strawberry pastry

these strawberry pastry squares are the perfect breakfast or brunch treat, featuring homemade strawberry jam, perfectly sweet strawberries and a thick cloud of freshly whipped cream, all nestled within flaky, buttery puff pastry. top with a drizzle of chocolate or a gentle dusting of powdered sugar for the perfect lazy afternoon treat.

this strawberry pastry is an ode to the joys of carefree, lazy days and summer baking, featuring smooth strawberry jam beneath a delicate canopy of fresh whipped cream, all nestled between flaky layers of puff pastry. finished with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, this strawberry jam pastry recipe would be perfect for quiet mornings or as the centrepiece of a sunlit picnic.

why you will love this strawberry pastry recipe

• easy recipe – these easy strawberry pastry puffs look like something from a fancy bakery, but they’re actually incredibly simple to make. using store-bought puff pastry means no complicated dough-making, and the strawberry pastry design is achieved with just a simple square cut.

• customisable strawberry pastry filling – while this strawberry pastry with cream and jam is absolutely divine, you can easily adapt the filling to your preferences. make it a strawberry vanilla pastry with vanilla pastry cream, or make a strawberry pastry with cream cheese and cream for a cheesecake filling. you can add different fruits or different flavours of the cream filling or swap the jam for something like nutella. completely up to you!

• perfect for breakfast or brunch – these strawberry pastry bites are ideal for a special weekend breakfast, brunch gathering, or afternoon tea. they’re sweet but not overly so, and the combination of flaky pastry, homemade jam, and fresh cream makes them feel luxurious without being too heavy.

how to make this easy strawberry puff pastry dessert

to make this strawberry pastry, we’ll start with store-bought puff pastry. roll it out slightly, then cut it into squares – these will be the base of our strawberry and pastry bites. then, we’ll score a smaller square in the center of each piece without cutting all the way through. brush each pastry square with beaten egg wash and sprinkle with a touch of sugar, then bake the puff pastry squares until puffed, golden and flaky.

while the strawberry puff pastry bites bake, we’ll make a quick homemade strawberry jam by cooking down fresh or frozen strawberries with sugar.

Once the pastries come out of the oven, let them cool, then gently press down the centre squares to create a well for the strawberry pastry cream and the homemade jam. while the pastry squares are cooling, whip up some heavy cream until thick and fluffy, then fill the cooled pastry squares with strawberry jam, the whipped cream and fresh strawberry slices.

strawberry pastry ingredients

• puff pastry- any kind of ready-made puff pastry will work here – it can usually be found in the fridge or freezer section in most grocery stores. store-bought puff pastry makes this recipe so much easier than making the pastry from scratch! if using frozen puff pastry, thaw according to package directions before using.

• egg – we’re going to lightly beat an egg and brush it over the puff pastry before baking – this will help give the strawberry pastry a shiny and golden appearance.

• sugar – use granulated sugar or brown sugar and sprinkle this on top of your puff pastry squares before baking for some added crunch and flavour. we’re also going to be using granulated sugar to make the homemade strawberry jam.

• fresh or frozen strawberries – we’re going to cook these down with sugar and a bit of water to get a sweet strawberry jam. you’re also going to need some fresh strawberries to decorate each strawberry pastry at the end.

• lemon juice (optional) – i didn’t add any lemon juice to this strawberry jam recipe, but you can add a little bit to brighten the strawberry flavour if you like.

• double cream or heavy cream – i like to make this strawberry pastry with cream that’s been whipped until soft and fluffy.

• icing sugar or powdered sugar – we’ll be adding a small amount of this to the cream when whipping for some added sweetness. you can also dust some on top of the finished strawberry pastries at the end if you like!

• vanilla extract – optional, but adding this to the cream will add a nice, subtle vanilla flavour.

tools:

• sharp knife or square-shaped cutter – for cutting the pastry squares and scoring the center.

• pastry brush – for applying the egg wash.

• baking sheet or tray – for baking the puff pastry squares. line with parchment paper or baking paper for easy cleanup.

• small pan – for making the homemade strawberry jam.

• mixing bowl – for whipping the cream.

• electric mixer – you will need a hand mixer or stand mixer for whipping the cream. it is also possible to whip the cream by hand using a whisk, but this will take a little longer.

• piping bag – use a piping bag to pipe the cream in the middle of the strawberry pastry. alternatively, you can add a dollop of the cream in the middle with a spoon.

step by step instructions

for full measurements, keep scrolling down to the recipe below.

step one: preheat oven and line a baking tray or baking sheet with baking paper or parchment paper.

step two: set out a puff pastry sheet on a flat surface and use a sharp knife or a square shaped cutter to cut the pastry sheet into equal sized squares.

step three: in each square, use a sharp knife or a smaller square shaped cutter to score a smaller square in the centre. don’t cut all the way through – just score the top layer. this creates the border so that we can press the centre down for the strawberry pastry filling.

step four: beat the egg in a small bowl. brush the top of each pastry square with egg wash, being careful not to let it drip too much into the scored lines.

step five: sprinkle a light dusting of granulated sugar over each puff pastry square.

step six: place the pastry squares on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each one.

step seven: bake the puff pastry squares for 22-25 minutes or until the pastries are puffed, golden brown, and flaky.

step eight: while the pastries are baking, get started on the strawberry pastry filling recipe. we’ll make the strawberry pastry jam first, as it’ll need to cool before you add it to the pastries. first, wash, hull and chop the strawberries into small pieces. if using frozen strawberries, you can just add them in whole.

