Description
Delightfully charming Cheese and Strawberry Heart Pastries combine flaky puff pastry with a sweet and tangy cream cheese and strawberry jam filling, topped with fresh diced strawberries. Perfect for a romantic breakfast or a festive dessert, these pastries are easy to prepare and bake to golden perfection in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 1 (8.6 oz) sheet puff pastry
Filling
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 Tbsp strawberry jam
- 1 drop red food coloring (or beet powder), optional
- 2/3 cup very small diced strawberries
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg, whisked with 1 Tbsp water
Finishing
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat and Thaw Pastry: Begin by thawing the puff pastry sheet as per the package instructions. Halfway through, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the ideal baking temperature.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, strawberry jam, and optional red food coloring. Use a rubber spatula to press the mixture against the bowl’s edges to smooth out any lumps. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator or flash chill in the freezer to firm it up.
- Cut Pastry Shapes: Once thawed, roll out the puff pastry sheet and use a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many heart shapes as possible, positioning the cutter close together for maximum use.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner or parchment paper. Place the puff pastry hearts on the sheet, leaving about 1 1/2 inches between each to allow for puffing during baking.
- Score Hearts: With a sharp paring knife, lightly score a smaller heart inside each pastry about 1/3-inch from the edge. Be careful not to cut through the bottom, creating a border to hold the filling.
- Fill Pastries: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each heart, spreading it toward the edges but leaving the border clear. Distribute the diced strawberries evenly on top without covering the border.
- Brush Edges: Lightly brush the 1/3-inch border of each pastry with the egg wash for a golden, glossy finish when baked.
- Bake Pastries: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 14 to 15 minutes until the pastry edges are golden brown and puffed.
- Cool and Serve: Remove pastries from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, dust them with powdered sugar. Serve the same day for the best taste and freshness.
Notes
- Use very small diced strawberries to ensure they sit nicely on the filling without sliding off.
- Ensure the cream cheese mixture is well chilled to prevent it from running during baking.
- You can substitute red food coloring with natural beet powder for a healthier alternative.
- For best puffiness, keep enough space between pastries on the baking sheet.
- These pastries are best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated briefly before serving.
