Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes

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These Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes are flaky, buttery pastries filled with a smooth vanilla cream cheese center and bursts of fresh strawberry flavor. Made with ready-made puff pastry, this bakery-style treat comes together easily while looking elegant enough for special occasions. Perfect for brunch, Valentine’s Day, baby showers, or cozy weekends, these heart-shaped danishes deliver big flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
• 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Red food coloring (optional)
• ½ cup fresh strawberries, diced
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon cold water

Instructions For Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes

1. Prepare the oven: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Make the filling: Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add a tiny drop of food coloring if desired.
3. Prepare pastry: Roll puff pastry lightly to remove creases. Cut heart shapes using a cookie cutter.
4. Create borders: Gently score a ½-inch border inside each heart without cutting through.
5. Assemble: Spoon cream cheese filling into the center. Top with diced strawberries.
6. Egg wash: Whisk egg with water and brush only the pastry edges.
7. Bake: Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden, puffed, and set.
8. Cool: Rest for a few minutes before serving. Optional glaze or powdered sugar may be added.

Pro Tips

• Keep puff pastry cold for maximum rise
• Use room-temperature cream cheese for a silky filling
• Avoid overfilling to prevent leaks
• Drain strawberries well to prevent sogginess

Why This Recipe Works

• Uses store-bought puff pastry for convenience
• Balanced sweetness with tangy cream cheese
• Elegant presentation with minimal effort
• Perfect texture: crisp edges, creamy center

Substitutions & Variations

• Fruit swap: Raspberries, blueberries, or peaches
• Flavor boost: Add lemon zest or almond extract
• Dairy-free: Use vegan cream cheese and pastry
• Mini version: Use smaller cutters for bite-sized treats

Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating Guide

• Make-ahead: Assemble and freeze unbaked danishes
• Storage: Refrigerate baked danishes up to 3 days
• Reheating: Warm in oven at 325°F for 5–8 minutes
• Freezing: Freeze baked or unbaked for up to 1 month

Serving Ideas For Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes

• Serve warm with coffee or tea
• Pair with fresh fruit and yogurt for brunch
• Add whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for dessert
• Perfect for romantic breakfasts or celebrations

Nutrition (Per Serving Estimate)

• Calories: ~280 kcal
• Protein: 5 g
• Carbohydrates: 28 g
• Fat: 16 g
• Sugar: 9 g

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen strawberries?
Yes, thaw and drain thoroughly before using.

How many danishes does one sheet make?
Typically 4 medium-sized heart danishes.

Is food coloring required?
No, it’s optional and only for appearance.

Can I prepare these ahead of time?
Yes, freeze assembled unbaked danishes and bake when needed.

These Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes are a simple yet stunning pastry that delivers bakery-quality results at home. With flaky layers, creamy filling, and fresh strawberry flavor, they’re guaranteed to impress for any occasion.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes

Olivia taling

These Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes are flaky, buttery pastries filled with a smooth vanilla cream cheese center and bursts of fresh strawberry flavor. Made with ready-made puff pastry, they deliver bakery-style elegance with minimal effort — perfect for brunch, Valentine’s Day, or special occasions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 4 danishes

Calories 280 kcal

Equipment

• baking sheet
• parchment paper
• Mixing bowl
• hand mixer or whisk
• heart-shaped cookie cutter
• pastry brush

Ingredients

  

• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
• 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• red food coloring (optional)
• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, diced
• 1 large egg
• 1 tbsp cold water

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add a tiny drop of red food coloring if using.
• Lightly roll the puff pastry to remove creases, then cut heart shapes using a cookie cutter.
• Gently score a 1/2-inch border inside each heart without cutting all the way through.
• Spoon the cream cheese filling into the center of each heart and top with diced strawberries.
• Whisk the egg with cold water and brush only the pastry edges with the egg wash.
• Bake for 12–15 minutes until the danishes are golden, puffed, and set.
• Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving. Add optional glaze or powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

Keep puff pastry cold for best rise and use room-temperature cream cheese for a smooth filling. Avoid overfilling to prevent leaks, and drain strawberries well to prevent sogginess. Optional glaze or powdered sugar can be added after baking.

Keyword heart shaped danish, puff pastry dessert, strawberry cream cheese danish, valentine pastry

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