Sourdough Discard Raspberry Cream Cheese Danishes (Print)

Flaky sourdough pastries filled with creamy cheese and juicy raspberries—ideal for weekend brunch.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dough

01 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/2 cup sourdough discard (unfed)
04 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
06 - 1 large egg, beaten for egg wash

→ Cream Cheese Filling

07 - 6 oz cream cheese, softened
08 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice

→ Raspberry Filling

11 - 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
12 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
13 - 2 teaspoons cornstarch
14 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice

→ Glaze

15 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
16 - 1-2 tablespoons milk or cream
17 - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cut cold butter into flour in a large bowl until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix in sourdough discard, sugar, and salt until soft dough forms. Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
02 - Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice; mix until creamy and fully combined. Set aside.
03 - Combine raspberries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened, 3-5 minutes. Let cool completely.
04 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll chilled dough to 1/4-inch thickness on floured surface. Cut into 8 rectangles or circles. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Create indentation in center of each piece. Spoon 1 tablespoon cream cheese filling into each center, then top with raspberry filling.
05 - Let assembled pastries rest at room temperature for 20-30 minutes to puff slightly. Brush edges lightly with beaten egg. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and set. Cool on wire rack.
06 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cooled danishes before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The tangy depth from fermented discard balances perfectly with sweet cream cheese and bright raspberries
  • These pastries come together with minimal active effort but taste like they came from a French bakery
  • You finally have a stunning way to use that starter discard instead of feeling guilty about tossing it
02 -
  • Keep everything cold while working with the dough, warm butter will make your danishes tough instead of flaky
  • The dough will seem shaggy and rough at first, this is normal and will come together during chilling
  • Let the raspberry filling cool completely before assembling, hot filling will melt your dough and ruin the structure
03 -
  • Use frozen raspberries if fresh are out of season, just thaw and drain excess liquid before cooking
  • A light sprinkle of turbinado sugar on the crust before baking creates irresistible crunch

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