If you’ve ever dreamed of a morning treat that’s flaky, fruity, and irresistibly creamy all at once, then this Strawberry Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries Recipe is exactly what your kitchen needs. Bursting with fresh strawberries and smooth cream cheese wrapped in golden puff pastry, these pastries bring together the perfect harmony of textures and flavors to start any day on a joyful note. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just treating yourself, this recipe is simple, impressive, and guaranteed to bring smiles all around the breakfast table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering a handful of basic ingredients is all it takes to create these delightful pastries. Each component plays a special role, contributing to the filling’s rich creaminess, the fruit’s fresh sweetness, and the crust’s buttery crispness.
- Puff pastry sheet (1 sheet, 8.6 oz): This is your golden, flaky base that holds everything together beautifully.
- Cream cheese (2 oz, softened): Provides a luscious, tangy layer that balances the sweetness perfectly.
- Strawberry jam (1 1/2 Tbsp): Adds concentrated fruity flavor and a touch of natural sweetness.
- Red food coloring (1 drop, optional): Enhances the vibrant color of the cream cheese mixture for visual appeal.
- Very small diced strawberries (2/3 cup): Fresh fruit pieces add juicy bursts and vibrant texture to each bite.
- Large egg (1, whisked with 1 Tbsp water): This egg wash helps create that gorgeous golden crust on the pastries.
- Powdered sugar (for dusting): A delicate finishing touch that adds a bit of sparkle and sweetness.
How to Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Puff Pastry and Oven
Start by thawing your puff pastry as directed on the package for a perfectly workable dough. Halfway through thawing, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring it’s nice and hot to bake those pastries to golden perfection.
Step 2: Mix the Cream Cheese Filling
While waiting for the dough, blend softened cream cheese with strawberry jam in a small bowl. For a pop of color, add a drop of red food coloring or beet powder. Use a rubber spatula to press the mixture against the bowl’s edges, smoothing out any lumps for a silky consistency, then chill it briefly to firm up before spreading.
Step 3: Cut Puff Pastry Into Hearts
With a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut as many heart shapes as possible from your sheet, positioning them tightly to maximize your yield. Transfer each heart to a lined baking sheet with about 1 1/2 inches of space between to allow for puffing up.
Step 4: Score the Hearts
Using a sharp paring knife, lightly score a smaller heart inside each pastry heart about 1/3 inch from the edge. Be careful not to cut all the way through. This scoring allows the edges to puff up, creating a charming raised border around your filling.
Step 5: Add Cream Cheese and Strawberries
Spoon about one teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into each heart, gently spreading it toward the edges but not over the scored border. Sprinkle the finely diced strawberries on top, again keeping inside the edge. This layering is key for that perfect bite of creamy and fruity goodness.
Step 6: Apply Egg Wash and Bake
Brush the exposed 1/3-inch edge of each pastry with the egg wash mixture. This step ensures a beautifully golden and glossy crust once baked. Place the tray in your preheated oven and bake for 14 to 15 minutes, until the edges are puffed and sun-kissed golden.
Step 7: Cool and Dust
Remove your pastries from the oven and set them on a wire rack to cool slightly. Finish with a light dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant, sweet finale just before serving.
How to Serve Strawberry Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries Recipe
Garnishes
To really make your pastries pop, consider fresh mint leaves or a few extra whole strawberries on the side for added color and fragrance. A tiny drizzle of honey or a splash of strawberry syrup can also elevate the presentation beautifully.
Side Dishes
Serve these pastries alongside a cup of your favorite hot coffee or tea to complement their sweetness. Fresh fruit salad or a light yogurt parfait will add freshness and balance the richness of the cream cheese.
Creative Ways to Present
Turn these charming hearts into a festive centerpiece by arranging them on a tiered serving tray or a rustic wooden board. For a brunch gathering, pair them with edible flowers or themed decorations to make your feast feel extra special.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one day. After that, the puff pastry may lose its crispness, so best enjoyed fresh!
