Have you noticed an increase in spam calls lately? I have been getting SO MANY spam calls, and they have gotten completely out of control. Most of mine are from people claiming they want to give me a business loan. There's just one problem. I never ...
Have you noticed an increase in spam calls lately?
I have been getting SO MANY spam calls, and they have gotten completely out of control.
Most of mine are from people claiming they want to give me a business loan.
There’s just one problem.
I never applied for a business loan.
Thankfully, I know enough not to fall for these calls. I’ve always just ignored them, blocked the numbers and gone on with my day.
But lately, ignoring them has gotten a lot harder.
I Started Getting Call After Call After Call
I’m not talking about one or two annoying calls during the day.
Sometimes my phone will ring, I’ll ignore it, and almost immediately another call comes in from a completely different number.
Then another.
And another.
I’ve had stretches where I’ve received close to 10 calls within just a few minutes.
It feels like they’re using some kind of automated system that just keeps dialing from different numbers until you finally answer.
And apparently, I’m not the only one dealing with this.
The Federal Trade Commission has actually warned consumers about unexpected loan calls just like these. Some people have reported receiving 5 to 20 calls in a single day, often from different phone numbers but with the same basic story.
The caller may say you’ve applied for a loan, been preapproved for a loan or need to provide additional information to finish a loan application.
Except you never applied for one in the first place.
With all of these calls suddenly coming in, I decided to check my number.
And guess what?
My phone number wasn’t registered anymore.
I immediately added it again.
The interesting thing is that according to the FTC, Do Not Call registrations aren’t supposed to expire. Once your number is registered, it generally stays registered unless the number is disconnected and reassigned or you ask for it to be removed.
The FTC also says that if your number was disconnected and later reconnected, you might need to register it again.
I don’t know exactly why mine was no longer there, but I’m glad I checked.
How to Check Your Phone Number
You can check whether your phone number is registered with the National Do Not Call Registry for free.
If your number isn’t registered, you can add it for free.
According to the FTC, your number should appear on the registry by the next day, although it can take up to 31 days for legitimate sales calls to stop.
These Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Danishes are one of the most loved recipes on Saving Dollars & Sense, with more than 270 reader ratings!
They look like something you’d pick up at a bakery, but my shortcut is frozen puff pastry, so you can make 12 flaky blueberry Danishes at home in about 40 minutes.
The combination of buttery puff pastry, sweet cream cheese, fresh blueberries and lemon is SO good, especially with the simple icing drizzled over the top.
I’ve been making these for years, and they’re one of those recipes that looks much harder than it actually is.
Homemade Danish
These are so good, which explains why they are one of the most top rated recipes on the site.
So many of you have tried them and reached out to tell me how easy they are to make and how delicious they are to eat. If you make them and love them, you’ll want to try this easy Cherry Danish as well.
They taste great for breakfast or dessert and require very little work to make.
Full directions on how to make your own homemade Danish pastries are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this page. Here’s a quick look at the process, along with step by step photos to help you make them.
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2: Unfold the puff pastry sheets and lay out on a flat surface.
Step 3: Use a knife to cut along the fold marks to create three equal sized strips. Cut each strip in half to make a total of 12 rectangles.
Step 4: Arrange the puff pastry rectangles on a large, ungreased cookie sheet leaving at least 1 inch of space between each rectangle.
Step 5: With a paring knife, lightly score a border around the entire edge of each pastry rectangle, about ¾ inch away from the edge.
Step 6: Use a fork to poke a few holes into the center area of each pastry.
This allows the outside border to rise and puff up while the center stays lower and holds the filling.
Step 7: In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and the vanilla extract.
Step 8: Spoon equal amounts of the filling into the center of each pastry rectangle. Spread it onto the dough within the inside border.
Step 9: In a small bowl, toss the fresh blueberries with the lemon juice, then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the sugar.
Step 10: Add the sugared blueberries on top of the cream cheese on the pastries.
Step 11: In a small bowl, beat the egg and water together.
Step 12: Use a pastry brush to apply a thin layer of the egg wash to the outside border of each pastry.
Discard any leftover egg mixture.
Step 13: Bake the pastries at 400F for 18 minutes, until the Danishes are golden brown.
Step 14: In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar and heavy cream (milk can be substituted for cream, but will make the frosting thinner).
Step 15: The consistency should be somewhat thick, but still thin enough to drizzle.
Kristie’s tip: If the consistency is too thick, add a little more cream; if too thin, add more powdered sugar.
