Description
Delightfully flaky and sweet, these Strawberry Puff Pastry Hearts are perfect for a romantic breakfast, a charming dessert, or a special treat any time of day. Made with crisp puff pastry filled with luscious strawberry jam and finished with a golden egg wash and a dusting of powdered sugar, these heart-shaped pastries are as delightful to behold as they are delicious to eat.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 sheet of puff pastry (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ cup strawberry jam or strawberry preserves
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Roll Out Puff Pastry: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry sheet to smooth out any creases, making the dough easier to work with and ensuring a uniform thickness for baking.
- Cut Heart Shapes: Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut as many hearts as possible from the pastry sheet, aiming for about 8-10 pieces depending on the cutter size.
- Arrange First Layer: Place half of the cut heart shapes evenly on the prepared baking sheet, creating the base layer for your pastries.
- Add Strawberry Jam: Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of strawberry jam or preserves onto the center of each heart, leaving a small border around the edges to allow for sealing.
- Moisten Edges: Brush the edges of the pastry hearts lightly with water to help the top layer adhere securely when sealed.
- Seal Pastry Hearts: Place the remaining heart-shaped pastry pieces over the jam-covered ones, gently pressing around the edges to seal them and prevent the filling from leaking during baking.
- Apply Egg Wash: Whisk together the egg and water in a small bowl to create an egg wash. Brush this over the top of each pastry heart to promote a beautiful golden color and shine once baked.
- Bake Pastries: Bake the prepared pastry hearts in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they puff up and turn a golden brown color.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the pastries from the oven and let them cool slightly on the baking sheet so they firm up a bit but remain warm.
- Dust with Powdered Sugar: Once cooled slightly, dust the tops of the pastries with powdered sugar for a final touch of sweetness before serving.
Notes
- You can use homemade or store-bought puff pastry sheets depending on your preference and convenience.
- For a shiny finish, make sure to apply the egg wash evenly over all exposed pastry surfaces.
- Make sure not to overfill with jam to avoid leakage during baking.
- These pastries are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- To re-crisp, warm them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for a few minutes before serving.
