The quest for the perfect flaky, fruit-filled pastry ends with these delightful Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes. This easy-to-follow recipe will guide you through creating beautiful, restaurant-quality treats right in your own kitchen, making them a wonderful addition to any breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea.
Key Ingredients for Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes:
- 1 (17.3 ounce) package puff pastry, thawed
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup strawberry jam (or your favorite strawberry preserves)
- 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Optional: Powdered sugar, for dusting
How to Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes:
Whip up these Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes in under an hour, making them an incredibly satisfying and surprisingly simple baking project. The combination of buttery, flaky pastry, a rich, tangy cream cheese filling, and sweet strawberry jam creates a truly delightful experience. Perfect for impressing guests or simply indulging yourself, these danishes are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Prep time: 20 minutes. Bake time: 20-25 minutes.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Prepare the Puff Pastry: Gently unfold the thawed puff pastry sheets onto a lightly floured surface. If your pastry comes in two connected sheets, separate them. You want a smooth, even surface to work with.
- Create the Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer or whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and thoroughly combined. There should be no lumps of cream cheese remaining.
- Shape the Pastry Hearts: Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter (approximately 3-4 inches wide), cut out as many hearts as possible from each puff pastry sheet. You should aim for at least 8-10 hearts. Re-roll the scraps gently if needed to cut additional hearts, but try not to overwork the pastry.
- Assemble the Danishes: Place half of the cut pastry hearts onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. On each of these hearts, spread about 1-2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture, leaving a small border around the edges. Then, dollop about 1 tablespoon of strawberry jam over the cream cheese filling on each pastry heart.
- Top and Seal: Gently place the remaining pastry hearts on top of the filled hearts. Using your fingers or a fork, gently press down the edges of the top heart to seal it to the bottom heart, creating a pocket for the filling. You can also use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges for extra security and decoration.
- Prepare for Baking: Brush the tops of each Danish with the beaten egg wash. This will give them a beautiful golden-brown sheen as they bake. If you wish, you can use a sharp knife or a skewer to very gently poke a small vent in the center of each Danish to allow steam to escape.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the danishes for 20-25 minutes, or until they are puffed up, beautifully golden brown, and the filling is bubbly.
- Cool and Finish: Once baked, carefully remove the danishes from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. If desired, dust with powdered sugar just before serving for an extra touch of sweetness and visual appeal.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes:
These Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes are an absolute masterpiece of sweet and savory, offering a truly delightful taste experience. The star of this show is undoubtedly the luxurious, creamy cream cheese filling perfectly balanced by the sweet tang of strawberry jam, all encased in incredibly light and flaky puff pastry. Making these at home is not only incredibly rewarding but also remarkably cost-effective compared to purchasing them from a bakery, allowing you to enjoy gourmet treats without the gourmet price tag. The vibrant red of the strawberry jam peeking through, coupled with the golden crust, creates a visually stunning pastry that’s almost too pretty to eat.
Unlike a simple fruit tart or a basic Danish with just jam, these incorporate the rich creaminess of cream cheese, adding a decadent layer of flavor and texture that elevates them to a whole new level of deliciousness. They offer all the elegance of a special occasion pastry but are surprisingly approachable for a weekend treat. Grab your ingredients and get ready to fall in love with these irresistible danishes – you won’t regret whipping up a batch!
Storing and Reheating Tips:
To keep your Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes fresh and delicious for as long as possible, store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you have more than that, or if your kitchen is particularly warm, it’s best to refrigerate them for up to 4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them. Allow the danishes to cool completely, then wrap them individually in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil or place them in a freezer-safe container. They will keep in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
To reheat, if at room temperature or refrigerated, you can gently warm them in a 300°F (150°C) oven for about 5-7 minutes, or until they are slightly warmed through and the pastry is re-crisped. For frozen danishes, it’s best to thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before reheating them. Alternatively, you can reheat directly from frozen in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through and slightly crisp.
Final Thoughts:
These Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes are the perfect blend of simple elegance and irresistible flavor. They’re a fantastic way to elevate your morning routine or surprise loved ones with a special homemade treat. Give them a try this weekend – your taste buds will thank you!
Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Gently unfold the thawed puff pastry sheets onto a lightly floured surface. If your pastry comes in two connected sheets, separate them. You want a smooth, even surface to work with.1 (17.3 ounce) package puff pastry, thawed
- In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer or whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and thoroughly combined. There should be no lumps of cream cheese remaining.8 ounces cream cheese, softened, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter (approximately 3-4 inches wide), cut out as many hearts as possible from each puff pastry sheet. You should aim for at least 8-10 hearts. Re-roll the scraps gently if needed to cut additional hearts, but try not to overwork the pastry.1 (17.3 ounce) package puff pastry, thawed
- Place half of the cut pastry hearts onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. On each of these hearts, spread about 1-2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture, leaving a small border around the edges. Then, dollop about 1 tablespoon of strawberry jam over the cream cheese filling on each pastry heart.1/2 cup strawberry jam (or your favorite strawberry preserves)
- Gently place the remaining pastry hearts on top of the filled hearts. Using your fingers or a fork, gently press down the edges of the top heart to seal it to the bottom heart, creating a pocket for the filling. You can also use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges for extra security and decoration.
- Brush the tops of each Danish with the beaten egg wash. This will give them a beautiful golden-brown sheen as they bake. If you wish, you can use a sharp knife or a skewer to very gently poke a small vent in the center of each Danish to allow steam to escape.1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the danishes for 20-25 minutes, or until they are puffed up, beautifully golden brown, and the filling is bubbly.
- Once baked, carefully remove the danishes from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. If desired, dust with powdered sugar just before serving for an extra touch of sweetness and visual appeal.Powdered sugar, for dusting