Description
Delicate strawberry cream cheese puffs dance with French pastry elegance, offering a sweet symphony of creamy textures and fruity notes. Pastry enthusiasts will savor these light, airy delights that blend rich cream cheese with fresh strawberries in a perfect culinary embrace.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry and Filling:
- 1 package puff pastry, store-bought, thawed
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (150 grams) fresh strawberries, diced
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Egg Wash and Topping:
- 1 egg
- Granulated sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- Prepare the kitchen workspace and preheat the oven to 400F (200C), positioning the rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Create a luscious filling by whisking cream cheese until silky. Incorporate powdered sugar and vanilla extract, blending until completely smooth. Gently fold diced strawberries into the mixture, ensuring even distribution.
- Dust a clean surface with flour and carefully roll out puff pastry to a thin, uniform thickness. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to craft precise pastry cutouts with clean edges.
- Carefully spoon the strawberry cream cheese mixture onto half of the heart pastry pieces, maintaining a small border around the edges to prevent leakage during baking.
- Delicately place matching heart-shaped pastry pieces on top of the filled sections. Press edges firmly with fingertips to create a tight seal. Crimp borders using a fork for additional security and decorative texture.
- Whisk an egg thoroughly and brush the surface of each pastry, creating a golden sheen. Sprinkle granulated sugar across the tops for a delicate crystalline finish.
- Transfer pastries to the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching. Bake for 15-20 minutes until pastries transform into a rich, golden brown color with crisp, flaky edges.
- Remove from oven and allow pastries to cool for several minutes. Serve warm to appreciate the delicate texture and vibrant strawberry flavor.
Notes
- Cream Cheese Temperature Ensure cream cheese is fully softened at room temperature for a silky, lump-free filling that blends smoothly and spreads easily.
- Strawberry Moisture Control Pat diced strawberries dry with paper towels to prevent excess liquid from making the filling runny and compromising pastry texture.
- Egg Wash Pro Tip Use a pastry brush with soft bristles for an even, glossy golden-brown finish that looks professionally baked and creates a beautiful sheen.
- Dietary Adaptations Swap puff pastry for gluten-free alternatives and use dairy-free cream cheese to make these pastries accessible for different dietary needs without sacrificing delicious flavor.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg