Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes (Printable)

Flaky golden pastries filled with sweetened cream cheese and strawberry preserves, shaped into charming hearts.

# What You Need:

→ Pastry Components

01 - 1 sheet (approximately 17.3 oz) frozen puff pastry, 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 Topping

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

→ Vanilla Glaze

08 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar (approximately 2.1 oz)
09 - 1-2 tablespoons whole milk
10 - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
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.
03 - Using a smaller 2-inch heart cutter, cut the centers from the remaining 8 hearts to create heart-shaped frames.
04 - Brush the edges of the solid hearts on the baking sheet with beaten egg. Gently place the heart frames on top, pressing lightly to seal the edges.
05 - In a small mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat with a fork or hand mixer until completely smooth and creamy.
06 - Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of cream cheese filling into the center of each pastry shell. Top with 1/2 tablespoon strawberry preserves and arrange a few fresh strawberry slices on top.
07 - Brush the exposed pastry edges with remaining beaten egg for a golden finish.
08 - Bake for 16-18 minutes until pastries are puffed and deeply golden. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth and drizzling consistency. Drizzle generously over cooled pastries before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They look impressive but come together in under an hour, even if you are new to pastry
  • The combination of tangy cream cheese and sweet strawberry filling hits every single craving spot
02 -
  • If your puff pastry starts getting warm and sticky while you are working, pop the whole baking sheet in the freezer for 5 minutes
  • The glaze should be thick enough to hold its shape but thin enough to drizzle off the spoon in a steady stream
03 -
  • Use a ruler to measure your heart shapes so they are all uniform, which helps them bake evenly
  • If you do not have heart cutters, fold parchment paper in half, draw half a heart, cut it out, and trace around it with a knife

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