Apple Caramel Puff Pastry Braid with Cream Cheese Filling

Made with a delicious cream cheese filling this Apple Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Braid will definitely impress your family and friends.

The flaky, buttery dough is wrapped around a sweet and tart filling of thinly-sliced apples and sweetened cream cheese, and then it's all braided into a beautiful and impressive danish. Not only does it look impressive, but it tastes even better!

The contrast of the crisp pastry with the soft apples is heavenly, and the sweetness of the sugar glaze takes it over the top. If you're looking for a showstopping dessert or breakfast recipe, this is it.

Check out all my other puff pastry recipes for even more deliciousness!

Every now and then you find a apple dessert recipe that is so delicious you can't believe it's also easy.  That's the case with today's recipe for apple puff pastry which is very similar to a apple cream cheese strudel; semi-homemade of course!

Anyone who loves danish pastry will be thrilled to learn how easy it is to make apple danish at home. All you need is puff pastry dough and a few apples. The dough is first rolled out into a rectangle, then spread with a mixture of chopped apples, sugar, and spices.

Looking for more easy dessert recipes featuring apples? Try my Apple Danish Recipe, Mason Jar Apple Pie or my recipe for Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls with Apples

Puff Pastry Braid

This recipe is not a traditional braid, but more of a crisscross of the dough to resemble a braid...which is why it's so easy!

The result is a beautiful and delicious Danish that's sure to impress family and friends. So next time you're feeling festive, give this apple Danish a try.

And then once you master this recipe for apple puff pastry, try my other puff pastry desserts very popular here on the blog are Puff Pastry Christmas Cookies, Puff Pastry Valentine's Day Hearts and Puff Pastry Apple Tart.

How to Braid Puff Pastry?

This is the way I like to braid puff pastry:

• Lightly roll out the puff pastry to remove the fold lines. Place the filling down the center of the puff pastry.
• Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, begin slicing diagonal strips down both sides of the puff pastry being careful to leave a ½ inch border around the filling. 
• You should get around 8 to 10 strips depending on the length of your puff pastry sheet.
• Now start folding the ends of the puff pastry at the top, crossing the strips over the apple and cream cheese filling making sure you overlap the strips to create a crisscross or braid.
• Make sure you tug both ends under the puff pastry danish so nothing will leak out during baking. But if you do have some of the filling leak out, it's okay! It only makes the recipe look homemade.

Cream Cheese Puff Pastry

For a savory twist, make a herbed cream cheese spread with chives, thyme, or rosemary. Top with caramelized onions, mushrooms, bacon, or cheese before baking.

Two of my other favorite puff pastry braid recipes are Chocolate Puff Pastry or my Puff Pastry Braid with Lemon.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

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Main Ingredients Needed

Make sure you print out the recipe below and save it for later!

For Puff Pastry: 

• Puff pastry; defrosted
• Caramel sauce
• Egg White
• Sugar for sprinkling

For Apple Filling:

• 2 large apples
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon

For Cream Cheese Filling:

• Cream cheese; room temperature
• White sugar
• Vanilla extract

Step-by-Step Directions

Step 1: In a medium bowl, toss thinly sliced apples with a mixture of ½ cup brown sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside.

Step 2: To make the cream cheese filling, in another bowl, cream together softened cream cheese, white sugar, and vanilla extract. Set this mixture aside while you prepare the puff pastry.

Step 3: Gently unfold the puff pastry sheet onto parchment paper. Roll out the pastry with a lightly floured rolling pin to remove creases and achieve a ¼ inch thickness.

Step 4: Carefully transfer the puff pastry (still on its parchment paper) to a baking sheet. Spread the cream cheese in a line down the center, then top with the apple slices.

Step 5: Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, begin slicing diagonal strips down both sides of the puff pastry being careful to leave a ½ inch border around the cream cheese and apple slices. You should get around 8 to 10 strips depending on the length of your pastry braid.

Step 6: Start placing each sliced section over the top of the apples and cream cheese to form the braid. Tuck in or fold over the top first and then start braiding. We're really just crisscrossing the puff pastry strips and forming a braid. Tuck the bottom end in and under as well.

Baking Instructions

Step 7: Brush with the beaten egg white. Sprinkle a little white granulated sugar on top right before baking. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

Serving Tips

Just before serving, drizzle the caramel sauce on top of the Apple Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Braid. The caramel sauce really was the finishing touch. 

You could also serve Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream or a dollop of Homemade Whipped Cream.

Here is a selection of caramel sauces you could use to drizzle on top of the braid right before serving:

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Storing, Freezing, Thawing and Reheating Tips

Refrigerator: Store the dessert airtight in the fridge, using parchment paper between layers if stacking. This keeps it fresh and prevents sticking.

Freezer: Once cooled, wrap the leftover puff pastry braid tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Place the wrapped braid in a labeled freezer-safe container or bag, ensuring it lays flat to keep its shape. Freeze for up to one month.

Thawing and Reheating: Serve chilled or at room temperature for 15-20 minutes for enhanced flavor. If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour.

More Recipes to Love

• Best Apple Pie Recipes for Thanksgiving - not just one apple pie recipe, but a whole collection!
• Try my easy, no fuss Apple Dump Cake recipe.
• You might also enjoy this Easy Italian Apple Cake recipe.

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📖 Recipe Card

Apple Caramel Puff Pastry Braid with Cream Cheese Filling

An apple danish recipe with cream cheese filling wrapped in puff pastry and then braided for a beautiful dessert your family is going to love.

4.41 from 201 votes

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Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple cream cheese puff pastry danish

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 slices

Calories: 341kcal

Author: Lois

Ingredients

For the Pastry:

• 1 sheet puff pastry defrosted
• Caramel sauce
• 1 egg white beaten to use on top of the pastry braid.
• 1 to 2 tablespoons granulated sugar to sprinkle on top of the pastry braid before baking.

For the Apple Filling:

• 2 large apples peeled cored and thinly sliced
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

For the Cream Cheese Filling:

• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

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Instructions

• In a medium bowl, combine the ½ cup brown sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon.  Add the thinly sliced apples and toss to coat. Set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, ½ cup white sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Set aside and prepare the puff pastry.
• Carefully unfold the sheet of puff pastry.  Place on top of a sheet of parchment paper and roll lightly with a floured rolling pin until it is ¼ inch thick.  Transfer the puff pastry with the parchment paper to a baking tray.
• Add the cream cheese mixture down the center of the puff pastry only.
• Arrange the apple slices on top of the cream cheese mixture.
• Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, begin slicing diagonal strips down both sides of the puff pastry being careful to leave a ½ inch border around the cream cheese and apple slices.  You should get around 8 to 10 strips depending on the length of your pastry braid.
• Starting at one end, begin folding the strips over the apples, alternating sides to "braid" the dough.
• Continue to fold the dough strips until the apples are covered.  Tuck the end strips under.
• Brush the pastry braid with the beaten egg white and sprinkle the top with 1 to 2 tablespoons white sugar.
• Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
• Allow to cool slightly before drizzling caramel sauce on top.
• Slice and serve.

Notes

Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before adding it to the mixing bowl.

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Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 198mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g

Nutritional estimates are provided using an online calculator and is an estimate per serving. Calorie accuracy isn't guaranteed.

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