step nine: in a small pot or pan over medium heat, combine the strawberries, sugar and a little bit of water (as well as some lemon juice if you like).

step ten: cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, for about 10-15 minutes until the strawberries have broken down and the mixture has thickened to a jam-like consistency. remove from heat and transfer the strawberry jam to a bowl so that it can cool completely.

step eleven: remove the baked pastries from the oven. while still warm, gently press down the centre square with the back of a spoon to create a well for the filling.

step twelve: let the pastries cool completely, then make the whipped cream for the filling.

step thirteen: in a mixing bowl, combine heavy cream, powdered sugar or icing sugar, and vanilla extract.

step fourteen: beat the cream mixture with an electric mixer or a whisk until the cream looks thick and smooth.

step fifteen: add the whipped cream to a piping bag.

step sixteen: once the pastries have cooled completely, spoon the homemade strawberry jam into the centre of each pastry.

step seventeen: pipe a generous amount of whipped cream on top of the jam on each pastry.

step eighteen: top each strawberry pastry with fresh strawberry slices.

step nineteen: optionally, dust with powdered sugar, then serve, and let’s eat!

tips and notes

• if using frozen puff pastry, make sure your puff pastry is properly thawed but still cold when working with it. if it gets too warm, it can be difficult to handle and won’t puff as nicely.

• when scoring the centre square, use a sharp knife or square-shaped cutter and don’t cut all the way through – you just want to score the top layer. this helps creates that well in the centre for the filling.

• press gently when creating the well in the baked pastry – you want to flatten the centre without breaking through the bottom.

• once your pastry is done and out of the oven, set it aside to cool before adding any kind of filling to it. adding fresh whipped cream to pastries that are still hot will cause the cream to melt and mess up the taste and appearance of your strawberry pastry.

• adjust the sweetness depending on your preference – if you prefer a sweeter cream filling, just add a greater amount of icing sugar/powdered sugar when whipping the cream. alternatively, if you’d prefer your strawberry pastry cream puffs to be a little less sweet, you can skip reduce the sugar in the cream and the strawberry filling and skip the extra dusting of sugar on top.

• make sure to preheat the oven before baking your puff pastry squares. this will make sure that the pastry rises evenly and gets those flaky layers. baking the pastry in an oven that isn’t hot enough will prevent puff pastry from rising properly.

• serve immediately. these strawberry pastry desserts are best served straight after assembling, when the puff pastry is still crispy and the filling is fresh. if you make these ahead of time, the pastry will soften underneath the strawberry jam and cream filling. if you do need to prepare these in advance, prepare the jam, cream and pastry and store them separately, then assemble before serving.

• if you find that you have over whipped your cream and that is has become too stiff, simply add a splash or two of the heavy cream and mix that in with the over whipped cream – this will help loosen it.

• when whipping the cream, make sure your double cream or heavy cream is cold and straight out of the fridge. cream that is too warm won’t whip properly, which will just make things difficult.

• feel free to experiment with different jams or fruits depending on your preference. if you’re not into jams at all, you could even add a layer of chocolate spread or nutella before piping the cream filling in.

frequently asked questions

1. can i make this strawberry pastry eggless ?

   – this strawberry pastry puffs recipe uses an egg wash to brush the puff pastry before baking – this will help give the pastry a nice, shiny finish and a golden-brown colour. if you are looking for substitutes for the egg, you can also brush milk or melted butter on top of the puff pastry before baking for similar results. alternatively, you can choose to not brush anything at all on the pastry – the pastry will still bake just fine, but it will not be as golden and shiny.

2. can i make a strawberry nutella pastry instead of adding jam ?

   – absolutely! there are a number of different fillings you can use instead of jam if you don’t like it or don’t want to use it, like custard, chocolate ganache, cream cheese, caramel sauce or nutella. you can switch up the strawberry pastry filling depending on your preference, just to be sure to adjust sugar based on your changes, as you don’t want the pastry to be too sweet.

3. do i have to use vanilla extract in this strawberry pastry recipe ?

   – the vanilla extract in this strawberry pastry recipe is optional. i like the subtle vanilla flavour it gives to the whipped cream, but if you would prefer not to use it or don’t have it, that’s also completely fine.

4. how long will the strawberry pastry with filling stay fresh once assembled ?

   – once the strawberry pastry is assembled, i would recommend eating within a few hours of assembly for optimal freshness and texture. however, this strawberry pastry can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days – though the pastry will be softened by the filling over time, and will likely not remain crunchy.

5. can i change the strawberry pastry design or make bigger pastries ?

   – you can absolutely adjust the design of this pastry to suit your preference! you can cut the pastries into smaller circles or squares to make small strawberry puff pastry bites, you can make strawberry turnovers instead of square shaped pastries, or you can even make a strawberry pastry heart by cutting the puff pastry into a heart using a heart-shaped cutter. you can adjust the size of these pastries to your preference as well.

6. what if i don’t like strawberries ?

   – if you don’t like strawberries, then you can easily substitute the strawberries in this recipe with any other fruit of your choice, from raspberries to blueberries to peaches. it’s completely up to you!

7. can I use store-bought jam instead of making it ?

   – absolutely! if you want to keep this strawberry pastry recipe easy and quick, or if you’re short on time, you can use good quality store-bought strawberry jam. a homemade strawberry jam will taste fresher, but store-bought works in a pinch.

recipe