Soft, golden buns filled with sweet cream cheese and topped with berries & buttery streusel
There’s something nostalgic and festive about a cream cheese Danish bun — especially when made from scratch and served warm with fresh berries on top. These Carnival Danish Buns are soft and pillowy with a rich cream cheese centre, a tender golden base, and a sweet, crumbly streusel topping. Perfect for a weekend baking project or as a beautiful centrepiece for a spring brunch, these buns bring together the indulgence of a fairground treat with the charm of homemade baking.
This recipe uses wholesome ingredients like organic flour, real butter, and farm-fresh eggs, and the optional addition of fresh berries makes them even more special — and seasonal. If you’re looking for a from-scratch cream cheese Danish recipe that’s impressive yet approachable, this is it.
Ingredients
Dough
- 600g organic flour
- 60g sugar
- 7g instant yeast
- 310g lukewarm milk
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 40g unsalted butter, softened
- 10g salt
Cream Cheese Filling
- 330g cream cheese, softened
- 70g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
Streusel Topping
- 60g cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 30g icing sugar
- 100g plain flour
Optional
- Fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries)
Method
1. Make the Dough
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine the lukewarm milk and eggs, then mix the wet ingredients into the dry until a shaggy dough forms.
Knead in the softened butter until smooth and elastic (about 8–10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes with a dough hook). Cover and let rise in a warm spot for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until doubled.
2. Prepare the Filling
In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla bean paste. Stir until well combined. Refrigerate until needed.
3. Make the Streusel
Rub the cold butter into the icing sugar and flour until the mixture forms soft crumbs. Chill until ready to use.
4. Shape the Buns
After the dough has risen, divide it into 12–16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth ball, then gently roll out into a flat circle about 1 cm thick. Transfer to a lined baking tray.
Cover loosely and let rise again for about 1 hour.
Once puffed, use the rim of a flour-dipped glass to gently press a circle into the center of each bun (do not cut through). Use a fork to prick the indented center — this helps keep it from puffing during baking.
5. Fill and Top
Spoon a generous amount of cream cheese filling into the center of each bun. Top with fresh berries, then sprinkle over a spoonful of chilled streusel topping.
6. Bake
Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 20–25 minutes, or until the buns are golden and the centers are just set. Cool on a wire rack before serving.
Tips & Tricks
- Use ripe berries for the best flavor — strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries all work beautifully.
- These buns are best enjoyed the same day, but leftovers can be refrigerated and gently warmed the next day.
- Want to finish with a shine? Brush the tops with warm apricot jam or add a light vanilla glaze after baking.
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