When Valentine’s Day rolls around, while many of us think of romance, all of us think of decadent sweets! I ran across this darling VALENTINE’S HEART PASTRY on Always Autumn, and I just had to put my own 4-ingredient spin on it. It’s perfect for Valentine’s breakfast or really anytime of the day. Here’s what you’ll need:
1 pkg. of Puffed Pastry (comes in 2 sheets.)
1 regular basket of strawberries
1/2 + 1/2 cup of packed powdered sugar
1 8 oz. pkg of cream cheese
*3/4 cup of Nutella Spread can be substituted for cream cheese and 2nd 1/2 cup of powdered sugar.
Step 1. First, pre-heat oven to 400. Then, place each frozen pastry sheet on their own pieces of parchment paper for about 10 min. to thaw.
Step 2. Soften cream cheese in the microwave, stir in 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and return to refrigerator.
Step 3. Lightly pulse 2 cups of strawberry halves in a food processor, drain well in a colander then combine with 1/2 cup of powdered sugar.
Step 4. Unfold each sheet of pastry dough and roll it out so that it measures about 12 x 12 inches. Fold each sheet of pastry in half and stack them on top of each other (see below). Using the tip of a potato peeler trace half of a heart then cut through both layers with kitchen scissors. (Just like elementary school:)
Step 5 . Lay each heart flat on parchment paper. Spread the cream cheese mixture (or Nutella) on top of one of the hearts then add a layer of strawberry mixture (see below).
Step 6. Place the second heart on top of the first and pinch edges together. Make an X in the center of the top heart. Using a pizza wheel, start at the bottom point and slice almost to the center mark but not through it. Continue making slices all the way around the heart about 1 inch apart. Carefully lift each section and twist it 3 or 4 times. Twist the right half to the right and the left half to the left. (If you start twisting and the dough is too gooey, return the heart to the freezer for a bit.)
Step 7. Move the parchment paper to a cookie sheet, re-shape the heart and cover the edges of the pastry with foil (so they don’t cook too fast). Bake for 15 min., remove foil and bake for another 10 min. (or so) until entire heart is golden brown and cooked through. Using a spatula carefully slide heart onto a platter or cutting board and serve hot.
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
*At some point you may need to return pastry dough to the freezer. You will want it to be very firm before you begin twisting.
The Spread Has Spread
Over 10 years ago when Todd and I were in Florence, we noticed everyone was spreading Nutella on everything just like we would butter or peanut butter. We had never seen such a thing! Now we see this decadent chocolate hazelnut spread everywhere we turn!
Looking Back
A couple of years ago Pickett’s Pearls featured this very fun Valentine’s Cake and last year we learned how to do this precious Heart Napkin Fold. Check ‘em out!
Fun Saying
Some people are just born funny and Ann Oliver, my friend Bradley’s mother, is one of those. A lot of it is her colorful Southern sayings. She literally says things like, “I gotta girdle up, I gotta doll up and I gotta gussy up!” So girls, this Valentine’s Day you know what to do!