Description
Delightful Cheese and Strawberry Heart Pastries featuring flaky puff pastry filled with a smooth cream cheese and strawberry jam mixture, topped with fresh diced strawberries, and baked to golden perfection. These charming pastries are perfect for a romantic treat or a fun dessert at any gathering.
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
Garnish
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat and Thaw Pastry: Start by thawing the puff pastry sheet according to the package directions. Midway through thawing, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, strawberry jam, and optional red food coloring until smooth, pressing out lumps with a spatula. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator or freezer until firm to prevent runniness.
- Cut Pastry Shapes: Once thawed, roll out the puff pastry sheet, then use a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many heart shapes as possible, keeping the cutter close together to maximize pastry use.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner. Place the cut pastry hearts on it, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart to allow for puffing during baking.
- Score Hearts: With a sharp paring knife, lightly score a smaller heart outline about 1/3 inch from the edge of each pastry heart, being careful not to cut all the way through, creating a border for the filling.
- Fill Pastries: Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each heart, spreading it gently toward the edges while leaving the 1/3-inch border free. Then evenly distribute the diced strawberries on top without covering the border.
- Brush Edges: Lightly brush the exposed 1/3-inch pastry border with the egg wash to help achieve a glossy golden finish when baked.
- Bake Pastries: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 14 to 15 minutes or until the edges puff up nicely and turn golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pastries from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool. Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar. Serve freshly baked for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese mixture is well chilled before filling to prevent the filling from leaking during baking.
- If desired, substitute red food coloring with natural beet powder for a natural coloring option.
- Use very small diced strawberries to evenly distribute on the pastries without making them soggy.
- Pastries are best consumed the same day for freshest texture and flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day; reheat briefly to restore flakiness.
