Sweetheart Strawberry Danishes 🥰
These delightful heart-shaped danishes are perfect for a special breakfast or treat. Made with flaky puff pastry, a creamy dairy-free filling, and fresh strawberries, they're easy to make and utterly charming!
Equipment
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper
- Rolling Pin
- Large heart-shaped cookie cutter
- Smaller heart-shaped cookie cutter
- Small Bowl
- Whisk
- Piping bag (optional)
Ingredients
Danish Pastry
- 1 to 2 sheets ready-to-roll puff pastry (about 14-17 oz each, vegan and gluten-free if preferred)
Cream Cheese Filling
- 4.6 oz full-fat dairy-free cream cheese (130g)
- 1 tablespoon gluten-free or all-purpose flour (15g)
- 1 tablespoon fine caster sugar (15g)
For Brushing & Topping
- 4 tablespoons dairy-free milk (for brushing)
- Fresh strawberries thinly sliced
- fine caster sugar extra for sprinkling
- powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Get Ready! Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. This helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup a breeze!
- Step 2: Shape the Hearts! Gently unroll your puff pastry. If it looks a little wrinkled, a quick, light roll with a rolling pin will smooth it out. Use a large heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out your pastry hearts and carefully place them on the lined baking sheets. Now, take a smaller heart cutter and gently press it into the center of each large heart – don't cut all the way through, just make a sweet little indentation for the filling.
- Step 3: Whip Up the Cream! In a small bowl, whisk together the dairy-free cream cheese, flour, and the 1 tablespoon of sugar until the mixture is lovely, smooth, and creamy. This will be your dreamy filling!
- Step 4: Fill 'em Up! Spoon or pipe (if you're feeling fancy with a piping bag!) the cream cheese mixture into the indented centers of your pastry hearts. Then, artfully arrange a few thin slices of fresh strawberries on top of the cream cheese filling.
- Step 5: Golden Finish! Brush the edges of your pastry hearts with a little dairy-free milk, and then sprinkle a touch more caster sugar over the milk-brushed edges. This simple trick helps them turn beautifully golden and appealing in the oven!
- Step 6: Bake to Perfection! Pop the baking sheets into your preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the pastries are puffed up, golden brown, and wonderfully flakey. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning. Once baked, remove from the oven and let them cool slightly on the tray.
- Step 7: Sweet Dusting (Optional)! For a truly bakery-fresh look and an extra whisper of sweetness, lightly dust your warm danishes with powdered sugar before serving. Enjoy your homemade, delightful Valentine's treat!
Notes
Feel free to use vegan and gluten-free puff pastry for dietary preferences. For a truly bakery-fresh look and an extra whisper of sweetness, lightly dust your warm danishes with powdered sugar before serving.
Nutrition Estimates (per danish):
Calories: ~120-150
Total Carbs: ~12-15g
Net Carbs: ~10-13g
Fats: ~8-11g
Protein: ~1.5-2.5g
Nutrition values are estimates based on typical ingredients and are not provided in the original recipe.
Calories: ~120-150
Total Carbs: ~12-15g
Net Carbs: ~10-13g
Fats: ~8-11g
Protein: ~1.5-2.5g
Nutrition values are estimates based on typical ingredients and are not provided in the original recipe.