Freezing
These pastries freeze wonderfully before baking. Simply prepare the hearts, fill them, and freeze on a tray until solid. Then transfer to a freezer bag and keep for up to a month. Bake straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-baked flakiness, warm leftover pastries in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 to 7 minutes. Microwaving is not recommended as it hardens the pastry.
FAQs
Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?
Fresh strawberries give the best texture and flavor, but if you use frozen, be sure to thaw and drain them well to avoid soggy pastries.
Is there a substitute for puff pastry?
While puff pastry gives the signature flakiness, you could try croissant dough for a more buttery flavor, though it may change the texture.
How do I prevent the cream cheese mixture from making the pastry soggy?
Chilling the cream cheese mixture before assembling and avoiding spreading it over the puffed edge helps keep the pastry crisp.
Can I make these pastries vegan?
Yes! Use a plant-based cream cheese and egg substitute like aquafaba for the wash, and make sure your puff pastry is dairy-free.
How many pastries does this recipe make?
You can get approximately nine heart-shaped pastries from one sheet of puff pastry, perfect for sharing or a small gathering.
Final Thoughts
This Strawberry Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries Recipe brings such joy to mornings with its bright flavors and tender flakiness. You’ll find it’s not just a recipe but a warm hug on your breakfast plate. Give it a try and watch how quickly it becomes a beloved tradition in your home.
PrintStrawberry Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries Recipe
These Strawberry Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries are flaky, tender puff pastry hearts filled with a luscious blend of cream cheese and strawberry jam, topped with fresh diced strawberries. Perfectly golden and dusted with powdered sugar, they make a delightful and elegant breakfast or brunch treat that comes together quickly and bakes to perfection in under 45 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 9 pastries
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Pastry
- 1 (8.6 oz) sheet puff pastry
Filling
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 Tbsp strawberry jam
- 1 drop red food coloring (or use beet powder), optional
- 2/3 cup very small diced strawberries
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg, whisked with 1 Tbsp water
Finishing
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare Puff Pastry and Oven: Thaw the puff pastry sheet according to the package instructions. Halfway through thawing, preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready when the pastries are assembled.
- Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, strawberry jam, and optional red food coloring. Use a rubber spatula to mix and press the mixture against the bottom and sides of the bowl to smooth out any lumps. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator or quickly in the freezer to firm it up before using.
- Cut Puff Pastry Hearts: Once thawed, use a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out heart shapes from the puff pastry. Place them as close together on the sheet to maximize the number of hearts you can get.
- Place Hearts on Baking Sheet: Transfer the cut-out hearts to a baking sheet lined with silicone baking mat or parchment paper, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart to allow room for puffing.
- Score the Pastry Hearts: Use a sharp paring knife to gently score a smaller heart inside each pastry heart, about 1/3 inch from the edge. Be careful not to cut all the way through the dough; this will help the edges rise higher while baking.
- Fill with Cream Cheese Mixture: Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling into the center of each heart. Spread it outward gently, leaving the 1/3-inch edge free of filling to ensure proper puffing.
- Add Strawberries: Sprinkle the very small diced strawberries evenly on top of the cream cheese filling, again not covering the 1/3-inch edge of the pastry.
- Brush Edges with Egg Wash: Using your fingertip or a pastry brush, lightly brush the exposed 1/3-inch edge of each heart with the whisked egg and water mixture. This will give the edges a beautiful golden color when baked.
- Bake the Pastries: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the pastries for 14 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are puffed and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pastries from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, dust the tops with powdered sugar. Serve the pastries the same day for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Make sure the puff pastry is properly thawed but still cold for easy cutting and shaping.
- Use a sharp cookie cutter and paring knife to get clean shapes and neat scoring on the dough.
- You can substitute any berry jam if you prefer flavors other than strawberry.
- Fresh small diced strawberries are key for the best texture and sweetness.
- Serve pastries fresh; they are best enjoyed the day they are made to maintain flakiness.
- For a vegan version, use dairy-free cream cheese and egg substitute for wash, but baking times may vary slightly.
