Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Twists with Vanilla Glaze

There is something irresistible about warm puff pastry straight from the oven—crisp, flaky layers surrounding a soft, sweet filling. These Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Twists take that simple pleasure one step further by combining buttery pastry with a creamy, lightly sweetened cream cheese filling. Each strip is twisted to create beautiful golden layers, baked until crisp, then finished with a silky vanilla glaze and a sprinkle of coarse sugar for a delicate crunch.

They look bakery-worthy but are surprisingly easy to make. Whether you serve them with coffee at breakfast, add them to a brunch table, or enjoy them as an afternoon treat, these twists are an excellent way to turn a few simple ingredients into something special.

Why You’ll Love These Puff Pastry Twists

The magic begins with refrigerated or thawed frozen puff pastry. As it bakes, the butter in the pastry creates steam between the layers, producing that characteristic light and flaky texture. The sweet cream cheese adds richness and a soft contrast to the crisp pastry.

The vanilla glaze brings everything together with just the right amount of sweetness, while coarse sugar adds a pleasant little crunch.

Best of all, the twists don’t need complicated shaping or decorating. A simple cut-and-twist technique gives them their elegant appearance.

Ingredients

For the Puff Pastry Twists

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg, separated
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, if needed
• Coarse sugar, for sprinkling

For the Vanilla Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Step 1: Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling

Place the softened cream cheese in a medium bowl. Add the granulated sugar and vanilla extract.

Beat the mixture until it becomes smooth, creamy, and easy to spread. Make sure there are no large lumps of cream cheese remaining.

If the mixture seems unusually soft, stir in about a tablespoon of flour. You want a filling that is creamy but thick enough to stay between the pastry layers rather than running out during baking.

Set the filling aside while you prepare the pastry.

Step 2: Prepare the Puff Pastry

Lightly flour your work surface and gently unfold the thawed puff pastry.

Do not roll it too aggressively. The pastry should remain cold and retain its layers. If the pastry becomes warm or sticky while you’re working, place it in the refrigerator for several minutes before continuing.

Gently smooth out any creases with a rolling pin.

The goal is a neat rectangle with an even thickness.

Step 3: Add the Cream Cheese

Spread the sweetened cream cheese mixture evenly over one half of the pastry.

Don’t spread the filling all the way to the edges. Leaving a small border makes the pastry easier to seal and helps prevent the cream cheese from escaping during baking.

Fold the uncovered half of the pastry over the cream cheese-covered half.

Gently press the edges together to secure the filling.

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