Description
Delicate “strawberry puff pastry hearts” dance with romantic elegance, blending flaky pastry and sweet berry essence. Sweet passion unfolds through simple ingredients, promising pure culinary delight you can savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed if frozen)
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) strawberry preserves or jam
Egg and Topping Ingredients:
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) granulated sugar (optional, for sprinkling)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the workspace by setting the oven temperature to 375F (190C) and positioning the rack in the center. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Dust a clean work surface with flour and gently unfold the puff pastry sheet. Smooth out any visible creases or folds with a rolling pin, ensuring an even thickness across the dough.
- Select a heart-shaped cookie cutter and carefully cut out matching pairs of pastry hearts. Aim for clean, precise cuts that will create symmetrical pastry shapes.
- Arrange half of the heart-shaped pastry pieces on the prepared baking sheet, leaving slight space between each one. Delicately spread strawberry preserves in the center of each pastry, maintaining a small border around the edges.
- Paint the pastry edges with beaten egg using a pastry brush, which will help seal the layers and create a golden finish. Carefully place the remaining heart-shaped pastries on top, gently pressing the edges to secure.
- Create a decorative edge by crimping the pastry borders with a fork, ensuring a tight seal. Generously brush the top of each pastry with beaten egg and sprinkle with granulated sugar for added texture and sweetness.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. Watch for a uniform golden-brown color and puffy texture, indicating the pastries are perfectly cooked.
- Remove from the oven and let the pastries cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Once slightly cooled, dust with powdered sugar for an elegant presentation. Serve warm or at room temperature as a delightful sweet treat.
Notes
- Pick smooth, high-quality puff pastry to ensure clean heart-shaped cuts and flaky texture.
- Keep pastry chilled until ready to use, preventing butter from melting and maintaining crisp layers.
- Use homemade or premium strawberry preserves for more intense fruit flavor and less artificial sweetness.
- Avoid overfilling with jam to prevent leaking and ensure clean, sealed edges during baking.
- Create uniform hearts by firmly pressing cookie cutter and cutting pastry when it’s cool and firm.
- Experiment with alternative fruit preserves like raspberry, apricot, or mixed berry for flavor variations.
- Gluten-free option: Replace traditional puff pastry with gluten-free puff pastry available in specialty stores.
- Reduce sugar by selecting low-sugar preserves or using fresh strawberry compote instead of traditional jam.
- Store cooled pastry hearts in airtight container for 2-3 days to maintain crisp texture and freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg