Description
Delight in these charming Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes, featuring flaky puff pastry filled with a smooth cream cheese mixture and fresh strawberries. Perfect as a sweet breakfast treat or an elegant dessert, these danishes are easy to prepare and bake to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry
- 1 sheet store-bought puff pastry
- Flour, for dusting
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
Egg Wash
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking flaky danishes.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Lightly dust your work surface with flour. Roll out the store-bought puff pastry sheet until it is about 1/8 inch thick. Use a heart-shaped cutter or a knife to cut out heart shapes from the dough.
- Make Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, thoroughly combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Danishes: Place a spoonful of the cream cheese filling onto the center of each heart-shaped pastry. Top generously with sliced fresh strawberries.
- Shape Pastries: Gently fold the edges of each heart towards the center to partially enclose the filling, creating a neat shape.
- Apply Egg Wash: Beat the egg and brush it evenly over the edges and tops of the danishes to help them achieve a beautiful golden-brown finish when baked.
- Bake: Arrange the danishes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastries are puffed up and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and allow the danishes to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving to let the filling set and to avoid burning your mouth.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is fully softened for a smooth filling consistency.
- Use fresh strawberries for the best flavor and texture.
- You can swap strawberries for other berries like blueberries or raspberries if desired.
- Ensure the puff pastry is kept cold until ready to roll to maintain flakiness.
- Use parchment paper on the baking sheet to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- These danishes are best enjoyed the same day but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
