Whip up these delightful Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes for a taste of pure indulgence! This recipe makes it easy to create beautiful, flaky pastries filled with a luscious strawberry and cream cheese mixture, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a special dessert anytime.
Key Ingredients for Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes
- 1 sheet (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup strawberry jam or preserves (seedless preferred)
- 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon milk or water (for egg wash)
- Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
- Fresh strawberries, sliced (for garnish, optional)
How to Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes
Whip up these Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes in a flash, perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself! The recipe is incredibly straightforward, promising a delightful balance of flaky pastry, sweet strawberries, and creamy, tangy filling. With just 30 minutes of active prep time, you can enjoy these warm, satisfying pastries without a fuss.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare Your Workspace and Puff Pastry: Lightly flour a clean work surface. Gently unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet. If it’s a bit sticky, you can lightly dust it with flour.
- Roll and Shape: Roll the puff pastry out slightly into a rectangle, about 10×12 inches. Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, trim the edges to create a neat rectangle. Then, cut the rectangle into two equal pieces, so you have two 5×12 inch rectangles.
- Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Prepare the Strawberry Layer: In a separate small bowl, stir the strawberry jam or preserves to loosen it up. If using chunky preserves, you might want to mash the larger pieces with a fork.
- Assemble the Hearts: Take one rectangle of puff pastry. Spread half of the cream cheese mixture evenly over one half of the pastry rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Then, spread half of the strawberry jam mixture over the cream cheese layer, again leaving a border.
- Fold and Seal: Fold the other half of the puff pastry rectangle over the filling, like closing a book. Gently press the edges together with your fingers or the tines of a fork to seal them well. Repeat this process with the second puff pastry rectangle.
- Cut the Heart Shapes: Now, it’s time to create those charming heart shapes! Place the sealed pastry rectangle on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, make a slit in the center of the folded edge, about 2 inches long. Then, make two diagonal cuts from the ends of that center slit outwards towards the corners, creating a heart shape when unfolded. You should have two heart-shaped pastries.
- Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the beaten egg and milk or water to create an egg wash. Gently brush the tops and sides of each heart Danish with the egg wash. This will give them a beautiful golden-brown sheen when baked.
- Chill (Optional but Recommended): For cleaner cuts and better puff, you can place the shaped danishes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and chill them in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes. This helps the puff pastry firm up.
- Preheat Your Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Bake the Danishes: Place the chilled danishes (still on the parchment-lined baking sheet) into the preheated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastries are puffed, golden brown, and the filling is bubbly. Keep an eye on them to prevent over-browning.
- Cool and Garnish: Once baked, carefully remove the danishes from the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool further.
- Decorate: Once slightly cooled, dust the Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes with powdered sugar, if desired. You can also garnish with fresh sliced strawberries for an extra burst of color and flavor. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes
You’ll absolutely adore these Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes for their charming heart shape and utterly decadent taste! The perfect balance of light, flaky puff pastry embracing a delightful swirl of tangy cream cheese and sweet strawberry jam creates a truly irresistible treat. Unlike store-bought pastries that can be expensive and less fresh, these homemade danishes offer incredible value without compromising on flavor or presentation, making them a budget-friendly indulgence.
The burst of sweet-tart strawberry jam paired with the ultra-creamy cream cheese filling is simply divine, creating a flavor profile that’s both comforting and exciting. They’re a delightful step up from a simple fruit tart, offering a more elegant and satisfying experience. So why wait? Gather your ingredients and treat yourself to these beautiful and delicious Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes today!
Storing and Reheating Tips
To store leftover Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes, ensure they have cooled completely. Place them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or for longer storage, refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The cream cheese filling makes them best enjoyed within a few days of baking.
To reheat, you can gently warm them in a toaster oven or a regular oven set at a low temperature (around 300°F / 150°C) for about 5-7 minutes, until they are slightly warmed through. This will help restore some of the puff pastry’s crispness. Avoid reheating in a microwave, as this can make the pastry soggy. Freezing is not ideal for this recipe as the puff pastry’s texture can be compromised.
Final Thoughts
These Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes are a beautiful and delicious way to celebrate any occasion or simply brighten a regular day. Give them a try, and you’ll discover how easy and rewarding it is to create such a delightful homemade treat!
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
- Matcha Cake Recipe
- find more in Pinterest
Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Lightly flour a clean work surface. Gently unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet. If it’s a bit sticky, you can lightly dust it with flour.1 sheet frozen puff pastry
- Roll the puff pastry out slightly into a rectangle, about 10×12 inches. Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, trim the edges to create a neat rectangle. Then, cut the rectangle into two equal pieces, so you have two 5×12 inch rectangles.1 sheet frozen puff pastry
- In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.4 ounces cream cheese, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a separate small bowl, stir the strawberry jam or preserves to loosen it up. If using chunky preserves, you might want to mash the larger pieces with a fork.1/2 cup strawberry jam or preserves
- Take one rectangle of puff pastry. Spread half of the cream cheese mixture evenly over one half of the pastry rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Then, spread half of the strawberry jam mixture over the cream cheese layer, again leaving a border.1 sheet frozen puff pastry, 4 ounces cream cheese, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 cup strawberry jam or preserves
- Fold the other half of the puff pastry rectangle over the filling, like closing a book. Gently press the edges together with your fingers or the tines of a fork to seal them well. Repeat this process with the second puff pastry rectangle.1 sheet frozen puff pastry
- Now, it’s time to create those charming heart shapes! Place the sealed pastry rectangle on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, make a slit in the center of the folded edge, about 2 inches long. Then, make two diagonal cuts from the ends of that center slit outwards towards the corners, creating a heart shape when unfolded. You should have two heart-shaped pastries.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the beaten egg and milk or water to create an egg wash. Gently brush the tops and sides of each heart Danish with the egg wash. This will give them a beautiful golden-brown sheen when baked.1 large egg, 1 tablespoon milk or water
- For cleaner cuts and better puff, you can place the shaped danishes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and chill them in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes. This helps the puff pastry firm up.1 sheet frozen puff pastry
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the chilled danishes (still on the parchment-lined baking sheet) into the preheated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastries are puffed, golden brown, and the filling is bubbly. Keep an eye on them to prevent over-browning.
- Once baked, carefully remove the danishes from the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool further.
- Once slightly cooled, dust the Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes with powdered sugar, if desired. You can also garnish with fresh sliced strawberries for an extra burst of color and flavor. Serve warm or at room temperature.powdered sugar, fresh strawberries