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Cheese and Strawberry Heart Pastries Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.3 from 39 reviews
  • Author: admin
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 9 servings
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These Cheese and Strawberry Heart Pastries are delightful puff pastry treats perfect for special occasions or a sweet snack. Featuring a creamy strawberry-flavored cream cheese filling topped with fresh diced strawberries, and baked until golden and flaky, they are as visually charming as they are delicious. Finished with a dusting of powdered sugar, these pastries offer a perfect balance of creamy, fruity, and buttery flavors in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Puff 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

  1. Preheat and Thaw Pastry: Start by thawing the puff pastry sheet according to the package instructions. Halfway through thawing, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) so it reaches the perfect baking temperature.
  2. Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, strawberry jam, and optional red food coloring. Use a rubber spatula to press the mixture against the bowl’s sides and bottom to remove lumps and create a smooth consistency. Chill this mixture in the refrigerator or flash chill in the freezer to prevent it from becoming runny.
  3. Cut Pastry Shapes: Once thawed, roll out the puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Use a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many hearts as possible, placing the cutter close together to maximize the dough.
  4. Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner or parchment paper. Transfer the puff pastry hearts to the sheet, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart to allow room for puffing.
  5. Score Hearts: Using a sharp paring knife, lightly score a smaller heart shape inside each pastry heart about 1/3-inch from the edges, being careful not to cut all the way through, creating a raised border to hold the filling.
  6. Fill Pastries: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each heart. Spread it gently toward the edges but leave the border clear. Then evenly top with very small diced strawberries, avoiding the pastry edges.
  7. Brush Edges: Lightly brush the 1/3-inch border of each pastry heart with the egg and water wash to promote a golden, glossy finish when baked.
  8. Bake Pastries: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 14 to 15 minutes, until the edges of the pastries turn golden brown and puff up beautifully.
  9. Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and let the pastries cool on a wire rack. Once cool, dust them with powdered sugar for a sweet finishing touch. Serve the pastries the same day for the best freshness and flavor.

Notes

  • Chilling the cream cheese mixture helps prevent it from becoming runny when baking.
  • Be careful not to cut through the puff pastry while scoring to maintain the border’s integrity.
  • Use fresh, ripe strawberries finely diced for the best texture and flavor.
  • Store leftover pastries in an airtight container and consume within 1 day as puff pastry loses crispness over time.
  • Red food coloring is optional and can be substituted with natural beet powder for color.

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Find it online: https://simplemealsbykim.com/cheese-and-strawberry-heart-pastries-recipe/