Valentine’s Puff Pastry Hearts
These Valentine’s Puff Pastry Hearts are the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion. Puff pastry is filled with fresh strawberries and a creamy white chocolate mousse, making this easy dessert is a delicious way to impress your loved ones!
You’ll also adore these Red Velvet Skillet Cookie, Whipped Strawberry Delight, and Strawberry Yogurt Bites!
If you’re looking for a delicious dessert to serve on Valentine’s Day, look no further, friends!
Golden, buttery puff pastry is baked into heart shapes, creating a crispy, flaky shell that’s fun for the holiday.
This elegant dessert is filled with a white chocolate pudding mousse that’s silky, smooth, and perfect when paired with fresh strawberries.
These little desserts are a breeze to whip up, but look (and taste!) like they came straight from a bakery.
Just like these mini strawberry heart pies and rice Krispies treats, this Valentine’s Day pastry dessert is as simple as it gets. Within minutes, you can have everything prepped and ready to go.
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, a birthday celebration, or anytime you’re in the mood for a sweet treat that’s sure to impress.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Easy to Make: Despite looking like these came from a bakery, these puff pastry hearts come together with just a handful of simple ingredients and minimal effort.
- Perfect Texture: The flaky puff pastry complements the smooth and creamy white chocolate, creating a decadently delicious combo!
- Customizable: You can swap the strawberries for raspberries; white chocolate pudding for milk chocolate pudding; drizzle with dark chocolate or Nutella; add some chopped nuts or powdered sugar…the possibilities are endless!
- Make-Ahead Friendly: You can prepare both the pastry hearts and mousse filling the day before and then assemble the sandwiches when you’re ready to serve. If you’re on the hunt for an easy weekend treat, this heart-shaped pastry will hit the spot.
- Ideal for Any Occasion: Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, a wedding or baby shower, or another type of celebration, this easy recipe will be a showstopper at your next gathering!
Ingredients Needed:
For the Heart Puff Pastries:
- Frozen Puff Pastry: One box of thawed store puff pastry is needed for this recipe.
- Unsalted butter, Honey, and Sugar: For brushing onto the pastry hearts.
For the White Chocolate Mousse:
- Instant White Chocolate Pudding Mix: This is the best way to get that creamy, white chocolate flavor.
- Heavy Whipping Cream and Milk: This combination makes the filling decadent and creamy.
- Vanilla Extract and Salt: For an extra touch of flavor.
- Fresh Strawberries: You’ll use a pound of strawberries and then slice each one.
- Shavings from a White Chocolate Bar: This is optional, but creates a tasty garnish.
How to Make:
- Prepare the Puff Pastry: Using a rolling pin, roll the thawed puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface and then use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut an even number of hearts into the puff pastry.
- Whisk: In a small bowl, whisk the melted butter and honey until combined and then brush onto each puff pastry heart, followed by a sprinkling of sugar.
- Bake: Place the puff pastries onto a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely before assembling.
- To Make The White Chocolate Mousse: In a large mixing bowl, beat the pudding mixes, heavy cream, milk, vanilla, and salt with a hand mixer until thickened and stiff picks form.
- Chill for 15 Minutes: Place mousse mixture into the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes (or up to one day in advance) so that it can chill before assembling the heart sandwiches.
- To Assemble: Cut each heart pastry in half to form a sandwich. Pipe the white chocolate mixture onto the border of one heart and then add the sliced strawberries to the middle. Place the other half of puff pastry heart on top of the filling to create a sandwich and then garnish with white chocolate shavings. Repeat this process with the remaining puff pastry hearts.
How to Store:
Leftover hearts will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
I do not recommend freezing the pastry hearts because of the cream filling.
Can I Make the Chocolate Mousse Ahead of Time?
Yes! You can prepare the filling one day in advance and then refrigerate until you’re ready to assemble the heart sandwiches.
