This recipe yields six cheese Danishes, so plan for 5 to 7 apple slices per Danish

• Place apple slices into a microwave-safe bowl and add the juice and zest of half a lemon. Add the vanilla to the bowl. Cover the contents with cold water and microwave on high for 3 minutes.
• CAREFULLY remove the bowl and drain the apple slices. Allow them cool slightly.
• In a large mixing bowl using a wire whisk, cream the softened cream cheese with the 1/4 cup of the honey and the cinnamon. Combine well. Set aside.
• Use a rolling pin to roll a sheet of puff pastry dough to where it's an inch longer on the long side and an inch longer on the short side. Use a pizza cutter to cut through the dough right down the middle lengthwise. Next, cut each half into three equal thirds.
• This next step requires a sensitive touch. And I mean sensitive in that you need to barely apply pressure. We are scoring, not cutting all the way through.
• In each square of dough, use the pizza wheel to lightly score an inside square which will result in an edge all the way around. I try to make my edge at least 1/2-inch to 3/4 because I want more ledge for sprinkling coarse sugar.
• Equally distribute and spread the cream cheese mixture inside each square and spread it from side to side, corner to corner.
• Preheat your oven to 400°F and have your prepared baking sheet next to your pastry. Transfer carefully each of the pastry squares to the baking sheet.
• Assemble between 5 and 8 slices of apple on each pastry square atop the cream cheese mixture.
• Use a pastry brush to apply the lightly beaten egg wash around the ledge of each pastry square. Use a tablespoon of raw sugar on each square, coating the ledges.
• Drizzle each square lightly with the remaining 3 tablespoons of honey and place into preheated oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Once baked, remove from the oven and place the baking sheet on a wire cooling rack. Cool the Danishes completely on the baking sheet.
• Serve once cooled with a cup of tea, coffee, or Reisling, or as a midday dessert.