Step 16: Cool the lemon blueberry cream cheese Danishes on a baking rack for 10 minutes. Drizzle the frosting over the Danishes.
This recipe makes 12 pastries.
Kristie’s Tips for the Best Cream Cheese Danish
Keep the puff pastry cold. If it gets too warm while you’re working with it, pop the pan into the refrigerator for a few minutes before baking.
Don’t cut through the pastry when scoring it. You only want to lightly score the border so the outside can puff up around the filling.
Use softened cream cheese. Room-temperature cream cheese is much easier to mix into a smooth filling.
Don’t overfill them. Keep the cream cheese and blueberries inside the scored border so the pastry has room to rise.
Wait before adding the icing. Let the danishes cool for about 10 minutes so the icing stays on top instead of completely melting into the warm pastry.
Lemon Blueberry Danish Variations
One of the things I love about this recipe is how easy it is to change the flavors. Once you know how to make the basic cream cheese Danish, you can use all kinds of different fruit combinations.
Raspberry Cream Cheese Danish: Swap the blueberries for fresh raspberries. Raspberry and lemon are especially good together, so you can keep the lemon or add a little extra zest for even more flavor.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Danish: Use chopped fresh strawberries in place of the blueberries. Cut them into small pieces so they fit easily in the center of the pastry.
Blackberry Cream Cheese Danish: Fresh blackberries are another easy swap. If they’re especially large, cut them in half before adding them to the Danishes.
Mixed Berry Danish: Can’t decide on one berry? Use a combination of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries.
Extra Lemon Blueberry Danish: If you really love lemon, add a little fresh lemon zest to the cream cheese filling or replace some of the heavy cream in the icing with fresh lemon juice. Start with a small amount and adjust it until the lemon flavor is just right.
You can even make several different flavors from one batch. Keep the cream cheese filling the same and use different berries on each pastry before baking.
So many of you have tried them and reached out to tell me how easy they are to make and how delicious they are to eat. If you make them and love them, you’ll want to try this easy Cherry Danish as well.
How to Store Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish
Because these Danishes are made with a cream cheese filling, leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator.
Allow the Danishes to cool completely, then place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3–4 days. If you’re stacking them, place a piece of parchment paper between the layers to keep them from sticking together.
Keep in mind that puff pastry will soften a little once it’s refrigerated, but reheating the danishes will help bring back some of that delicious flaky texture.
How to Reheat Cream Cheese Danish
For the best texture, I recommend reheating leftover Danishes in the oven or air fryer rather than the microwave.
Oven: Place the Danish on a baking sheet and warm at 350°F for about 5–8 minutes, or until warmed through and the pastry has crisped back up.
Air fryer: Heat at 325°F for about 2–4 minutes. Keep an eye on it since air fryers can vary.
Microwave: You can microwave an individual Danish for about 10–15 seconds if you’re in a hurry, but the puff pastry will be softer instead of crisp and flaky.
You can also enjoy these Danishes cold or at room temperature. If they’ve been refrigerated, don’t leave them sitting at room temperature for more than two hours.
FAQs
Can I use frozen blueberries?
Yes, you can use frozen blueberries instead of fresh. Don’t thaw them first, since thawed blueberries can release extra liquid and make the pastry soggy. Add the frozen berries directly to the Danishes and keep in mind that they may release a little more juice and color as they bake.
Can I make these Danishes ahead of time?
These Danishes are best when they’re freshly baked, but you can do some of the prep ahead of time. Make the cream cheese filling and refrigerate it in an airtight container until you’re ready to assemble the Danishes.
You can also cut and score the puff pastry ahead of time and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Assemble and bake the Danishes when you’re ready to serve them for the best flaky texture.
Can I freeze cream cheese Danishes?
Yes. Let the baked Danishes cool completely, then place them in an airtight freezer-safe container with parchment paper between the layers. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, then warm them in the oven or air fryer to help crisp the puff pastry again. For the best results, I recommend freezing them without the icing and adding fresh icing after reheating.
Why didn’t my puff pastry rise?
There are a few reasons puff pastry may not rise properly. The most common is that the pastry became too warm before it went into the oven. Puff pastry needs to stay cold so the layers can puff as it bakes.
Also make sure your oven is fully preheated before baking and that you don’t cut all the way through the pastry when you score the border.
If your pastry gets soft or warm while you’re assembling the Danishes, put the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about 10–15 minutes before baking.
Can I use milk instead of heavy cream for the icing?
