Description
These delightful Strawberry Puff Pastry Hearts are a charming and delicious treat perfect for any occasion. Made with flaky puff pastry and sweet strawberry jam, these easy-to-make pastries bake to golden perfection and are dusted with powdered sugar for a beautiful finish. Ideal as a dessert or snack, they offer a perfect balance of buttery, crispy pastry and fruity sweetness.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 1 sheet of puff pastry (store-bought or homemade)
Filling
- ½ cup strawberry jam or strawberry preserves
For Egg Wash
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
For Garnish
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Roll out the puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface to smooth out any creases, ensuring an even thickness for uniform baking.
- Cut Shapes: Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many heart shapes as possible from the puff pastry sheet, aiming for about 8-10 hearts depending on the cutter size.
- Arrange Base Hearts: Place half of the heart-shaped puff pastry cutouts evenly onto the prepared baking sheet as the base layer for the pastries.
- Add Filling: Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of strawberry jam or preserves onto the center of each base heart, leaving a small border around the edges to avoid leaking.
- Brush Edges with Water: Lightly brush the edges of the pastry hearts with water to help seal the top layer securely.
- Top the Pastries: Place the remaining heart-shaped puff pastry pieces on top of the jam-covered bases, gently pressing the edges together to seal each pastry.
- Apply Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water to create an egg wash. Brush this mixture over the tops of the sealed pastries to promote a golden, glossy finish once baked.
- Bake: Bake the assembled pastries in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they are puffed up and golden brown.
- Cool: Remove the pastries from the oven and allow them to cool slightly on the baking sheet to set.
- Finish and Serve: Once cooled, dust the pastries lightly with powdered sugar before serving for a sweet, decorative touch.
Notes
- Ensure the puff pastry is well chilled before rolling to prevent sticking and excessive softness.
- Use a sharp heart-shaped cookie cutter for clean edges and uniform shapes.
- If you don’t have strawberry jam, other fruit preserves like raspberry or apricot work well as alternatives.
- Be careful not to overfill the pastries to avoid leaking during baking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and consume within 2 days for best freshness.
