Delicate, flaky puff pastry shaped into charming hearts topped with a golden caramelized crème brûlée glaze, offering a perfect balance of crispness and creamy sweetness.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Crème Brûlée Puff Pastry Hearts are the ideal blend of elegance and indulgence. With buttery, golden puff pastry as the base and a smooth vanilla custard layered on top, each heart is finished with a crisp, caramelized sugar crust. These bite-sized desserts are both visually stunning and incredibly satisfying, making them perfect for special occasions, romantic evenings, or an elevated afternoon treat.
Ingredients
1 sheet puff pastry (thawed if frozen)
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup whole milk
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus extra for caramelizing)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Edible gold leaf flakes (optional, for garnish)
(Tip: You can find the complete list of ingredients and their measurements in the recipe card below.)
Directions
Prepare the Puff Pastry
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll out the puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out hearts and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Prick each heart lightly with a fork to minimize puffing. Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden and crisp. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the Crème Brûlée Custard
In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream and milk just until simmering. Remove from heat. In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar until pale and creamy. Slowly add the warm cream mixture to the yolks, whisking constantly to avoid curdling.
Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring continuously until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (do not allow to boil). Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract, and let cool to room temperature.
Assemble and Chill
Spoon or pipe a layer of custard onto each cooled puff pastry heart. Place the filled hearts in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until the custard is fully set.
Caramelize and Garnish
Just before serving, sprinkle a thin, even layer of granulated sugar on top of each custard-covered heart. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar until it forms a golden, crisp layer. Garnish with edible gold leaf flakes if desired. Serve immediately.
Servings and timing
Makes 8–10 hearts
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Cooling/chilling time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 35 minutes
Calories: Approximately 180 kcal per piece
Variations
- Use flavored custards such as lavender, espresso, or citrus zest for unique twists.
- Replace the vanilla with almond or rose extract for a floral note.
- Add a layer of fresh raspberries or a dollop of fruit compote under the custard.
- Use different shaped cutters for other holidays or occasions.
Storage/Reheating
These are best served immediately after caramelizing the sugar. If preparing in advance, store the custard-topped pastries in the refrigerator and caramelize the sugar just before serving. Do not freeze, as the custard may separate and the pastry can become soggy.
FAQs
Can I make the custard ahead of time?
Yes, the custard can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator.
What if I don’t have a kitchen torch?
You can broil the hearts in the oven for 1–2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
Can I use store-bought custard?
Yes, but homemade custard provides the best flavor and consistency.
Will the puff pastry stay crisp?
Yes, if stored separately from the custard and assembled shortly before serving.
Can I freeze these desserts?
Freezing is not recommended due to the custard texture and puff pastry integrity.
What can I use instead of gold leaf?
Try a dusting of powdered sugar or a few crushed freeze-dried berries for a decorative touch.
How thick should the sugar layer be?
Just enough to coat the custard surface—too much will be difficult to caramelize evenly.
Can I use low-fat milk or cream?
For the best results, stick with full-fat cream and whole milk to ensure a rich custard.
Are these suitable for children?
Yes, though they should be supervised during the caramelizing step.
What’s the best way to serve them?
Chilled or at room temperature shortly after caramelizing the top layer.
Conclusion
Crème Brûlée Puff Pastry Hearts are an exquisite treat that blend the sophistication of a French classic with the charm of playful pastry design. With their crisp base, creamy filling, and dramatic caramelized topping, these desserts are sure to enchant guests and elevate any celebration. They’re as enjoyable to make as they are to eat—a perfect showcase of flavor and finesse.
Crème Brûlée Puff Pastry Hearts
Delicate, flaky puff pastry shaped into charming hearts topped with a golden caramelized crème brûlée glaze, offering a perfect balance of crispness and creamy sweetness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 hearts 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking and caramelizing
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed if frozen)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus extra for caramelizing)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Edible gold leaf flakes (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Roll out puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Prick the puff pastry hearts with a fork to prevent puffing too much.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden and crisp. Cool on a wire rack.
- Heat cream and milk in a saucepan until just simmering, then remove from heat.
- Whisk egg yolks with sugar until pale and creamy. Slowly add hot cream mixture while whisking constantly.
- Return mixture to saucepan and cook on low heat, stirring until it thickens to coat the back of a spoon. Do not boil.
- Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract, and let cool to room temperature.
- Spoon or pipe custard onto cooled puff pastry hearts.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until set.
- Before serving, sprinkle a thin layer of sugar on each heart and caramelize with a kitchen torch until golden and crisp.
- Garnish with edible gold leaf flakes if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use a kitchen torch for best caramelization results.
- Ensure custard is fully set before topping with sugar.
- Hearts can be made a day ahead and caramelized just before serving.
- Gold leaf adds an elegant touch for special occasions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 heart
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: Approx. 12 g
- Sodium: Approx. 60 mg
- Fat: Approx. 13 g
- Saturated Fat: Approx. 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approx. 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 15 g
- Fiber: Approx. 0.5 g
- Protein: Approx. 3 g
- Cholesterol: Approx. 95 mg