Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Strawberry Cream Cheese Hearts
Preparing Your Workspace and Ingredients

Begin by ensuring all your ingredients are at the proper temperature. The cream cheese should be soft enough to mix smoothly but not melted. Remove your puff pastry from the freezer about 40 minutes before you plan to work with it—it should be cold but pliable.

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Having everything ready before you start working with the pastry is crucial, as puff pastry works best when kept cold.

Making the Cream Cheese Filling

In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon zest, beating until well combined and creamy. The lemon zest adds a bright note that complements the strawberry jam beautifully. Set this mixture aside while you prepare the pastry.

Cutting and Shaping the Hearts

Unfold one sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, gently roll it out to smooth any creases and create a slightly larger rectangle, about 10×12 inches. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter (approximately 3-4 inches), cut out as many hearts as possible. You should get about 8-10 hearts per sheet. Gather the scraps, re-roll once, and cut additional hearts.

Transfer half of the heart shapes to your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. These will be your bases. The remaining hearts will become the tops.

Creating the Heart Windows

For the top hearts, use a smaller heart-shaped cutter (about 1.5-2 inches) to cut out the centers, creating a frame. These cutout centers can be baked separately as mini treats. This window allows the beautiful cream cheese filling and strawberry jam to show through, creating that stunning visual appeal.

Assembling the Strawberry Cream Cheese Hearts

Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture onto the center of each base heart, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Add about 1 teaspoon of strawberry jam on top of the cream cheese, spreading it gently but not quite to the edges.

Brush the exposed edges of each base heart with the beaten egg. Carefully place a heart frame on top of each filled base, pressing gently around the edges to seal. Use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges decoratively, which both seals the pastry and adds visual interest.

Baking the Cream Cheese Heart Pastries

Brush the top of each assembled heart with the egg wash, being careful not to let it pool in the center. Sprinkle with coarse sugar for a beautiful sparkle and slight crunch. The egg wash ensures that golden, glossy finish that makes these strawberry cream cheese hearts so visually appealing.

Bake for 18-22 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and deeply golden brown. The pastry should sound hollow when tapped lightly. If the centers are browning too quickly, you can tent them loosely with aluminum foil for the last 5 minutes of baking.

Cooling and Finishing

Remove the cream cheese heart pastries from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This brief resting period allows the filling to set slightly, making them easier to handle.

Once completely cool, dust generously with powdered sugar using a fine-mesh sieve. For an extra special presentation, you can add sliced fresh strawberries and mint leaves just before serving.

Nutritional Information

Per serving (1 heart pastry):

Calories: 285
Total Fat: 17g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Cholesterol: 35mg
Sodium: 195mg
Total Carbohydrates: 28g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 4g

Note: Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific brands and quantities used.

Presentation Ideas for Strawberry Cream Cheese Hearts

The inherent beauty of these strawberry cream cheese hearts makes them naturally photogenic, but here are some ways to elevate your presentation:

For Breakfast or Brunch: Arrange the hearts on a white serving platter with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries scattered around them. Add a small bowl of extra strawberry jam and perhaps some whipped cream on the side.

For Afternoon Tea: Create a tiered presentation with these cream cheese heart pastries on the top tier, small sandwiches on the middle, and scones on the bottom. Serve with hot tea in delicate china cups.

For Valentine’s Day: Place each heart on a small individual plate with a dusting of powdered sugar and a fresh rose petal for an ultra-romantic presentation. Drizzle the plate with a bit of strawberry sauce for professional flair.

Gift Packaging: These pastries make wonderful gifts. Package them in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon, or arrange them in a decorative box lined with parchment paper.

Beverage Pairings for Cream Cheese Heart Pastries

These strawberry cream cheese hearts pair beautifully with various beverages:

Coffee and Tea:

Cappuccino or latte: The milk balances the sweetness
Earl Grey tea: Bergamot notes complement the strawberry
Chamomile tea: Light and floral, doesn’t compete with the pastry
French press coffee: Bold enough to stand up to the rich filling

Special Occasion Drinks:

Champagne or Prosecco: Perfect for romantic breakfasts
Strawberry mimosas: Echo the strawberry flavor
Rose wine: Light and romantic
Sparkling rosé lemonade: For a non-alcoholic special occasion drink

For Brunch:

Freshly squeezed orange juice
Berry smoothies
Iced vanilla latte