There’s something so irresistible about flaky pastry paired with sweet, tangy strawberry and smooth cream cheese. This Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastries Recipe is exactly that kind of treat—perfect for breakfast, brunch, or whenever you need a little homemade sweetness.
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 Puff Pastries Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastries Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastries Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I genuinely love how easy these pastries are to pull together, and every time I make them, they disappear in no time. Whether you’re making them for a cozy weekend or impressing brunch guests, they hit all the right notes.
- Flaky Puff Pastry: Provides a buttery, crisp texture that balances beautifully with the creamy filling.
- Simple Yet Flavorful Filling: Cream cheese and strawberry jam come together for a luscious, smooth center.
- Fresh Strawberries on Top: Adds natural sweetness and a fresh bite in every mouthful.
- Effortless Elegance: Heart-shaped cutouts make these pastries look as good as they taste.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Before you dive in, make sure you have all your ingredients fresh and ready. Puff pastry is the star here, so grab a good-quality sheet from the freezer aisle. Softened cream cheese blends better with the jam, giving you a smoother filling that spreads nicely over the pastry.

- Puff Pastry: Choose a high-quality sheet for that perfect flaky texture and buttery flavor.
- Cream Cheese: Softened to create a smooth and creamy filling that complements the strawberries.
- Strawberry Jam: Adds sweetness and a hint of strawberry flavor that pairs beautifully with fresh fruit.
- Red Food Coloring (Optional): A drop helps give the filling a lovely pink hue; beet powder is a natural alternative.
- Fresh Strawberries: Very small diced strawberries add bursts of freshness and texture.
- Egg Wash (Egg + Water): Brushed on edges for a golden brown finish and to seal the pastry.
- Powdered Sugar: A light dusting adds a pretty, sweet finish before serving.
Make It Your Way
One of the best things about this Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastries Recipe is how easy it is to customize! Whether you want to tweak the flavors, swap ingredients, or adjust the shapes, you can make these pastries truly your own delightful creation.
- Variation: For a quick and delicious alternative, try cutting the puff pastry into 6 rectangles instead of hearts. I found this especially handy when I was short on time but still wanted that luscious pairing of cream cheese and strawberries. Just increase the filling to 3 oz cream cheese, 2 ½ tablespoon strawberry jam, and 1 cup diced strawberries to cover that larger area perfectly.
- Dietary tweak: Use beet powder instead of red food coloring to give the filling a lovely natural tint without any artificial ingredients. It adds a subtle earthy note that pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the strawberries.
- Seasonal twist: Swap out strawberries during other seasons with fresh raspberries, blueberries, or even peach slices. Each brings its own charm and flavor punch to these flaky little bites.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastries Recipe

Step 1: Thaw and Preheat for Perfect Puff
Start by thawing your puff pastry according to the package instructions. I like to keep an eye on it and when it’s halfway thawed, I jump ahead and preheat the oven to 400°F. This way, when the pastries are assembled, the oven is ready to give them that beautiful puff and golden crust right away.
Step 2: Whip Up the Cream Cheese Filling
In a small bowl, blend together the softened cream cheese, strawberry jam, and a drop of red food coloring (or beet powder if you prefer natural). I find pressing the mixture against the bowl's sides and bottom with a rubber spatula really helps get rid of any lumps and creates a smooth, luscious filling. Pop it in the fridge or if you’re in a rush, a quick stint in the freezer firms it up nicely so it spreads easily without running.
Step 3: Cut and Arrange Your Puff Pastry
Use a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut as many hearts as you can from the puff pastry. Keep your cuts tight to get the maximum number of pastries out of one sheet. Transfer these hearts carefully to a baking sheet lined with silicone or parchment paper, spacing them about 1 ½ inches apart. Your pastries will need room to puff up and bake evenly.
Step 4: Score a Smaller Heart for a Pretty Border
With a sharp paring knife, gently score a smaller heart inside each pastry cut-out, about ⅓ inch from the edge. Take care not to cut through the bottom layer. This scored border gives a neat frame to the filling and keeps everything beautifully contained during baking.
Step 5: Fill and Add Fresh Strawberries
Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each heart, spreading it gently toward the scored edge without covering it. Then sprinkle the diced strawberries evenly over the cream cheese layer, again leaving that cute border visible. This layering creates bursts of fresh flavor with every bite.
Step 6: Brush Edges and Bake to Golden Perfection
Brush the exposed ⅓-inch border with the egg wash made from one whisked egg and a tablespoon of water. Not only does this help seal the edges, but it also gives them a gorgeous golden sheen. Bake your pastries in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until puffed and beautifully golden brown around the edges.
Step 7: Cool, Dust, and Enjoy Fresh
Once baked, let your pastries cool on a wire rack. When they reach room temperature, dust them lightly with powdered sugar for a pretty finishing touch. These pastries are best enjoyed fresh the day you make them, so grab a cup of coffee and savor each flaky, fruity bite as part of your morning or brunch routine.
Top Tip
These tips will help you get the most out of your Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastries Recipe, ensuring they’re flaky, flavorful, and picture-perfect every time.
- Flash Chill the Filling: I’ve found chilling the cream cheese mixture briefly—either in the fridge or freezer—makes it much easier to spread neatly onto the pastry without it running everywhere.
- Preheat the Oven Early: Starting the oven halfway through thawing the puff pastry guarantees it’s at the perfect 400°F when you’re ready to bake, giving you those irresistibly puffed, golden edges.
- Score, Don’t Cut: Lightly scoring a smaller heart inside each pastry shape creates a neat border and prevents the filling from spilling over while baking—a little technique that really makes a big difference.
- Don’t Overfill: Keeping about ⅓ inch edge free for sealing ensures your pastries bake evenly and brown beautifully without oozing cream cheese or jam.
How to Serve Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastries Recipe

