Flaky and light puff pastry that is filled with a strawberry filling and cream cheese mixture. These strawberry flaky puffs are a fantastic dessert and also offer an elegant presentation value for friends and family. You might also call these Pick-em-ups! This is a copycat recipe from Drakes from the 80s’!
Now if you aren’t from the 80’s I know you will still enjoy this satisfying strawberry puff dessert. Make them up for a brunch, baby shower, weeknight dessert, or for a dinner party at home.
If you are a fan of strawberry recipes, you gotta try these strawberry cake mix cookies! You might want this no-bake strawberry swirl fudge or even this strawberry shortcake truffle recipe, for two no-bake strawberry recipes.
What Are Strawberry Flaky Puffs
These strawberry flaky puffs are a great dessert that is made with store-bought puff pastry, fresh strawberry sauce, and a cream cheese mixture that is velvety smooth.
This is a copycat version of the Pick Em Ups from the Drake series which was an 80s show. It is a fun dessert you can make at home and reminisce on childhood. Or you might find these are like a puff pastry strawberry shortcake!
Reasons You Will Love This Recipe
- This is a very dimensional dessert. A light buttery pastry, then a sweet and creamy strawberry filling, cream cheese mixture, and the perfect dusting of powdered sugar.
- You will find that this puff pastry dessert is easy to make!
- This offers an eye-catching presentation so it is great for when you want to impress guests or family members with a stunning dessert!
- Feel free to customize the flaky strawberry puffs with different ingredients to create a custom dessert.
- This is a great homemade dessert that you will find wins over everyone with a single bite.
Ingredients Needed
Puff Pastry – You can find puff pastry in the freezer section at the grocery store. Let it thaw and then you can use it for this strawberry cream cheese puffs recipe.
Strawberries – Pick brightly red berries that are blemish-free ripe and bursting with sweet flavor.
Sugar – White sugar is going to be used to help create the strawberry glaze mixture to add to the filling.
Lemon Juice – Lemon juice is going to be the acidic component to balance out the sweetness of the strawberries.
Cream Cheese – Reach for room temperature so it blends well with the other ingredients with the filling.
Heavy Cream – Reach for heavy cream to create that is going to help richen the cream cheese topping and enhance all the flavors.
Vanilla and Almond Extract – You will use both of these extracts to help create a balance of flavors.
Powdered Sugar – Add some powdered sugar into a sifter and add a dusting of this delicate sugar on top.
Variations to Recipe
- Consider adding other berries to the mixture. Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, etc. You can do a mix and match-of fruits or one berry of choice.
- You can add in some hazelnut spread or even a chocolate syrup or caramel syrup as well to the filling of the puff pastry.
- Add some lemon zest to the cream cheese mixture for a punch of citrus. Or you could even do an orange zest.
- Add in some chopped nuts. From peanuts, pistachios, almonds, and cashews. Pick any nut you prefer.
- Swap out the filling for an apple filling, lemon curd, peach filling, etc. You could do a pie filling for the fruit filling.
- Make your own puff pastry instead of buying store-bought puff pastry.
- Instead of a powdered sugar glaze, you can add a dollop of whipped cream on top and fresh berries.
Top Tips
Softened Cream Cheese
Make sure that when you are working with the filling you use room temperature filling. The cream cheese has to be soft or it will not become a velvety smooth texture.
Pastry Dough
If you use frozen puff pastry make sure to allow the pastry to thaw first. Otherwise, you can easily break the puff pastry if you try to work with it when it is frozen.
Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
I love using a hand or stand mixer for this recipe. It is going to really help blend all the ingredients together really well. Make sure to use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Cooling Puff Pastry
Allow the puff pastry to cool a bit before you go and add the fruit and cream cheese mixture. That way it won’t cause the cream cheese mixture to melt down.
Cutting Slits in Puff Pastry
If you want you can cut a few slits on top of the puff pastry to ensure as it bakes the steam can escape when it bakes. It will still rise but it prevents the pastry from rising too much.
Storing Strawberry Flaky Puffs
Keep the ingredients separate if possible. In that, you will store the puff pastries in an airtight container at room temperature. Then for the strawberries and cream cheese base, you will want to keep them in the fridge in a sealed container.
Then when you are ready, assemble and serve up the pastry! If you keep it assembled you will find that it will
FAQs
Can I make these pastries mini-sized for parties?
Yes, go right ahead and make your pastries any size you would like. Just use a pastry cutter or sharp knife and slice to the size of your preference.
Can I make these pastries vegan or dairy-free?
Reach for dairy free alternatives and a dairy free puff pastry to make this vegan friendly. So feel free to swap out the ingredients as you need.
What can I use if I don’t have cream cheese?
Mascarpone cheese would be a great swap for the cream cheese in this recipe. Or you could do a mix of mascarpone and ricotta for a very mild and creamy filling.
Can I prepare the pastries ahead of time and bake them later?
You can bake up the puff pastry in advance, and then keep stored in the fridge or at room temperature. Then make the filling and then keep it all in the fridge. Right before serving then assemble and serve.
More Delicious Recipes
Strawberry Flaky Puffs
Ingredients
- Puff Pastry – store bought
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 8 oz. Cream cheese
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- Powdered Sugar
- Sliced Strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare cookies sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Cut one sheet of puff pastry into 6 pieces. Place pieces of puff pastry on pan and bake for 10-15 minutes or until puffy and baked.
- While puff pastry is baking, add 1 cup of sliced strawberries to a medium sauce pan. Add sugar and lemon juice. Heat pan over medium heat to soften fruit. Mash strawberries with a fork or potato masher. Turn heat to low and let mixture cook for 15-20 minutes until it thickens.
- Stir often or the strawberry mixture will burn.
- In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth, 1-2 minutes with mixer.
- Add heavy cream and mix until cream is incorporated and mixture fluffs up a little, 1-2 minutes. Add vanilla and almond extract and mix for another minute.
- When cool, slice or slit puffs in half. Use a knife or offset spatula to speed several tablespoons of cream cheese. Layer 4-6 sliced strawberries on top of cream cheese. Spoon one to two tablespoons of fruit compote. Place top part of puff over strawberries.
- Sift powdered sugar over the top of puff. Enjoy
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