This year, surprise your loved ones with a mouth-watering Puff Pastry Heart, stuffed with chocolatey Nutella and frosted with a quick homemade icing. And the best part? We've got a secret to share with you: This delectable dessert is easier to make than you think, thanks to the convenience of store-bought puff pastry.
Optional: tiny pinch of salt, 1/2 tsp vanilla, red food coloring, sprinkles
Instructions
PREP: Follow package instructions for thawing the puff pastry dough. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
CUT: Take one piece of store-bought puff pastry, lay it out on a lightly floured surface, and slice it in half. Using a very sharp knife, cut out a heart shape from one half of the pastry (either free hand or with our printed heart guide). Repeat the process with the other half of the puff pastry.
SHAPE: Spread about ⅓ cup of Nutella on one of the heart-shaped cutouts, leaving a small border around the edges. After spreading the chocolate spead, take the other cutout and place it on top, sandwich style. Using a knife, make 1-inch slits around the edge of the heart shape, being careful not to cut through the center. The slits don't have to be perfect, so don't stress about it. Embrace the rustic look here! Take each slit and twist it, then gently press the ends down onto the baking sheet.
EGG WASH: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 large egg and 1 tablespoon of water to create an egg wash. Use a pastry brush to generously brush the heart with the egg wash (you won't use it all). Sprinkle white sugar and a small handful of sparkling sugar over the pastry until it's evenly coated. Place the pastry in the freezer for 15 minutes to chill.
BAKE: Bake the pastry in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until it is puffed and golden brown. While the pastry are baking, make the icing by mixing together powdered sugar, milk, a pinch of salt, and vanilla extract. Add food coloring if desired. Once the pastry is done baking, remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Drizzle the icing over the pastry, and enjoy while still warm!
Video
Notes
Note 1: Puff Pastry: I take one 13.2 ounce piece of puff pastry. If you have a package containing two smaller pieces, use both for this recipe instead of dividing it. Puff pastry dough can be found in most supermarkets in the frozen food section, near desserts. It is important to carefully follow the package thawing instructions when using store-bought puff pastry, to ensure proper baking.Note 2: White sparkling sugar: This is a coarser sugar that adds a lovely crunch! If you don't have it, just use a touch more regular sugar instead. Nutrition information is based on using 1/3 cup of Nutella per pastry heart. Numbers are for the whole pastry heart, not for each individual slice.