Name: Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 (8.6 oz) sheet puff pastry; 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; 1 large egg whisked with 1 Tbsp water; Powdered sugar, for dusting

If you love flaky, sweet treats for breakfast, you’re going to adore this Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries Recipe. Imagine flaky puff pastry envelopes filled with a creamy strawberry-filled center and crowned with fresh diced strawberries—pure brunch magic!

The image shows a heart-shaped pastry with two main layers. The bottom layer is a light golden, flaky pastry with soft, slightly puffed edges. On top is a thick layer of smooth, bright pink cream that fills the heart shape almost to the edges. Scattered on the pink cream are small pieces of fresh red strawberries, adding texture and color contrast. The pastries sit on a wood texture surface with a whole strawberry placed nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I can’t tell you how many times these pastries have saved my weekend mornings—easy to make, impressive to serve, and the flavor combo is just dreamy.

Quick & Easy: Ready in just 45 minutes with minimal hands-on prep.
Perfect Texture: Flaky, buttery puff pastry that melts in your mouth every time.
Fresh & Fruity: Diced strawberries on top add a bright, juicy finish.
Elegant Presentation: Heart-shaped pastries that look as good as they taste.

Ingredients & Why They Work

All the magic here comes from simple, quality ingredients that you probably already have or can easily find at the store. Here are the essentials and why each one plays a starring role in this Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries Recipe.

Flat lay of a sheet of golden puff pastry, a small white ceramic bowl of smooth cream cheese, a small white ceramic bowl filled with vibrant red strawberry jam, a small white ceramic bowl containing very small diced fresh strawberries, one large whole brown egg with a clean shell, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered sugar, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Puff Pastry: This flaky, buttery sheet is the foundation—thaw it properly for the best rise and crispness.
Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese makes the filling luscious and creamy without being too heavy.
Strawberry Jam: Adds sweetness and that jammy berry flavor that pairs perfectly with the fresh strawberries.
Red Food Coloring (optional): Just a drop for that beautiful pinkish hue in the filling—beet powder works beautifully if you prefer natural color.
Diced Strawberries: Fresh and small chopped, they add a juicy, sweet pop right on top.
Egg & Water Wash: Brushed on edges, this helps the pastries brown beautifully and seal nicely.
Powdered Sugar: The classic finishing touch for a light, snowy sweetness on top.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best things about this Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries Recipe is how easy it is to make your own spin on it. Whether you want to tweak the filling or experiment with shapes, these pastries welcome your creativity!

Variation: I love swapping the heart shape for simple rectangles when I’m short on time. Using 3 oz of cream cheese, 2 ½ tablespoons of strawberry jam, and a full cup of diced strawberries gives the larger surface area a wonderfully fruity and creamy coverage. It’s a bit quicker, and just as delicious!
Dietary Tip: You can easily make these vegetarian-friendly by sticking to the classic ingredients. For a natural twist, I sometimes replace red food coloring with beet powder, which adds a lovely hue without artificial additives.
Seasonal Touch: When strawberries aren’t in season, try swapping in raspberries or blueberries for a fresh take. They pair beautifully with cream cheese and puff pastry.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries Recipe

The image shows eight heart-shaped pastries arranged on a white plate. Each pastry has a golden-brown, crispy crust forming the outer layer. Inside, there is a layer of soft cream or custard topped with small, bright red pieces of strawberries, evenly spread to fill the heart shapes. A light dusting of powdered sugar is sprinkled over the pastries and plate. The plate sits on a white marbled surface, with a few whole strawberries and a deep red cloth placed around it for decoration. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Thaw and Preheat for Perfect Puff

Start by thawing your puff pastry according to the package directions—usually on the counter for about 30 minutes. Halfway through thawing, preheat the oven to 400°F (that's around 200°C). This timing helps you get your oven nice and hot just as your dough becomes pliable but still firm to handle, which is key for those flaky layers we all love.

Step 2: Mix the Cream Cheese Filling Until Smooth

While the puff pastry is thawing, grab a small bowl and combine the softened cream cheese, strawberry jam, and that single drop of red food coloring (or beet powder if you prefer natural color). Use a rubber spatula to press the mixture against the sides and bottom of the bowl, smoothing out any lumps. Taking the time here will give you a velvety cream cheese filling that’s bursting with strawberry flavor.

Step 3: Chill the Filling to Set

Pop your cream cheese mixture into the fridge to firm up while you finish thawing the pastry. If you’re close to having the puff pastry ready, a quick flash chill in the freezer works wonders to keep the filling from getting runny once you assemble. This step really helps your pastries hold their shape as they bake.

