Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes Recipe
Delight in these lovely Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes made with flaky store-bought puff pastry, a luscious cream cheese filling tinted with a touch of red food coloring, and topped with fresh diced strawberries. Perfect for a romantic breakfast or a sweet treat any time of the day, these easy-to-make danishes bake to a golden perfection with a crisp, buttery crust and a creamy, fruity center.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 7 heart-shaped danishes 1x
- Category: Breakfast Pastry
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry
- 1 sheet store bought puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
Cream Cheese Filling
- 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 tbsp white sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Red food colouring, a few drops
- 1/2 cup diced strawberries
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp cold water
Instructions
- Thaw Puff Pastry: Thaw the puff pastry sheet as per package directions, either at room temperature for about 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator to ensure it becomes pliable but remains cool.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy clean up.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium-sized bowl, blend the cream cheese, white sugar, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy using a mixer or whisk. Stir in a few drops of red food colouring to give a subtle pink tint to the mixture. Set aside.
- Cut Out Hearts: Unfold the thawed puff pastry on a clean surface. Using a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out seven hearts (or up to nine depending on the size of your pastry and cutter). Arrange the hearts 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Score Borders: With a smaller heart cutter or a sharp knife, lightly score a border about 1/4 inch from the edges of each heart without cutting all the way through. This border creates a frame that will puff up while baking.
- Fill Danishes: Spoon about 1/2 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each heart, spreading it to stay within the scored border. Evenly sprinkle diced strawberries on top of the cream cheese within the border.
- Apply Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and cold water to make an egg wash. Using a pastry brush or your finger, carefully brush the egg wash only on the pastry border around the filling to help it brown beautifully during baking.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 15-17 minutes until the edges are puffed up and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the danishes from the oven and let them cool on the pan for about 5 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set slightly. Enjoy them warm for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Ensure the puff pastry is well thawed but still cold to prevent it from sticking or tearing during handling.
- If red food colouring is not available, the cream cheese filling can be left plain or tinted with a little strawberry puree for natural color and flavor.
- You can substitute diced strawberries with other fresh berries like raspberries or blueberries if desired.
- For an even richer flavor, you may add a teaspoon of lemon zest to the cream cheese filling.
- If you want more danishes, use additional puff pastry sheets and scale the cream cheese filling accordingly.
- Serve the danishes shortly after baking for the best puff and freshness, or reheat gently before serving.
Keywords: Strawberry danishes, cream cheese danish, heart shaped pastry, puff pastry dessert, Valentine's Day pastry
