Cream Cheese Strawberry Braided Pastry Food

CREAM CHEESE STRAWBERRY BRAIDED PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven at 200 C/ 390 F.
• Cream cheese spread - combine all ingredients in a bowl - set aside.
• Roll puff pastry to a rectangle - 12 x 6-inches wide.
• Transfer to a parchment paper so it's easier to move to the baking tray.
• Mark the pastry at 1 1/2" from both edges lengthways (see video).
• Cut off two corners (triangles) from the top and bottom - see video.
• Spread a generous amount of cream cheese down the center (I prefer to use a piping bag).
• Then, spread a generous amount of strawberry jam over the cream cheese mixture.
• Using a sharp knife or pizza wheel, cut slanting strips along both sides of the pastry.
• Fold both ends at the top and bottom over the filling (this will prevent the filling coming out when baking).
• Braid the pastry by crossing the strips over the filling overlapping each other (see video).
• When you reach the end, you can overlap any excess strips or cut them off.
• Pick the pastry with the parchment paper and transfer it to the baking tray.
• Brush the pastry with beaten egg.
• Bake in a preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 10 minutes- Do not try to transfer as the pastry may break and do not serve as the jam will be bubbling hot.
• Serve warm or room temperature.

STRAWBERRY CREAM-STUFFED PASTRIES RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender, puree the strawberries until smooth.
• Pour the strawberry puree through a sieve into a medium bowl to remove any seeds and clumps. Chill for 15 minutes, until the puree is cold.
• In a separate large bowl, beat the cream cheese and ½ cup (80 g) of powdered sugar together with an electric hand mixer. Mix in the milk and strawberry puree. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk the beaten egg and water together. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400˚F (200˚C).
• Roll a foot-long (30 cm) piece of aluminum foil into a tube. Repeat with 3 more pieces of foil to make 4 tubes total.
• On a cutting board, roll the puff pastry out to 13 inches (33 cm) by 13 inches (33 cm). Slice the puff pastry lengthwise into 1½ inch-wide (4 cm) strips.
• Wrap 2 of the strips around a foil tube, brushing the edges with egg wash and gently pressing together to adhere. Repeat with the remaining pastry strips and foil tubes.
• Balance the ends of the foil tubes over the edges of a roasting pan or baking sheet so the pastry isn't touching the surface of the pan. Brush egg wash all over the pastry spirals.
• Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown.
• Let the pastry tubes rest at room temperature for 5 minutes. Gently remove the foil tubes. Transfer the pastry tubes to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 5 more minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• Fill a piping bag or zip-top bag fitted with a round tip with the cream cheese mixture. Pipe the cream cheese filling into the pastry tubes.
• Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with chocolate syrup.
• Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY (OR ANY BERRY REALLY) PUFF PASTRY BRAID

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Using an electric mixer, whip the cream cheese and sour cream in a small bowl until fluffy. Add the granulated sugar and whip until well combined, making sure there are no lumps. Reserve for later use.
• Beat the egg and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl with a fork.
• Unfold 1 pastry sheet on a lightly floured flat surface. Roll the pastry into a 14-by-12-inch rectangle. Spoon half of the cream cheese mixture lengthwise down the center of the pastry. Cut slits 1 inch apart from the 2 sides of the pastry rectangle within 1/2 inch of the cream cheese mixture. Arrange half of the strawberries down the center of the pastry on top of the cream cheese mixture. Starting at one end, fold the pastry strips over the strawberries on a diagonal, alternating sides, to cover the strawberries. Repeat the entire process with the remaining pastry sheet, cream cheese filling and strawberries. Brush the pastries very lightly with the egg wash (otherwise they won't rise). Sprinkle with the demerara sugar and top with pistachios.
• Bake until golden brown, 30 minutes. Let cool on a rack for about 20 minutes before serving.

RUSTIC BRAIDED STRAWBERRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper.
• Add the cream cheese and 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar to a bowl and beat together with a hand mixer until light and spreadable.
• In a large bowl, toss together the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the strawberries, flour, cornstarch, vanilla extract and salt, and set aside for later use.
• Lightly dust your work surface with flour. Unroll the puff pastry and roll it out to an 11-by-17-inch rectangle (almost the size of a half sheet tray). Place on the prepared sheet tray and spread the cream cheese down the center of the puff pastry using first a rubber spatula, and then your fingers to evenly spread it out. Spoon the strawberries on top of the cream cheese. Use a knife to cut 1 1/2-inch slits on both sides of the filling, coming within 1/2-inch of the filling. Alternately fold each strip of dough over each other to create a braid. Tuck in the ends and brush the top of the tart with egg wash and sprinkle with the turbinado sugar. Bake until puffed and golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Cool for 25 minutes before serving. Dust with confectioners' sugar to garnish and slice to serve.

STRAWBERRY AND CREAM-CHEESE PASTRY CUPS

Steps:

• Arrange the pastry cups on a flat dish.
• Heat the jelly in a small heavy saucepan until melted. Brush the inside of each pastry cup with a light coating of jelly.
• Cut the cheese into 20 equal-size pieces, each about one teaspoon. Add one piece of cheese to each pastry cup. Flatten each piece to fill each cup and to smooth over the top.
• Top each cheese-filled pastry cup with a strawberry.
• Brush the top of each strawberry all around with the melted jelly.

CREAM CHEESE AND STRAWBERRY JAM PASTRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 220°C.
• Cut pastry into 4 squares and place on a baking sheet lined with non-stick baking paper.
• Place a quarter of jam and quarter of cream cheese into centre of each piece of pastry. Don't overfill or it will leak out during cooking.
• Carefully bring the four points together to form a parcel and twist - don't worry too much about small gaps.
• Bake for approx 20 mins or until golden.
• When cool dust with icing sugar.

STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE TART

Steps:

• For Crust: Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Place butter in mixer and beat with paddle until soft and light.
• Gradually beat in sugar.
• Beat 5-10 minutes until the mixture is very light and whitened.
• Mix flour in gradually until completely mixed. Don't over beat.
• Gather dough and wrap in plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate about 30 minutes.
• Roll out dough, place a large spring form pan upside down in the middle of the dough and cut roughly ½ inch out from pan.
• Place cookie dough inside pan and bake for 15 minutes.
• Cream Cheese Filling: With wire whisk attachment beat soften cream cheese at highest speed until completely smooth and fluffy.
• Add sugar and vanilla.
• Beat for about 5 more minutes.
• Spread filling on crust, the crust does not have to be completely cooled.
• I start the filling when I pull the crust out of the oven.
• Now cover the top with sliced strawberries.
• Do not add sugar to the strawberries because it makes it to watery.
• Chill and serve!