Yes. You can substitute milk for the heavy cream in the icing. Since milk is thinner than heavy cream, start with a little less than the recipe calls for and add more as needed until the icing is thick enough to drizzle.
If you accidentally make the icing too thin, just mix in a little more powdered sugar.
Do cream cheese Danishes need to be refrigerated?
Yes. Because these Danishes contain cream cheese, leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator. Let them cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3–4 days.
The puff pastry will soften somewhat in the refrigerator, so I recommend warming leftover Danishes in the oven or air fryer to help crisp the pastry again.
Looking for More Breakfast Recipes?
If you like this delicious recipe, you’ll love these ones too:
Crock Pot French Toast Recipe – This Crock Pot French Toast is such a simple and easy way to get breakfast ready in the morning. Nothing like waking up to the smell of breakfast already being cooked!
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls Recipe – This recipe for Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls includes a homemade icing that will take your homemade cinnamon rolls to another level.
Homemade Filled Pop Tarts Recipe – If you have been looking for a way to enjoy those delicious toaster made pastries at home, then this Homemade Pop Tarts recipe is for you!
3ouncebox puff pastrytwo sheets of pastry in the box, thawed according to package directions
6ouncescream cheesesoftened to room temperature
3tablespoonssugardivided
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1cupfresh blueberries
½teaspoonlemon juice
1egg
1tablespoonwater
Danish Icing Ingredients
½cuppowdered sugar
2tablespoonsheavy cream
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
Unfold the puff pastry sheets and lay out on a flat surface. Use a knife to cut along the fold marks to create three equal sized strips. Cut each strip in half to make a total of 12 rectangles.
Arrange the puff pastry rectangles on a large, ungreased cookie sheet leaving at least 1 inch of space between each rectangle.
With a paring knife, lightly score a border around the entire edge of each pastry rectangle, about ¾ inch away from the edge. Use a fork to poke a few holes into the center area of each pastry. This allows the outside border to rise and puff up while the center stays lower and holds the filling.
In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and the vanilla extract. Spoon equal amounts of the filling into the center of each pastry rectangle. Spread it onto the dough within the inside border.
In a small bowl, toss the fresh blueberries with the lemon juice, then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Add the sugared blueberries on top of the cream cheese on the pastries.
In a small bowl, beat the egg and water together. Use a pastry brush to apply a thin layer of the egg wash to the outside border of each pastry. Discard any leftover egg mixture.
Bake the pastries at 400F for 18 minutes, until the danishes are golden brown.
In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar and heavy cream (milk can be substituted for cream, but will make the frosting thinner). The consistency should be somewhat thick, but still thin enough to drizzle. If the consistency is too thick, add a little more cream; if too thin, add more powdered sugar.
Cool the danishes on a baking rack for 10 minutes. Drizzle the frosting over the danishes.
Fruit pizza is a type of dessert pizza that usually has a cookie or shortbread crust, a layer of cream cheese or whipped cream, and fresh fruits like strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, and blueberries on top.
Pair it up with the fact that it only takes 5 simple ingredients to make, and I think you’ll agree that this is a winning recipe that everyone will love.
While I absolutely love eating regular tacos as well, I find that this unique taco twist adds a bit of fun and excitement to our kids lunch time.
If you’re looking for a quick lunch, finger food snack or easy appetizer recipe, you’re going to love this Pinwheel Sandwich that uses ranch, ham and cheese.
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels are the perfect way to use up any leftover ham you might have from dinner.
Save time and money at the grocery store by making your own Homemade Uncrustables!
Perfect for school lunches, road trips, and picnics, these crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the perfect solution for when the kids need a satisfying and portable snack.
You’ll find deals for every age at the stores listed below – kindergarten through high school.
Cheapest Place to Buy School Uniforms
If you’re looking to save some money on school uniforms for your kids this year, I’ve gathered up all of the best stores to find cheap school uniforms so far for the upcoming 2025 school year.
Uniform Prices Are Down in 2025
Year-Over-Year Price Comparison: 2024 vs. 2025 School Uniform Deals
I’ve been tracking back to school uniform prices for nearly 20 years, and I was honestly surprised by what I found this year, prices are down across the board compared to last year.
At Target, polos were just under $5.60 in 2024, but this year, you can snag them for just $3.50.
These price drops might not seem huge on their own, but when you’re shopping for multiple kids, or stocking up for the year, it really adds up!
So if you’ve been holding off on shopping, now’s the perfect time to grab those essentials and save!
Target Uniform Deals
You’ll find lots of great deals on school clothes at Target for boys and girls of all ages.
