Description
Beautiful heart-shaped danishes featuring tangy cream cheese filling swirled with sweet strawberry preserves, wrapped in flaky golden puff pastry. Perfect for Valentine’s Day breakfast, special brunches, or anytime you want an impressive bakery-quality treat that’s surprisingly easy to make at home.
Ingredients
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk (reserve white for egg wash)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberry powder (optional)
For the Strawberry Swirl:
½ cup high-quality strawberry preserves
1 teaspoon lemon juice
For the Pastry:
1 package (17.3 oz) frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed
1 egg white beaten with 1 tablespoon water (egg wash)
2 tablespoons coarse sugar or pearl sugar (optional)
For the Glaze (optional):
1 cup powdered sugar
2–3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
3. Add granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
4. Mix in egg yolk, vanilla extract, flour, salt, and optional strawberry powder until completely combined.
5. In a small bowl, stir together strawberry preserves and lemon juice. Set aside.
6. On a lightly floured surface, unfold one sheet of puff pastry and lightly roll to smooth fold lines.
7. Cut pastry into 4-5 squares using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
8. To create heart shapes: fold each square diagonally (don’t press), unfold, then cut from top corners toward center fold line, stopping 1 inch from center. Pull cut pieces apart to form heart curves.
9. Place shaped hearts on prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
10. Spoon 2 tablespoons cream cheese filling into center of each heart, leaving ½-inch border.
11. Add 1 tablespoon strawberry preserves on top of cream cheese filling.
12. Use a toothpick to create decorative swirls in the filling.
13. Brush exposed pastry borders with egg wash, avoiding the baking sheet.
14. Sprinkle coarse sugar over egg-washed edges if using.
15. Bake for 15-18 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through, until pastry is deeply golden and puffed.
16. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire cooling rack.
17. Cool for at least 15 minutes before glazing.
18. For glaze: whisk together powdered sugar, milk (starting with 2 tablespoons), and vanilla until smooth.
19. Drizzle glaze over cooled danishes and let set for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Puff pastry must be thawed but still cold when working with it. Overnight refrigerator thawing is best.
Don’t overfill danishes—excess filling will leak during baking.
For make-ahead: freeze assembled unbaked danishes for up to 1 month. Bake from frozen, adding 3-5 extra minutes.
Store baked danishes in airtight container at room temperature for 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Refresh baked danishes in 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes to restore crispness.
Substitute raspberry, blueberry, or cherry preserves for different flavors.
For simple shapes, cut pastry into squares and add filling in the center—no fancy shaping required.
All-butter puff pastry (like Dufour or Trader Joe’s) creates superior flavor and flakiness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Breakfast, Pastry
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Danish-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 danish
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: strawberry cream cheese danishes, valentine's day pastry, heart shaped danishes, puff pastry breakfast, cream cheese pastries, strawberry danishes, easy bakery pastries