Strawberry Puff Pastry Diamonds

I recently found a series of four recipes on Buzzfeed Tasty using puff pastry.  (They have a great site and I recommend you visit it.)  I use puff pastry a lot in the morning treats I make for our Bed and Breakfast guests.  You can't serve food to guests that you haven't tried and eaten yourself!  That is my excuse for trying these recipes.  And eating these recipes.  Some guests see a recipe I post on my blog and request it for breakfast.  With enough advanced notice, this is usually accommodated.

Make sure to tell me you saw it on my blog!

 

Strawberry Puff Pastry Diamonds

1 sheet thawed puff pastry
5 strawberries, halved
9 Tablespoons cream cheese mixture
powdered sugar

 

Cream Cheese mixture

1 8 oz. block of cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

 

Unwrap the cream cheese and place it in a medium bowl. 

 

Add the sugar and the vanilla.  Mix well until combined.

 

Heat the oven to 400°.  Place a sheet of parchment paper or a Silpat on a sheet pan and set aside.

 

Unfold the sheet of puff pastry.  It is OK if it is still very cold.  That will make it easier to work with.  I sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of flour on the counter to keep it from sticking.

 

Cut the pastry into three long strips and then divide each strip into thirds.  You will have 9 squares.

Take one square and fold it in half to form a triangle. leaving a 1/4 inch border, cut from the folded corner almost to the open corner at the top.  Leave about 1/3 of an inch uncut.  Like this.

 

Open the square and fold one corner to align on the opposite inside corner.  Then do the same to the other side.  Like this.  Now you have a diamond.

 

Transfer the pastry diamonds to the prepared pan.  Place a Tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture in the center of the diamond.   Place one half of a strawberry on top of the cream cheese and press gently.  Do this with all the squares of puff pastry. 

 

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.

Cool for a few minutes on the pan.  Place a sheet of paper towel under a cooling rack.  Transfer the pastries to the cooling rack.  When they are mostly cool, sprinkle powdered sugar over the pastries.  The paper towel underneath will make clean up easier.  And you won't be tempted to lick the counter.

 

Serve slightly warm and covered with powdered sugar.  The warm strawberries are tart and the cream cheese mixture is sweet.  Combine this with the crunchy pastry and this is a delightful two bite treat for our breakfast guests.