Garnishes
Freshness is key with these pastries! Top them simply with a dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant touch. You can also add a few mint leaves or a tiny drizzle of honey for extra color and sweetness. A light spread of whipped cream on the side complements the tanginess of the cream cheese beautifully.
Side Dishes
To build a delightful breakfast spread, pair these pastries with fresh fruit salad, creamy yogurt, or even a vibrant berry compote. Serve alongside a hot cup of coffee or freshly squeezed orange juice to marry sweet, tart, and rich flavors in every bite.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftovers (though they rarely stick around!), store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day to maintain the crisp texture. Because puff pastry tends to soften over time, it’s best to enjoy them fresh if possible.
Freezing
You can freeze these pastries before baking. Arrange the filled, unbaked pastries on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time to ensure they cook through beautifully.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-baked crispness, reheat leftover pastries in a 350°F oven for about 5 to 7 minutes. Avoid the microwave as it tends to make the pastry soggy and the filling too warm. A quick oven reheat restores crispness and warms the filling just right.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! Just be sure to thaw it according to the package instructions before you start preparing your Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastries Recipe to get the best puff and flakiness.
No worries! You can cut simple rectangles or squares instead. The recipe even includes notes for adjusting ingredient amounts if you choose this shape. It’s just as delicious.
While fresh strawberries provide the best texture and flavor, you can use frozen strawberries that have been thawed and drained, but be mindful that they might add extra moisture to the filling.
Not at all! It’s purely optional. For a natural alternative, beet powder works beautifully to enhance the color without any artificial additives.
Final Thoughts
Making these Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastries always feels like a special treat that’s surprisingly easy to pull off. The flaky pastry, luscious cream cheese filling, and bursts of fresh strawberry come together in a way that warms the heart and sweetens the morning. Whether it’s a weekend brunch or a weekday pick-me-up, I hope this recipe brings a little extra joy—and a lot of flavor—to your table.
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Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastries Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 9 pastries
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in these Strawberry Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries featuring flaky puff pastry filled with a luscious blend of cream cheese and strawberry jam, topped with fresh strawberries and dusted with powdered sugar. Perfect for a sweet morning treat or brunch.
Ingredients
Pastry
- 1 sheet (8.6 oz) puff pastry
Filling
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ tablespoon strawberry jam
- 1 drop red food coloring (or beet powder), optional
- ⅔ cup very small diced strawberries
Topping & Glaze
- 1 large egg whisked with 1 tablespoon water
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Thaw puff pastry according to package directions. While thawing halfway, preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it's hot when baking.
- Make Cream Cheese Filling: In a small bowl, blend cream cheese, strawberry jam, and optional red food coloring using a rubber spatula. Press mixture against the bowl to smooth out lumps. Chill in the refrigerator or briefly in the freezer to firm up.
- Cut Pastry Shapes: Use a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut as many hearts as possible from the puff pastry sheet, placing cuts closely together.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Place cut hearts onto a baking sheet lined with a silicone liner or parchment paper, spacing them about 1 ½ inches apart for even baking.
- Score Pastry Hearts: Lightly score a smaller heart inside each cut-out, about ⅓ inch from the edge without cutting through the bottom layer. This creates a border for the filling.
- Fill Pastries: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture onto the center of each heart and gently spread outward, avoiding the scored border. Sprinkle diced strawberries evenly over the cream cheese layer, again leaving the edge clear.
- Seal Edges: Brush the exposed ⅓-inch edge with the egg and water wash to help the edges brown and seal during baking.
- Bake: Bake pastries in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until the edges are golden brown and puffed.
- Cool and Serve: Transfer pastries to a wire rack to cool. Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar and serve fresh on the day they are made for optimal texture and flavor.
Notes
- For a quicker version, cut 6 rectangles instead of hearts. Increase cream cheese to 3 oz, strawberry jam to 2 ½ Tbsp, and diced strawberries to 1 cup to cover the extra surface area.
- Use beet powder as a natural alternative to red food coloring for a subtle color boost.
- Flash chilling the cream cheese mixture helps it to hold shape better when spreading on the pastry.
- Serve pastries the same day to enjoy the crisp texture of the puff pastry.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pastry
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg




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