Description
Delightful Blackberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Bites featuring flaky puff pastry squares topped with a creamy, sweetened cream cheese filling and fresh blackberries. Perfect as a bite-sized dessert or party treat, these easy-to-make pastries are golden baked to perfection and can be enhanced with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of honey for extra sweetness.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry Bites
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 24 fresh blackberries
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Optional Toppings
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Honey for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure the pastries bake evenly and do not stick.
- Make Cream Cheese Filling: In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Mix until smooth and creamy to create a sweet and tangy filling.
- Prepare Puff Pastry Squares: Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet and gently roll it out to smooth any seams. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut the pastry into 24 small squares, approximately 2 inches each, and place them spaced slightly apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Assemble Pastry Bites: Add a small dollop of the cream cheese filling to the center of each puff pastry square, then top each with a fresh blackberry. Lightly brush the edges of each square with the beaten egg to promote browning and help seal the pastry.
- Bake: Bake the assembled bites in the preheated oven for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden brown and puffed up, indicating a perfectly cooked and flaky texture.
- Cool and Garnish: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the pastry bites cool slightly. Optionally, dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with honey before serving to add a sweet finishing touch.
Notes
- Serve these bites warm or at room temperature for the best flavor and texture.
- Feel free to substitute blackberries with raspberries or blueberries for variety.
- Adding a tiny mint leaf on top of each bite adds a fresh splash of color and aroma.
