Turn a package of soft Hawaiian sweet rolls into an irresistible cheesecake-style Danish with this easy, bakery-inspired recipe. The rolls become golden and buttery in the oven while the creamy cheesecake filling bakes into the center.
Finished with a sweet vanilla drizzle, these Hawaiian Cheesecake Danishes are perfect for breakfast, brunch, holidays, family gatherings, or an easy homemade dessert when you want something special without making pastry dough from scratch.
🌺 Recipe Overview
| Category | Details |
| Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Bake Time | 15–18 minutes |
| Total Time | About 30–35 minutes |
| Yield | 12 Danishes |
| Pan | 9×13-inch baking dish |
| Oven Temperature | 350°F (175°C) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🥐 No homemade pastry dough required
- 🧀 Creamy, rich cheesecake filling
- 🍯 Sweet vanilla glaze adds the perfect finishing touch
- 🧈 Buttery Hawaiian rolls become golden and slightly crisp on top
- ⏰ Ready in about 30 minutes
- 🎉 Perfect for breakfast, brunch, holidays, and entertaining
🧈 Ingredients
🥐 Hawaiian Roll Danish Base
| Ingredient | Amount |
| King’s Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls | 1 package, 12 rolls |
| Unsalted butter, melted | 2 tbsp (28 g) |
🧀 Cheesecake Filling
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Cream cheese, softened | 8 oz (226 g) |
| Granulated sugar | ⅓ cup (67 g) |
| Egg yolk | 1 large |
| Vanilla extract | 1 tsp |
🍯 Sweet Vanilla Drizzle
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Powdered sugar | ½ cup (60 g) |
| Milk or heavy cream | 1–2 tbsp |
| Vanilla extract | ½ tsp |
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven and Baking Dish
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Arrange the Hawaiian rolls in the dish so they fit snugly together.
2. Create the Danish Centers
Using your fingers or the back of a spoon, gently press a shallow indentation into the center of each Hawaiian roll.
Don’t press all the way through the bottom.
You want to create a small well that will hold the cheesecake filling.
3. Prepare the Cheesecake Filling
Place the softened cream cheese in a mixing bowl.
Beat until smooth and creamy.
Add the sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract.
Beat for another 1–2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
The mixture should be smooth and spreadable.
4. Fill the Hawaiian Rolls
Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of cheesecake filling into the center of each roll.
Spread it gently within the indentation.
Try not to overfill the rolls because the cheesecake mixture will puff slightly during baking.
5. Add the Butter
Brush the exposed tops and sides of the Hawaiian rolls with the melted butter.
For an extra buttery finish, drizzle a little butter around the edges of the rolls as well.
🥐 6. Bake
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 15–18 minutes.
The Hawaiian rolls should become golden brown and lightly toasted around the edges.
The cheesecake filling should look set but still creamy.
Avoid overbaking because the rolls can become dry.
🍯 7. Make the Vanilla Drizzle
While the Danishes are baking, whisk together:
- Powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk or cream
- Vanilla extract
If the drizzle is too thick, add the remaining milk ½ teaspoon at a time.
If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
You want a smooth drizzle that falls easily from a spoon.
✨ 8. Finish the Danishes
Remove the Hawaiian Cheesecake Danishes from the oven.
Allow them to cool for approximately 5–10 minutes.
Drizzle the vanilla glaze over the warm rolls.
For a prettier presentation, use a small spoon or piping bag to create thin lines across all 12 Danishes.
Serve warm or slightly cooled.
⭐ Best Tips
Use softened cream cheese
Cold cream cheese can leave lumps in the filling. Let it soften at room temperature for about 30–45 minutes before mixing.
Don’t overfill
The filling expands slightly during baking. A generous tablespoon per roll is usually enough.
Don’t flatten the rolls too much
Leave plenty of bread underneath the cheesecake filling so the Danishes hold their shape.
Watch the baking time
Hawaiian rolls are already soft and sweet, so they can brown quickly.
Glaze while warm
A slightly warm Danish helps the vanilla drizzle settle beautifully over the top.
🧀 Best Ingredient Options
Cream cheese
Full-fat block cream cheese provides the richest and smoothest filling.
Milk or cream
Whole milk creates a lighter glaze, while heavy cream produces a richer drizzle.
Vanilla
Pure vanilla extract gives the cleanest flavor, but vanilla bean paste can also be used.
Hawaiian rolls
The sweet, soft texture of Hawaiian rolls works particularly well here, but similar sweet dinner rolls can be substituted.
🍓 Recipe Variations
Strawberry Cheesecake Danishes
Add a small spoonful of strawberry preserves or finely diced strawberries over the cream cheese filling before baking.
