Description
Delight in these charming Strawberry Puff Pastry Hearts, featuring flaky, golden puff pastry filled with sweet strawberry jam. Perfect for a romantic breakfast, festive brunch, or an elegant dessert, these bite-sized treats combine crispy layers with a luscious fruity filling, topped with a delicate dusting of powdered sugar.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 1 sheet of puff pastry (store-bought or homemade)
Filling
- ½ cup strawberry jam or strawberry preserves
Egg Wash
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Topping
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set 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 Pastry: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry sheet gently to smooth out any creases and create an even thickness for uniform baking.
- Cut Heart Shapes: Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 8-10 hearts from the pastry depending on the cutter size. These will form the base and top of each filled pastry.
- Arrange Base Herbs: Place half of the cut heart-shaped pastry pieces onto the prepared baking sheet, evenly spaced to allow room for puffing.
- Add Filling: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of strawberry jam into the center of each heart on the baking sheet, leaving a small border around the edges to ensure proper sealing.
- Moisten Edges: Lightly brush the edges of each jam-filled heart with a small amount of water to help seal the top layer securely.
- Seal Pastries: Gently place the remaining heart-shaped pastry pieces on top of the jam-covered hearts. Press around the edges carefully to seal them together, preventing jam leakage during baking.
- Apply Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water to create an egg wash. Brush the tops of the sealed pastries with this mixture to encourage a shiny, golden-brown finish.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastries are puffed up and have turned a beautiful golden brown color.
- Cool: Remove the baked strawberry hearts from the oven and allow them to cool slightly on the baking sheet to set the filling.
- Finish and Serve: Once cooled, gently dust the pastries with powdered sugar for an elegant, sweet finishing touch before serving.
Notes
- For best results, use cold puff pastry to ensure maximum puff and flakiness.
- You can substitute strawberry jam with other fruit preserves like raspberry or apricot for variety.
- If you don’t have a heart-shaped cutter, use any small cookie cutter or carefully cut shapes with a knife.
- Ensure the edges are well sealed to avoid jam leaking during baking.
- Serve these pastries warm or at room temperature for the best taste and texture.
