If you're in the mood for something that feels as special as it tastes, this Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry Bites Recipe is just the thing! Flaky, buttery puff pastry filled with a creamy strawberry mixture always delights, whether for breakfast or brunch.
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 Pastry Bites Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry Bites Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry Bites Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I still remember the first time I tried making these heart-shaped pastry bites; the contrast of the crisp puff pastry with the smooth cream cheese and fresh strawberries won me over instantly!
- Effortlessly Elegant: These pastries look like you spent hours perfecting them but come together quickly.
- Flaky & Buttery Texture: That puff pastry really takes these bites to the next level with its buttery crisp layers.
- Perfectly Balanced Sweetness: The blend of cream cheese and strawberry jam offers just the right amount of fruity sweetness without overpowering.
- Great for Sharing: Their bite-sized, heart shape makes them an adorable and shareable treat for any occasion.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Shopping for these ingredients is a breeze since most you might already have on hand, but picking quality puff pastry and ripe strawberries really makes a difference. Here’s a quick lowdown on what you’ll need and why I choose these:

- Puff Pastry: The star of the show for flaky, buttery layers that rise nicely in the oven—make sure it's thawed but still cold when you work with it.
- Cream Cheese: Softened to a creamy texture, it provides that smooth richness that pairs beautifully with the fruity filling.
- Strawberry Jam: Adds concentrated strawberry flavor and a touch of sweetness; I like using my favorite jam for that personal touch.
- Red Food Coloring (optional): Just a drop amps up the lovely pink color—beet powder is a great natural alternative if you prefer.
- Diced Strawberries: Fresh and very small dice ensures a juicy topping that’s easy to eat on these bite-sized treats.
- Egg Wash: Whisked egg with water helps you get that irresistible golden edge on the pastry after baking.
- Powdered Sugar: A light dusting right before serving adds a pretty finishing touch and just a hint of extra sweetness.
Make It Your Way
The beauty of this Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry Bites Recipe is how easily it invites your own creative touch. Whether you want to tweak the filling, swap fruits, or change the shape, these pastries are a wonderful canvas for personalization.
- Variation: I love making a quick weekday breakfast version by cutting the puff pastry into rectangles instead of hearts. It’s faster to cut and perfect for stacking in a lunchbox too. For this, I boost the filling to 3 oz cream cheese, 2 ½ tablespoon strawberry jam, and 1 cup sliced strawberries to evenly cover the larger pieces.
- Seasonal twist: Swap diced strawberries for fresh blueberries or raspberries to match the season — the cream cheese combo complements any berry beautifully!
- Dietary adaptation: Use a dairy-free cream cheese and make sure your puff pastry is vegan-friendly to serve these to friends with dietary restrictions without missing out on flavor or flakiness.
- Visual flair: Adding a drop of red food coloring (or beet powder for a natural touch) to your cream cheese filling makes the colors pop and adds a festive look — especially fun for Valentine’s Day or special brunches.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry Bites Recipe

Step 1: Ready your puff pastry and oven
Start by thawing your puff pastry sheet according to the package directions, usually on the counter for about 30 minutes. Halfway through thawing, preheat your oven to 400°F. This ensures your oven reaches the perfect temperature right on time for baking, which helps the pastries puff up gloriously golden and flaky.
Step 2: Whip up the cream cheese filling
In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, strawberry jam, and a drop of red food coloring or beet powder if using. Use a rubber spatula to press and smooth the mixture against the bowl sides and bottom, making sure there are no lumps. Once perfectly smooth, pop this mix into the fridge until you're ready to fill your pastries. For an extra quick chill, place it in the freezer for a few minutes near the end of your puff pastry thaw.
Step 3: Cut and prepare your pastry hearts
Roll out the thawed puff pastry on a clean surface. Use a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to carefully cut out shapes, packing them close together on the sheet to maximize yield. Transfer these delicate hearts onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat, spacing them about 1 ½ inches apart so they have room to puff and expand without sticking.
Step 4: Score and fill your pastries
With a sharp paring knife, gently score a smaller heart inside each pastry heart, about ⅓ inch from the outer edge. Be careful not to cut all the way through the dough — this subtle border will create a charming raised edge after baking. Next, spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center, spreading it evenly but stopping before you reach the scored edge so the border stays clear and golden.
Step 5: Top with fresh strawberries and egg wash
Sprinkle the very small diced strawberries evenly atop the cream cheese layer, again stopping short of the outer ⅓-inch edge. This keeps your edges neat and allows them to brown beautifully. Then, using a fingertip or pastry brush, lightly paint the exposed pastry edges with your egg wash (whisked egg and water). This little step turns the crust a gorgeous golden brown during baking.
Step 6: Bake to golden perfection
Slide your baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the pastries as they puff up and turn a lovely golden brown around the edges. This is when that buttery, flaky texture reaches its peak, and the sweet, tangy filling bubbles lightly.
Step 7: Cool, dust, and enjoy
Once baked, move the pastries to a wire rack to cool briefly. This keeps them from getting soggy on the bottom. When they are just warm, dust generously with powdered sugar to add a delicate sweetness and a pretty finishing touch. Serve these delightful Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry Bites fresh the same day for the best flaky texture and vibrant flavor.
Top Tip
These tips will help you get the most delightful results with your Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry Bites Recipe, ensuring that flaky texture and perfect presentation every time.
- Keep Puff Pastry Cold: I’ve found that chilling the puff pastry right up until cutting helps it maintain its flaky layers instead of becoming tough or sticky.
- Mixing the Filling Smoothly: Pressing the cream cheese and jam against the bowl sides with a rubber spatula until lump-free prevents any unpleasant pockets of flavor or texture.
- Scoring Without Cutting Through: Lightly scoring the inner heart shape gives a beautiful border and helps the filling stay nicely confined without leaking during baking.
- Avoid Overfilling: It was tempting to pile on more cream cheese and strawberries, but keeping the filling just within the scored border keeps the edges crisp and golden instead of soggy.
How to Serve Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry Bites Recipe

