinks. Coffee or tea would be the most traditional accompaniment. A cup of black coffee or a lightly sweetened tea can help to cut through the richness of the cheesecake bars.

Ice Cream or Whipped Cream: A small scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream can make these bars feel like a more decaditional dessert. The cold temperature and smooth texture of ice cream would contrast nicely with the bars.

Fruit: Fresh fruit can complement the cherry flavor and add a refreshing contrast to the creamy cheesecake. Berries like strawberries, raspberries, or more cherries would work well.

Sauces: A drizzle of chocolate sauce or a dollop of extra cherry sauce could add another dimension to the bars.

Cheese Plate: If you’re serving these bars as part of a larger meal, they could work well as a sweet contrast to a cheese plate with a selection of fine cheeses, nuts, and fruits.

After a Light Meal: Given their richness, these bars are best served after a lighter main dish, perhaps a salad or a lightly seasoned chicken or fish dish. We also love serving this after our Baked Pork Tenderloin or Smash Burgers!

slice of cherry cheesecake danish on a plate on a table

Cherry Danish Cheesecake Bars Recipe

If you love this delicious recipe please click the stars in the recipe below and give it a five star rating, leave a comment, and help me share on facebook and pinterest!

Click here to view the web story for this recipe!

baked cherry cheesecake danish on a white plate

Only have 30 minutes to get dinner on the table? Sign up for my 30 minute dinner plans direct to your inbox!
Find and shop my favorite products in my Amazon storefront here!

Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week – and be sure to tag @sweetcsdesigns on social media – I love to see your creations!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
4.86 from 7 votes

Cherry Danish Cheesecake Bars Recipe

By: Courtney O’Dell
Servings: 15
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Cooling Time: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 45 minutes
baked cherry cheesecake danish on a white plate
Decadent creamy cheesecake filling and cherry pie filling is nestled between two sheets of buttery crescent rolls – perfect served for brunch or dessert!

Ingredients 

  • 2 8 ounce cans Refrigerated Crescent Roll Dough Sheets
  • 16 ounces whipped cream cheese
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup cherry pie filling
  • 1 large egg white
  • Icing, optional topping
  • Powdered sugar, optional topping

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Roll out one of the sheets of dough in the bottom of the pan, gently stretching it out to fit.
  • In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, 2 eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
  • Pour the cream cheese mixture over the top of the dough.
  • Spoon the cherry pie filling onto the top of the cream cheese mixture.
  • Top with the other crescent roll sheet and brush it with an egg white.
  • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is golden brown and puffy and the center of the danish slightly jiggles when you move it.
  • Allow to cool at room temperature for about 2 hours before slicing and serving.
  • Top with icing or powdered sugar or leave plain.

Notes

Creamy cheesecake filling and cherry pie filling is nestled between two sheets of buttery crescent rolls -perfect served for brunch or dessert!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 307kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 4gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 187mgSugar: 24g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetcsdesigns or tag #sweetcsdesigns!

About Courtney

Courtney loves to share great wine, good food, and loves to explore far flung places- all while masting an everyday elegant and easy style at lifestyle blog Sweet Cโ€™s Designs. Sweet C's devoted to finding the best food and drinks you'll want to make or find, around the world!

You May Also Like

4.86 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating