Prepare Dough: Begin by making the Danish pastry the day before you plan to serve your Strawberry Danishes. Roll and fold the dough as instructed in your recipe, allowing it to rest for approximately 8 hours in the refrigerator.

Shape Danishes: Once the dough is well-rested, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll out the chilled pastry on a lightly floured surface until it’s about ¼ inch thick and cut into squares.

Prepare Filling: Wash and chop the fresh strawberries into small pieces. Blend the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, milk, and lemon zest until smooth.

Fill Danishes: Position each square of dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet, add a dollop of strawberry jam in the center, top with cream cheese mixture, and sprinkle with chopped strawberries.

Egg Wash and Sprinkle: Mix the egg yolk with water to create an egg wash and brush the edges of each pastry square. Sprinkle demerara sugar on top.

Bake: Carefully place the prepared Danish pastries in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool and Serve: Allow the Danish to cool on a wire rack for a few minutes, serve warm, optionally dusted with powdered sugar.