There’s something so reassuring about flaky puff pastry, rich cream cheese, and sweet strawberries all rolled into one tasty bite. These mini strawberry cream cheese pastries are the perfect dessert for brunches, Valentine’s parties, Pi Day festivities, or an easy afternoons snack. Whether you’re baking with fresh fruit or canned strawberry pie filling, these bite-sized treats will impress all your guests.

Let’s sink our teeth into this irresistibly sweet, creamy, and slightly tangy dessert and find out about variations, storage tips, and even creative ways to repurpose leftovers such as wafer strawberries or chantilly cream rose.

The Origin of the Cream Cheese & Strawberry Combo

No one is quite sure who first thought to put strawberries and cream cheese together, but whoever it was, we’re thanking them big time. This pairing has become standard-issue in strawberry desserts such as strawberry cream cheese pastry bites, strawberry cheesecake fudge, and banana strawberry cheesecake. Even that fabled strawberry pie with cream cheese and condensed milk can thank this humble pair.

The miniaturized version? Pure brilliance. Bite-sized, classy, and flat-out dreamy.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed
• 4 oz Philadelphia cream cheese (or dairy-free strawberry cream cheese)
• 2 tbsp sugar (or sugar-free alternative for sugar free strawberry desserts)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup strawberry pie filling (canned or homemade)
• 1 egg (for egg wash)
• Optional: powdered sugar, chantilly sauce, or strawberry pastry cream for topping

Optional Add-ins Based on Your Pantry:

• A spoon of Dana sweet cheese 1lb for extra richness
• Crushed Keebler crackers or pecan sandies pie crust crumbs for a textured top
• A swirl of strawberry cremes or strawberry jam for cheesecake for an extra burst of flavor

Step-by-Step Recipe

Step 1: Prep the Pastry

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly flour your work surface and roll the puff pastry out into a square. Cut out 9–12 small squares (how miniature you desire your pastries).

Step 2: Make the Filling

Combine softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy. You may incorporate a little yogurt and cream cheese pie filling for that extra pucker.

Step 3: Assemble

Put a dollop of the cream cheese mixture in the middle of each square. Put a spoon of strawberry pie filling or a slice of fresh strawberry. Fold corners in slightly (but don’t close all the way—you want to be able to see that gorgeous red!).

Step 4: Bake

Brush with egg wash and bake for 15–18 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.

Step 5: Garnish & Serve

Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with dream whip recipes with jello. You can top with crushed strawberry cheesecake Keebler cookies as well for crunch.

Storage & Shelf Life Tips

• Refrigeration: Since they contain milk, store these little pastries in the refrigerator. Do hard cheeses have to be kept in the refrigerator? Yes—and cream cheese, too.
• Freezing: Freeze unbaked constructed pastries for a month.
• Reheating: Re-crisp with a toaster oven or air fryer.

Curious whether crackers spoil? They do, just like unopened puff pastry. Store your baking ingredients in cool, dry areas or airtight containers.

Variations to Try

• Sour Cream Strawberry Pie-Inspired Bites

Make use of sour cream in the filling and finish with strawberry crunch cupcake crumbles.

• Vegan Strawberry Cream Cheese Bites

Employ vegan puff pastry and dairy-free strawberry cream cheese spread by Philadelphia.

• Strawberry Pretzel Cheesecake-Inspired Pastries

Garnish with crushed pretzels and cream cheese mousse for a salty-sweet twist.

Mini Brick Pie Bites

Inspired by layered brick pies, layers of pillsbury 4 pack biscuits or even a pillsbury yellow cake mix 50 lb bag can be used as the base if you are making it for a crowd.

Gluten-Free Option

Use gluten-free puff pastry and ensure your cream cheese is gluten-free (e.g., Philadelphia whipped cream cheese gluten free).

Party-Worthy Presentation Ideas

• Serve on mini monkey pod slabs or monkey pod salad bowl sets for rustic charm.
• Pair with chantilly cream rose or lemon masher zest for a spring look.
• Set up a complete dessert table with strawberry rhubarb canned pie filling cups, cherry and strawberry pie parfaits, and banana cream cheese pie recipe slices.
• Having a Pi Day party? Serve a combination of mini desserts:
• Blueberry dream pie
• Strawberry vanilla pudding pie
• Peach pie filling fruit salad
• Keebler pie crust recipes in jars
• Pie & G electric decorations (yes, it’s a thing!)

What to Do with Leftovers?

Have leftover cool whip salad with cherry pie filling or half of a comstock lemon pie filling can? Use them to make dreamy layered jars with leftover pastry or to make a quick no-bake strawberry pizza pie.

You can also:

• Combine cream cheese with strawberry jam and serve on cheese square crackers.
• Make a peanut butter cottage cheese mousse for protein-filled dessert jars.
• Add leftovers to a 3-ring recipe binder 8.5 x 11 full of family favorites.

Fun Facts & FAQs

 Will frozen strawberries spoil?

Yes, particularly if they’ve thawed and been refrozen several times. Use them soon or make strawberry mousse tart or strawberry rhubarb jello freezer jam.

 What is the difference between cream cheese and cream cheese spread?

Cream cheese is more dense; spread is more runny.

For baking, traditional cream cheese (such as Dana sweet cheese 1lb) keeps better. 

 What’s a suitable substitute for mascarpone?

Cream cheese blended with a small amount of heavy cream can replace well in dips such as mascarpone cheese fruit dip.

Final Thoughts

These bite-sized strawberry cream cheese pastries are as nice as they are tasty. You can serve them as is, serve them as strawberry crunch salad parfaits, or top them with a biscoff mousse recipe swirl for decadence. If you’re fantasizing about strawberries, having a Pi Day party, or just adore flaky desserts, these pastries are a must-bake.

From chocolate strawberry pie to strawberry banana cream pie, the strawberry and cream cheese combination never fails. So the next time you have some Philadelphia cream cheese snack bars or pillsbury peanut butter brownies sitting around—why not make them something special?

Hunger for more strawberry desserts or want to see recipes using strawberry pie filling?

Subscribe to the blog and read popular ideas such as strawberry shortcake crumble topping recipe using jello, vegan strawberry jello, and bakers square pies for thanksgiving.