Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Danishes
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.
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.