Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Pastries (Print Version)
Golden flaky pastries filled with cream cheese and strawberry, shaped into hearts for special occasions.
# What You Need:
→ Pastry Components
01 - 1 sheet (approximately 8.8 oz) frozen puff pastry, thawed
02 - 1 large egg, beaten for egg wash
→ Cream Cheese Filling
03 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
04 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
05 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Strawberry Filling
06 - 4 tablespoons strawberry preserves or jam
07 - 6 fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
→ Vanilla Glaze
08 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
09 - 1 to 2 tablespoons whole milk
10 - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry. Using a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 16 hearts. Place 8 solid hearts on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Use a 2-inch heart cutter to remove centers from the remaining 8 hearts, creating decorative frames. Set aside.
04 - Brush edges of solid hearts with egg wash. Place heart frames on top, pressing gently to seal.
05 - Combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy.
06 - Spoon 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture into each heart cavity. Top with 1/2 tablespoon strawberry preserves and arrange fresh strawberry slices over preserves.
07 - Brush pastry edges with remaining egg wash for golden coloring.
08 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes until puffed and golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Adjust consistency with additional milk if needed.
10 - Drizzle glaze over cooled pastries. Serve immediately or store at room temperature.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The combination of tangy cream cheese and sweet strawberry creates that perfect bakery balance you crave but never achieve with store-bought pastries
- These look impressive but come together in under 45 minutes, making you look like a pastry wizard with minimal effort
02 -
- Puff pastry needs to stay cold until it hits the oven or those gorgeous buttery layers will collapse before your eyes
- Overfilling these hearts seems tempting but the filling will bubble over and create a sticky burnt mess on your parchment
03 -
- Freeze your baking sheet for 15 minutes before using it to help the pastry keep its shape while cutting
- A little lemon zest in the cream cheese filling brightens everything and makes the strawberry flavor pop