Garnishes
These pastries look lovely dusted with powdered sugar as mentioned, but you can also add a few fresh mint leaves or a light drizzle of honey or a fruit compote for an extra wow factor. A dollop of whipped cream on the side complements the creamy filling beautifully, especially for a brunch crowd.
Side Dishes
Pair your Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry Bites with fresh fruit salads, a citrusy yogurt parfait, or some crispy bacon to balance sweetness with savory flavors. A cup of freshly brewed coffee or fruity herbal tea also elevates the breakfast or brunch experience.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one day to keep the pastry as crisp as possible. Beyond that, the puff pastry will lose its flakiness and become chewy.
Freezing
To freeze, prepare and fill the pastries but do not bake. Place them on a lined baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to one month. When ready to bake, bake straight from frozen and add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Reheating
Reheat leftover pastries in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 5–7 minutes to crisp up the pastry again. Avoid microwaving to prevent sogginess.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can use frozen strawberries, but make sure to thaw and drain them well to avoid excess liquid, which might make the pastry soggy.
Absolutely! Feel free to use any cookie cutter shape you like or even cut rectangles for a quicker prep; just adjust filling quantities accordingly.
No, the red food coloring is optional and mainly for a beautiful pink hue in the filling. You can omit it or substitute with beet powder for a natural alternative.
For the best crispness and flavor, enjoy them the same day they're baked. Stored pastries tend to lose their flaky texture quickly.
Final Thoughts
These Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry Bites Recipe are truly a little morning joy wrapped in flaky, buttery layers with a sweet, creamy filling. Baking them is rewarding and the smiles they bring make every step worth it. Whether for a special brunch or a treat-yourself morning, they’re sure to brighten the table and your day.
Print
Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry Bites 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 flaky, buttery strawberry cream cheese breakfast pastries featuring a smooth cream cheese and strawberry jam filling topped with fresh diced strawberries. These charming heart-shaped treats are baked to golden perfection and dusted with powdered sugar, perfect for a special breakfast or brunch.
Ingredients
Pastry
- 1 (8.6 oz) sheet puff pastry
Filling
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ tablespoon strawberry jam
- 1 drop red food coloring (or use beet powder), optional
- ⅔ cup very small diced strawberries
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg whisked with 1 tablespoon water
For Serving
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Thaw the puff pastry according to package directions. While thawing, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the right temperature in time for baking.
- Make Cream Cheese Filling: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, strawberry jam, and red food coloring if using. Use a rubber spatula to press and mix the ingredients against the bowl’s sides and bottom until smooth with no large lumps. Refrigerate this mixture until ready to fill the pastries. For faster chilling, briefly place it in the freezer near the end of the puff pastry thawing time.
- Cut Puff Pastry Shapes: On a clean surface, use a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut heart shapes from the thawed puff pastry sheet, placing shapes as close as possible to maximize the number of pastries.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner or parchment paper. Transfer the cut hearts onto the sheet about 1 ½ inches apart to allow for oven expansion.
- Score Borders on Pastry: Using a sharp paring knife, lightly score another smaller heart inside each puff pastry heart. The scoring should be about ⅓ inch from the edge but not cut fully through the base of the dough.
- Fill Pastries: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each heart shape. Gently spread it outwards, keeping it within the scored inner heart and not covering the outer edging strip.
- Add Strawberries: Place the diced strawberries evenly over the cream cheese layer, again avoiding the outer ⅓-inch edge of dough.
- Apply Egg Wash: Using your fingertip or a brush, lightly brush the exposed ⅓-inch edge of each pastry heart with the egg wash (whisked egg and water). This will give the edges a lovely golden finish when baked.
- Bake Pastries: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes until the edges turn golden brown and the pastry is puffed and cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Remove pastries from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool briefly. Once cooled, dust generously with powdered sugar. Serve the pastries on the same day they are prepared for the best freshness and texture.
Notes
- For a quicker prep, cut 6 rectangles instead of heart shapes, and slice strawberries rather than dicing. Increase cream cheese to 3 oz, strawberry jam to 2 ½ Tbsp, and strawberries to 1 cup for this adjustment to cover the larger surface area.
- Make sure to keep the puff pastry cold until you’re ready to cut and fill to maintain flakiness during baking.
- The red food coloring is optional and mainly for visual enhancement; beet powder can be used as a natural alternative.
- Serve these pastries fresh as puff pastry loses its crispness over time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pastry
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg




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