Few things say love, comfort, and indulgence quite like a warm, flaky danish pastry fresh from the oven. These Easy Strawberry Heart Danishes combine buttery puff pastry, sweet strawberry filling, and a charming heart shape that makes them perfect for Valentine’s Day, brunch, baby showers, anniversaries, or just a cozy weekend at home.

If you’ve ever wanted to make bakery-style danishes without spending hours laminating dough, this recipe is for you. Using store-bought puff pastry keeps things simple while still delivering that irresistible crisp, golden texture. The strawberry filling adds brightness and sweetness, and the heart shape gives these pastries their signature wow factor.

This is one of those desserts that looks fancy but is secretly easy. Whether you’re baking with kids, surprising someone special, or stocking your freezer with make-ahead treats, these strawberry heart danishes check every box.

Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Heart Danishes

✔️ Uses store-bought puff pastry for convenience
✔️ Ready in under an hour
✔️ Perfect for Valentine’s Day, brunch, or dessert
✔️ Customizable with different fillings
✔️ Freezer-friendly and great for meal prep

They’re flaky, fruity, lightly sweet, and just rich enough without being overwhelming. Pair one with coffee or tea and you’ve got instant happiness.

Ingredients

Use fresh, simple ingredients for the best flavor and texture:

2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
1 cup strawberry jam or preserves
4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg (for egg wash)
1 tbsp milk
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Fresh strawberries, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
Roll out the puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface.
Cut each sheet into 4 equal squares.
Fold two opposite corners of each square toward the center to form a heart shape.
Place each heart-shaped pastry on the baking sheet.
Add about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese filling to the center.
Spoon 1 tablespoon strawberry jam on top of the cream cheese.
Whisk the egg with milk and brush the edges of each pastry.
Bake for 18–22 minutes until puffed and golden.
Cool slightly, then dust with powdered sugar and garnish with strawberries.

Tips for Perfect Danishes

Keep puff pastry cold for best layers
Don’t overfill or the jam may leak
Use parchment paper for easy cleanup
Let cool slightly before serving so filling sets

Variations

🫐 Blueberry heart danish
🍑 Peach cream danish
🍫 Chocolate hazelnut heart pastry
🍓 Strawberry + lemon zest twist

Serving Suggestions

Serve with hot coffee or tea
Add whipped cream on the side
Pair with fresh fruit salad
Drizzle with vanilla glaze

Fun Fact

The danish pastry actually originated in Austria, not Denmark! Danish bakers adopted and refined it, making it the flaky favorite we know today.