Easy Apple Danish Pastry Recipe

apple danish pastries on a wire cooling rack

5 from 2 votes

A light and flaky Apple Danish Recipe made from pancake mix and stuffed with a delicious homemade apple pie filling! An easy 30-minute dessert featuring super simple ingredients- the best!

Prep Time10

Cook Time22

Total Time32

Keyword: apple danish, gluten free option

Servings: servings

Calories: 164kcal

Ingredients

Apple Filling

2 tsp butter
1 apple cut in to 1/4 inch pieces
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tbsp water
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp water
1 tsp arrowroot starch

Danish

2 cups gluten free pancake mix i used Birch Benders'
1/2 cup cold butter cut into small pieces
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2/3 cup full-fat coconut milk or half and half
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg

Optional Glaze

2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk of your choice

Instructions

Apple Filling

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat.
Add chopped apple, sugar, 1 tbsp water, and cinnamon. Cover and stir occasionally, while cooking for 5 minutes until slightly softened.
In a small bowl, whisk together water and arrowroot starch, and add to the saucepan.
Stir and continue cooking while bubbling until the apple chunks are soft and the mixture is thickened and sticky.
Remove from heat and cool while you make the dough.

Danish

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, and line and baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together pancake mix, butter, and sugar. Mix with your hands until crumbly - it's okay to have chunks of butter not fully incorporated.
Add coconut milk and vanilla extract, and stir until a wet dough is formed.
Drop the dough by 2 tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2-3 inches apart.
Grease the back of a tablespoon and make an indent in the center of each dough. Fill the centers with a spoonful of the apple filling.
Crack the egg in a bowl and whisk to make a egg wash. Brush the top of the danish with the egg wash, concentrating on the outer dough.
Bake for 15-17 minutes until puffed and golden. Remove from the oven to cool completely. They'll firm up as they cool.
If using the glaze, stir together powdered sugar and milk in a bowl until smooth. You can add more milk for a thinner consistency. Use a fork to drizzle over the danish. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Expert Tips

Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free pancake mix. I used Birch Bender’s, which turned out really nice!
Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free milk and vegan butter to make this apple Danish recipe dairy-free.

Storage Tips

Store at room temperature for up to 2 days or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
To freeze, let your Danishes cool completely. Store in a freezer-safe container for 1-2 months. When ready to serve, thaw overnight and reheat in the oven for a few minutes to warm and crisp up the pastry.

Nutrition