Are you dreading the back-to-school shopping costs this year?
Every August I used to feel the pinch when school supply lists would arrive, but over the years I’ve learned some smart ways to save.
These five strategies can help you stretch your back-to-school budget without the stress.
NerdWallet’s 2026 survey estimates U.S. parents spend around $611 per child on back to school supplies on average.
With some practical planning and these tried-and-true strategies, you can cut costs without compromising on quality.
I know some of us are still basking in the summer sun and ignoring the fact that shorter school days are just around the corner.
But I was surprised to see several trees have already begun to change their colors, and I couldn’t ignore the fact that the back to school sales have already begun.
I read this news report a couple of years ago that stated that the average parents are spending up to $890 on Back to School!
We’ve always homeschooled, and even with paying for curriculum and outside classes, I don’t think we’ve ever come close to spending what the average family does on back-to-school shopping.
Maybe I’m out of touch with how expensive traditional schooling can be these days—but wow, the numbers seem a little outrageous to me!
That said, whether your kids are homeschooled, in public school, or somewhere in between, there are ways to save.
In addition to keeping an eye on my Back to School Deals, I’ve pulled together a few tried-and-true tips that helped our family stretch every dollar during the school season.
Five Ways to Save on Back to School Shopping
These are simple strategies I’ve used personally.
With a little planning, you can get everything your kids need, without blowing your budget.
Take an inventory
Start your back to school shopping journey by taking inventory of what your children already have.
Check their closets and dressers to identify what clothing items they can reuse.
Make a list of the essential items they truly need for the start of the school year, and save the rest for later when the weather changes.
Set a Budget and Stick to It
Sit down with your kids and set a realistic budget for back to school shopping.
This step not only ensures that everyone is on the same page but also teaches your children about financial responsibility.
When you establish a spending limit, it helps avoid unnecessary expenses and impulse purchases while in the stores.
Plan Ahead for the Best Deals
Make the most of back to school sales by planning ahead.
Sign up for your favorite store’s email newsletters to receive daily updates on sales and available coupons.
Consider stocking up on school supplies during these sales so you have extras for when your child runs out later in the year.
Take Advantage of Tax-Free Weekends
Many states offer sales tax holidays during back-to-school season, which can save you even more, especially on big ticket items like clothing, shoes, and even electronics.
Some states, like Florida and Texas, include tech items up to $1,500 (yes, even laptops!). These tax free days usually fall between July and early August, so it’s worth planning your purchases around them.
Dollar stores can be fantastic for scoring deals on school supplies throughout the year.
Keep an eye out for back to school sales in the weeks leading up to the new school year, and compare prices with other stores to ensure the best deals.
Be Prepared to Say No (with Compassion)
If you’re like me, saying “no” to your kids isn’t always easy.
Especially when it comes to back-to-school shopping.
You want them to feel prepared and excited, and it’s hard to turn them down when they ask for things that seem important.
But this can actually be a great opportunity to teach them about budgeting and making wise choices with money.
If shopping with your kids feels stressful, it’s totally okay to go without them if that’s an option.
Sometimes it’s just easier to stick to your list and budget without the extra pressure.
But if they do come along, think of it as a teaching moment.
Our kids need to learn that we can’t always get everything we want.
That’s just real life.
And when they see us making a list, following a budget, and saying no when something isn’t necessary, they’re learning too.
Being smart with money is a skill they’ll use forever.
And the earlier they start seeing how it works, the better prepared they’ll be when it’s their turn to make financial decisions on their own.
So even if it feels uncomfortable in the moment, just remember you’re not being mean.
You’re being a great teacher.
Remember the True Purpose of School
Lastly, keep in mind that you are sending your kids to school to learn.
Of course we want them to feel confident and we all know that looking great helps, especially with older kids.
While looking good can boost confidence, remember that the primary goal of education is learning.
Reinforce to your children that their education matters more than material possessions.
Encourage them to focus on their studies and celebrate their achievements, as knowledge and growth are priceless.
But be careful that you are not sending the message that the way they look, or the things they have are more important that getting a great education!
Free Student Planner – No matter what the success looks like for you and your family this year, a student planner can help your kids keep everything organized and more.
Free Lunch Planner Kit – Get your kiddos in on the lunch planning this year, which makes it SO easy for everyone to get involved.
Printable Daily Routine Chart – One of the ways that you can be sure that your kids have the most successful school year yet is by teaching them how to live with simple daily routines.
With a little planning and smart shopping, you can start the year right without overspending.