Description
Sweet romance meets culinary creativity in these delicate strawberry puff pastry hearts, perfect for Valentine’s Day or any moment needing delightful charm. Crisp, buttery pastry embraces fresh strawberries, creating an elegant dessert that invites you to savor love in every delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed if frozen)
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) strawberry preserves or jam
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) granulated sugar (optional, for sprinkling)
Finishing Ingredients:
- Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the workspace by setting the oven temperature to 375F (190C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Dust a clean surface with flour and gently smooth out the puff pastry sheet, eliminating any visible wrinkles or folds.
- Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, carefully cut out an equal number of pastry shapes, aiming for 8-10 complete pairs depending on the cutter’s dimensions.
- Arrange one set of pastry hearts on the prepared baking sheet, leaving sufficient space between each piece.
- Delicately spread strawberry preserves in the center of each bottom heart, ensuring a small border remains uncovered around the edges.
- Apply a thin layer of beaten egg along the pastry edges to create a secure seal between layers.
- Carefully position the remaining heart-shaped pastry pieces on top of the jam-covered bases, gently pressing the edges to create a tight seal.
- Crimp the pastry edges using a fork to create an attractive, textured border and enhance the seal.
- Brush the top of each pastry heart with beaten egg and optionally sprinkle with granulated sugar for added sweetness and golden color.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until the pastry achieves a rich, golden appearance and becomes fully puffed.
- Remove from the oven and allow the pastries to cool slightly, maintaining their delicate structure.
- Optional: Dust the cooled hearts with a light layer of powdered sugar for an elegant finishing touch.
- Serve the pastry hearts warm or at room temperature, perfect for a delightful sweet treat.
Notes
- Select high-quality, all-butter puff pastry for the most flaky and rich texture that melts in your mouth.
- Chill the pastry briefly before cutting to ensure clean, crisp heart shapes without stretching the dough.
- Use homemade or premium strawberry preserves with chunks of real fruit for an intense, natural berry flavor that elevates the pastry.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting the traditional puff pastry with gluten-free puff pastry available in specialty stores, maintaining the same delicate, crispy result.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg