Caramel Cheese Danish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Prepare the cheese filling:
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together cream cheese, vanilla extract, egg and sugar until combined and creamy. Set aside.
Prepare egg wash: in a bowl, combine egg and sugar and beat lightly with a fork.
Working with one pastry square at a time, cut a slit starting from each corner and running toward the middle, leaving about an inch uncut in the center. (Photo 1)
Fold half of each corner down toward the center, pressing in to seal. (Photos 2-5).
Brush the entire surface with egg wash. Place a small dollop of caramel cream into the center (photo 6), then place a larger dollop of cheese filling over it, covering the caramel completely (photo 7). Make sure all caramel is covered, as exposed caramel will melt and burn in the oven. I found it easiest to use a piping bag for both the caramel and the cheese.
Place on prepared baking sheet and repeat with additional pastry and fillings.
Bake for 25? minutes, until pastry is golden brown and cheese is just starting to turn golden.
Drizzle additional caramel sauce over the baked danish before serving.