Step 4: Cut Out Heart-Shaped Pastries with Care

Once the puff pastry is thawed but still cool, roll it out on a lightly floured surface if needed. Use a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many hearts as possible, placing them close together to waste minimal dough. Then transfer the hearts gently to a baking sheet lined with silicone or parchment paper, spacing them about 1 ½ inches apart so they have room to puff beautifully.

Step 5: Score a Smaller Heart Inside Each Pastry

Here’s a handy tip: with a sharp paring knife, lightly score a smaller heart shape inside each puff pastry heart. Make sure this smaller heart is about ⅓ inch from the edge and don’t cut through to the bottom dough layer. This scoring helps the edges puff up more and creates a pretty border to frame your filling.

Step 6: Add Cream Cheese Filling and Fresh Strawberries

Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the chilled cream cheese mixture into the center of each heart. Spread it gently to almost reach the scored edges but keep a clear ⅓-inch border. Then sprinkle the tiny diced fresh strawberries on top of the cream cheese, again careful not to cover the edges so they can seal properly.

Step 7: Brush Edges and Bake to Golden Perfection

Use your fingertip to brush the egg and water mixture onto the ⅓-inch edges of each heart-shaped pastry. This helps with browning and seals in your filling beautifully. Pop the sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 14 to 15 minutes, or until the edges turn a lovely golden brown and the puff pastry is irresistibly flaky.

Step 8: Cool, Dust, and Serve Fresh

Remove the pastries from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. Just before serving, dust generously with powdered sugar for that finishing touch of sweetness and charm. These pastries are truly best enjoyed the same day to savor the perfect combination of flaky layers, creamy filling, and fresh strawberry brightness.

Top Tip

These tips come from my own kitchen adventures and will help ensure your Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries Recipe turns out perfectly flaky, flavorful, and charming every time.

Keep Pastry Cold: I’ve learned that keeping your puff pastry cold but fully thawed makes it easier to cut clean shapes and helps the layers rise beautifully during baking.
Chill the Filling: Flash chilling the cream cheese and jam mixture really sets it, preventing your filling from becoming too runny as you assemble the pastries.
Score Lightly: Scoring the smaller heart inside without cutting through the bottom creates a lovely textured edge that crisps up nicely and holds your filling in place.
Don’t Overfill: Leaving that ⅓-inch border clear around the edge avoids messy leaks while baking and gives you those perfectly golden crispy borders I love.

How to Serve Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries Recipe

The image shows six heart-shaped pieces of dough placed in two columns of three on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Each dough heart has a layer of white cream spread on top, roughly filling the inner part of the heart shape. On top of the cream, there are chopped fresh strawberries, scattered evenly over the cream layer. The dough is pale and soft in texture, while the strawberries add a bright red color contrast. The baking tray and parchment paper have a slightly rustic look, with a white marbled surface underneath. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

For a pretty finishing touch, dust your pastries with powdered sugar right before serving. You can also add a few fresh mint leaves or a light drizzle of honey if you want a subtle sweetness that complements the strawberries and cream cheese beautifully.

Side Dishes

Pair these strawberry cream cheese pastries with a fresh fruit salad, a scoop of Greek yogurt, or a simple green salad with a citrus vinaigrette for a balanced brunch. A cup of your favorite coffee or tea completes this elegant breakfast or mid-morning treat perfectly.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftover pastries in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day. Because these pastries are best enjoyed fresh, storing beyond that may cause them to lose their flaky texture.

Freezing

You can freeze unbaked pastries by cutting and filling them, then placing them on a baking sheet to freeze individually before transferring to a freezer-safe container. When ready to bake, do not thaw—just bake straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.

Reheating

To revive leftover pastries, warm them in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes. This helps restore the crispness of the puff pastry without making the filling too soft.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?

It's best to use fresh strawberries diced very small for these pastries, as frozen strawberries can release extra moisture that may make the pastry soggy.

What if I don’t have a heart-shaped cutter?

No worries! You can cut rectangles or squares instead. Just adjust the cream cheese and strawberry jam to cover the larger surface area—about 3 oz cream cheese and 2 ½ tablespoon jam for 6 rectangles works well.

Can I prepare these pastries ahead of time?

You can prep and freeze the unbaked pastries ahead, then bake them fresh straight from the freezer, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time. However, baked pastries are best eaten fresh for maximum flakiness.

Is there a dairy-free alternative for the cream cheese?

Yes! You can substitute the cream cheese with a dairy-free spreadable alternative, but keep in mind the flavor and texture might slightly differ from the classic version.

Final Thoughts

These Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastries Recipe truly brighten any breakfast table with their lovely blend of flaky layers, creamy tang, and fresh fruit sweetness. I hope making them becomes one of your favorite kitchen traditions—easy enough for a quick treat but special enough to impress guests. Here’s to many joyful mornings filled with flaky hearts and smiles!