Apple Cheese Danish

Begin by preparing the cottage cheese. Place it in a strainer lined with cheesecloth or heavy-duty paper towels. Pat dry with paper towels and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes to remove excess moisture. (Time: 5-10 minutes)

In a separate bowl, place the thinly sliced apples and sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent browning. This will keep your apples looking fresh and vibrant. (Time: 2 minutes)

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the softened cream cheese, drained cottage cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix on high speed for 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture is almost smooth. This creates a luscious and creamy filling. (Time: 2-3 minutes)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking. (Time: 5 minutes)

Cut each of the thawed puff pastry sheets into 9 equal pieces, resulting in 18 pieces total. Roll each piece out, one at a time, into approximately 5 x 5-inch squares. Be gentle when rolling to avoid overworking the dough and preventing it from puffing up properly. (Time: 15-20 minutes)

Position a pastry square in front of you so that it resembles a diamond shape. Spoon a generous amount of the cheese filling down the center of each square, leaving about 1/4 inch of space at the top and bottom edges. Arrange 4-5 slices of apple artfully down the center of each cheese-filled square. (Time: 10-15 minutes)

Bring the left and right corners of the pastry square together to meet in the center, pinching firmly to seal. This creates the signature Danish shape. (Time: 5-10 minutes)

Carefully transfer the assembled Danishes to the prepared baking sheets and repeat with the remaining pastries. Sprinkle the tops of each Danish generously with the remaining sugar. (Time: 5-10 minutes)

Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is golden brown and beautifully puffed, approximately 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving. (Time: 20 minutes)