Blueberry Cheesecake Danishes
Add 1–2 blueberries to each cream cheese center and drizzle with vanilla glaze after baking.
Lemon Cheesecake Danishes
Add 1 tsp fresh lemon zest and 1 tsp lemon juice to the cheesecake filling.
Pineapple Coconut Danishes
Add finely chopped pineapple to the filling and sprinkle toasted coconut over the finished Danishes.
Cinnamon Sugar Danishes
Mix 2 tbsp granulated sugar with ½ tsp cinnamon and sprinkle lightly over the buttered rolls before baking.
Pecan Cheesecake Danishes
Sprinkle finely chopped toasted pecans over the cream cheese filling before baking.
☕ What to Serve With Hawaiian Cheesecake Danishes
These sweet rolls are delicious with:
- ☕ Coffee
- 🧋 Iced coffee
- 🍵 Black tea
- 🥛 Cold milk
- 🍓 Fresh berries
- 🍊 Fresh orange slices
- 🍍 Tropical fruit
- 🥂 Brunch beverages
For a brunch spread, serve them alongside fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, and coffee.
⏰ Make-Ahead Instructions
You can prepare the cheesecake filling up to 1 day ahead.
Keep it covered and refrigerated until you’re ready to use it.
For the best texture, assemble and bake the Danishes shortly before serving.
You can also assemble the rolls several hours ahead, cover them, and refrigerate until ready to bake.
If refrigerated before baking, allow them to sit at room temperature for about 15–20 minutes while the oven preheats.
🧊 Storage
Because the Danishes contain cream cheese, refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container.
They are best enjoyed within 3–4 days.
The rolls will soften slightly in the refrigerator but can be warmed before serving.
🔥 Reheating
Place a Danish on a microwave-safe plate.
Warm for approximately 10–15 seconds.
For several Danishes, place them in a 300°F (150°C) oven for about 5–8 minutes.
Add a fresh drizzle of vanilla glaze after reheating if desired.
❄️ Freezing
For the best texture, freeze the unbaked rolls and cheesecake filling separately rather than freezing fully assembled Danishes.
If freezing baked Danishes, wrap them individually and freeze for up to 1 month.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm gently before serving.
The glaze is best made fresh.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Using cold cream cheese
It can create a lumpy filling.
2. Cutting too deeply into the rolls
You want a shallow well, not a hole through the bottom.
3. Overfilling the centers
Too much filling can overflow during baking.
4. Overbaking
The Hawaiian rolls should be golden and soft, not hard or dry.
5. Making the glaze too thin
Add milk gradually so you can control the consistency.
6. Glazing immediately after removing from the oven
Give the Danishes a few minutes to cool so the glaze stays visible rather than completely melting into the bread.
🍓 Nutrition Estimate
Approximate values per Danish, assuming 12 servings:
| Nutrient | Estimated Amount |
| Calories | 260–300 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 34–39 g |
| Protein | 4–5 g |
| Fat | 12–15 g |
| Saturated Fat | 6–8 g |
| Sugar | 17–22 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sodium | 220–300 mg |
Nutrition values are estimates and vary by brand of Hawaiian rolls, cream cheese, and amount of glaze used.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of sweet roll?
Yes. Soft sweet dinner rolls can work, although Hawaiian rolls provide their distinctive slightly sweet flavor.
Can I make these without the glaze?
Absolutely. They’re delicious straight from the oven, especially with a little powdered sugar sprinkled over the top.
Can I add fruit?
Yes! Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, or finely chopped pineapple all pair beautifully with the cheesecake filling.
Can I use an entire egg instead of the yolk?
The yolk gives the filling a rich, creamy texture. Using a whole egg will make the filling firmer and slightly different in texture, so the yolk is preferable.
Can I prepare these the night before?
You can prepare the filling ahead, but for the freshest texture, assemble and bake the Danishes the day you plan to serve them.
Can I serve them cold?
Yes. They’re delicious chilled, but warming them for a few seconds makes the rolls softer and brings out the buttery flavor.
🌺 Final Thoughts
These Hawaiian Cheesecake Danishes are proof that you don’t need homemade laminated pastry dough to create an irresistible bakery-style breakfast treat. Soft Hawaiian rolls provide the buttery-sweet base, while the creamy cheesecake filling creates a rich center and the vanilla drizzle adds just the right amount of sweetness.
They’re quick enough for a weekend breakfast but pretty enough for a holiday brunch, baby shower, family gathering, or special celebration. Add strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, or toasted coconut to create your own tropical twist. 🥐🧀🌺✨