Braided Cherry Cheese Danish

DANISH INGREDIENTS

• 1 tube Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations - Seamless Dough Sheet (you can also use a tube of regular crescent rolls, but you will need to pinch the seams together. The seamless dough sheet is much easier to work with and most grocery stores sell it.
• 1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese softened
• 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup cherry pie filling (you can also use any preserves or jelly of your choice, or omit this altogether for a delicious plain cheese danish)

GLAZE INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.
2. Spray a large rimmed baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
3. With your mixer, beat together an 8 ounce package of cream cheese with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 tablespoons vanilla extract. Beat until smooth.
4. Unroll a seamless dough sheet onto the baking sheet.
5. On each long side of the dough, make 2 inch long cuts about 1 inch apart using a sharp knife, pizza cutter, or kitchen scissors. 
6. Spread the cheese filling down the middle of the dough.
7. If adding fruit, spread about 1/2 cup (or more if you wish) of cherry pie filling on top of the cheese layer. 
8. Starting at one end, fold the strips over the filling on an angle alternating from one side to the other. This will give it the braided look.
9. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the danish is golden brown.
10. While the danish is baking, make the icing. In a medium sized bowl whisk together powdered sugar with 3 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
11. Allow the danish to cool for 10-15 minutes before drizzling the icing over the danish. I poured the icing in a ziplock bag, snipped the tip, and piped the icing over the danish. Alternatively, you could dip a fork in the icing and drizzle it over the danish.