Strawberry Cinnamon Pastries & Cream Cheese Glaze

These pastries are absolutely delicious and very easy to make.  They are slightly crisp on the outside, fluffy and warm on the inside, and, when paired with the sweet strawberries and gooey cream cheese glaze, they are out of this world!  Just a forewarning, the glaze (adapted from Epicurious) is extremely addicting -- I found myself eating it by the spoonful!  

Ingredients:
Yields 12 medium pastries

• 1 c strawberries, chopped
• 1 tbsp honey 
• 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
• 1/2 c brown sugar 
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 3 tbsp butter, room temperature  

Cream Cheese Glaze:

• 2 oz cream cheese, room temperature 
• 2 tbsp butter, room temperature 
• 1/2 c confectioners' sugar, sifted 
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  

Combine the strawberries and honey in a small bowl and allow them to macerate while preparing the other ingredients.  

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Spread the butter evenly over the puff pastry.  Cut the puff pastry into 1 inch x 4 inch strips.  Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over the pastry strips and gently press down.  

Twist together two of the pastry strips and shape into a ring, pinching the ends together with your fingers.  Lay the pastry ring on a greased baking sheet.  Gently press the center down with your fingers, forming a well for the strawberry filling.  Make sure there is no opening in the bottom for the strawberries to fall through.  Repeat with the remaining pastry strips.  Sprinkle any remaining brown sugar mixture over all, if desired.  

Spoon the strawberry mixture into the center of each pastry well.  

Bake for 15 minutes, or per pastry package instructions.  

Meanwhile, make the cream cheese glaze.  In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla, until smooth.  

Remove the pastries from the oven.  Drizzle the cream cheese glaze over all.  Serve warm or room temperature (my daughter prefers them chilled). 

Enjoy!