Can I Bake the Puff Pastry Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! You roll the puff pastry dough, cut out into heart shapes, and then bake as directed up to one day in advance. Store the hearts in an airtight container at room temperature. When you’re ready to assemble the sandwiches, cut the hearts in half as directed.
What Can I Use if I Don’t Have a Piping Bag?
I like to use a large ziploc bag in place of piping bags. Spoon the mousse into the bag and then snip a small piece off the corner of the bag so that you can easily pipe the filling onto the edges of the hearts.
Variations:
- Puff Pastry: Instead of puff pastry, you can use sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, or even croissants for a different flavor base.
- Fruit: Swap the strawberries for fresh raspberries or blueberries for a fun flavor. You could also use raspberry jam or strawberry jam in place of the fruit for an easy ingredient.
- Pudding: Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or strawberry instant pudding would be a delicious swap for the white chocolate kind.
- Cream Cheese: Instead of a pudding base, you could make a cream cheese filling with powdered sugar for an extra dose of sweetness.
- Drizzling: Instead of or in addition to white chocolate, drizzle the hearts with melted chocolate or Nutella to create Nutella puff pastry hearts.
- Sprinkling: A dusting of powdered sugar or a sprinkling of chopped pecans, chocolate chips, or toffee bits would be a tasty addition.
Tips for Making the Best Puff Pastry Dessert Hearts:
- Be Sure to Use Thawed Puff Pastry: I like to set the puff pastry at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before I’m ready to bake with it. If it’s thawed much longer than that, it can become too soft and hard to work with.
- Use a Sharp Heart Cookie Cutter: This will help you get those clean heart shapes. Try to avoid twisting the cookie cutter, as it will alter the heart shape.
- For the Best Whipped Mousse: Chill your mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for 15 minutes before using. This will work with the cold cream and milk to get it to come together faster.
Looking for More Easy Valentine’s Day Treats? I’ve Got You Covered!
- Red Velvet French Toast
- Strawberry Cupcakes
- Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
- Strawberry Truffles
- Red Velvet Scones
- Raspberry Brownie Parfaits
- Strawberry Cheesecake Mousse
Valentine’s Puff Pastry Hearts
Ingredients
Puff Pastry Hearts
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, (thawed)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons honey
- Granulated sugar for sprinkling
White Chocolate Mousse
- 2 (3.3 ounce) boxes instant white chocolate pudding mix
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup milk , (2% or whole milk)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste, (or vanilla extract)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, sliced
- White chocolate bar shavings for topping, (if desired)
Instructions
To make the puff pastry hearts:
- Preheat oven to 400℉. Line a large baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Roll the thawed puff pastry sheets onto a lightly floured surface. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out even-numbered hearts from puff pastry. *Tip: pair each heart to make a top and bottom. Place each heart onto the prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk the melted butter and honey until combined. Brush each puff pastry heart with honey mixture and then sprinkle with granulated sugar.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely before filling. Note: Hearts will puff up in oven and then deflate once cooled.
To make the white chocolate mousse:
- In a large mixing bowl, add pudding mixes, heavy cream, milk, vanilla, and salt and beat on medium speed with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer with whisk attachment for 3 minutes, or until mixture thickens and holds a stiff peak.
- Place bowl into the refrigerator for 15 minutes to chill before preparing hearts.
To assemble the heart sandwiches:
- Slice each hearty pastry in half to create a sandwich.
- On the bottom half, pipe the mousse onto the border of heart and fill the center with sliced strawberries. Place the other half of puff pastry on top of filling to create a sandwich and garnish with shaved white chocolate (if desired). Repeat with remaining hearts. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Leftover hearts will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
- You can prepare the white chocolate mousse up to one day in advance: store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and whisk gently before assembling the hearts.
- You can also prepare the puff pastry hearts up to one day in advance: bake as directed and then store in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to assemble.
- If you don’t have a piping bag: you can spoon the white chocolate mousse into a large ziploc bag and snip the corner to pipe onto the hearts.
- See my tips and tricks for making these Valentine’s Puff Pastry Hearts above the recipe box.
