Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Pastries (Printable)

Golden flaky pastries with sweet cream cheese and strawberry filling, shaped into charming hearts for special occasions.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pastry Components

01 - 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (approximately 17.5 oz), 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 white sugar
05 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Filling

06 - 4 tablespoons strawberry preserves or jam
07 - 6 fresh strawberries (about 3.5 oz), hulled and sliced thinly

→ Vanilla Glaze

08 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar (approximately 2 oz)
09 - 1 to 2 tablespoons whole milk
10 - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - On a lightly floured work surface, unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet. Using a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 16 heart shapes. Arrange 8 solid hearts on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart.
03 - Using the remaining 8 hearts, cut out centers with a 2-inch heart-shaped cutter to create heart-shaped frames. Reserve centers for another use if desired.
04 - Lightly brush the edges of the 8 solid hearts on the baking sheet with beaten egg. Carefully place the heart frames on top, pressing gently to seal the edges together.
05 - In a small mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat with a fork or small whisk until completely smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
06 - Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of cream cheese filling into the center cavity of each heart frame. Top each with 1/2 tablespoon strawberry preserves, then arrange 2 to 3 thin strawberry slices on top.
07 - Brush the exposed pastry edges with additional beaten egg for golden coloration.
08 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes until pastries are deeply golden, puffed, and crisp. Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to allow filling to set.
09 - While pastries cool, whisk powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. Add additional milk 1/4 teaspoon at a time if needed to achieve drizzling consistency.
10 - Drizzle glaze over the cooled danishes in a decorative pattern. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of tangy cream cheese and sweet strawberry creates that perfect bakery flavor you crave
  • These look impressive but come together in under 45 minutes, even if you are new to pastry
02 -
  • If your puff pastry starts to feel sticky or soft while working, pop the whole baking sheet in the fridge for 10 minutes before continuing
  • The egg wash is essential for getting that rich golden color, so do not skip this step even if you are tempted
03 -
  • Work quickly with puff pastry and keep everything cold for the flakiest results
  • Use kitchen shears to trim any uneven edges after cutting for perfect heart shapes

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