This Strawberry Heart Bread is a stunning pastry made with soft, buttery dough, a creamy strawberry filling, and a beautifully twisted heart design. It’s finished with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar for a light, sweet touch. (And, it is easier to make than it looks!) Once you make this strawberry pastry, don’t stop there! This versatile dough isn’t just ideal for this twist—it’s also the same dough I use in my Strawberries and Cream Sweet Rolls, topped with a luscious whipped cream frosting!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Dough: I like to use a mix of all-purpose flour and bread flour for this dough. The all-purpose flour keeps the texture soft and light, while the higher protein in bread flour adds just the right amount of chewiness. Together, they create a dough that’s perfectly tender yet sturdy enough to hold the filling. It’s the same flour combination I use in my Maple Cinnamon Rolls, which are another favorite of mine—you will have to give those a try too!
- Butter: I used unsalted butter in both the dough and the filling. If using salted butter, you may want to lessen the amount of salt in the recipe.
- Cream Cheese Layer: This filling is smooth, creamy, and lightly sweet, made with cream cheese, butter, and sugar. It is spread over one layer of the heart-shaped dough, followed by the strawberry preserves and diced strawberries.
- Strawberry Preserves: Look for strawberry preserves, which have small chunks of fruit and a thicker, more textured consistency than jam or jelly. But, if you don’t have preserves, jam or jelly will work just fine as a substitute.
- Strawberries: I used fresh strawberries, diced, for the filling.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: I love the look and added sweetness that a dusting of confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar) adds to the strawberry twist!
Can I Use Frozen Strawberries In The Filling?
Yes, you can use frozen diced strawberries for the filling! Just thaw them first and drain off any excess liquid to keep the filling from becoming too watery. (Pro Tip: For easier dicing, cut up the strawberries while they are still a little frozen–it makes it so much easier!)
Can You Assemble Strawberry Bread Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can assemble the heart-shaped strawberry twist ahead of time! After you have shaped and filled the dough, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to 12 hours. When ready to bake, just let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to an hour before popping it in the oven. This makes it perfect for prepping the night before!
How To Customize With Other Fruits And Flavors
You can easily customize your heart-shaped strawberry twist by swapping out the strawberries for other fruits you love! Try using raspberries, blueberries, peaches, or even a mix of your favorite fruits. Just make sure to adjust the sugar if your fruit is sweeter or more tart. For fruits like blueberries, it’s a good idea to drain off any extra juice to keep your twist from getting soggy. Have fun mixing it up with different flavors!
How To Store Strawberry Heart Bread
Once the twist has cooled, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two. If you need the bread to last a little longer, you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to five days. Just keep in mind that refrigeration can make them dry out faster. But, if the filled twist does dry out, don’t worry—you can easily reheat a piece in the microwave or oven to bring back that soft, warm goodness! And if you want to save them for a few months, freezing the rolls is a great option, too.
How To Freeze This Strawberry Bread
To freeze your heart-shaped strawberry twist, first let it cool completely. Then, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep it from getting freezer burn. Place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready, just take it out of the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature. You can also heat it up in the oven for a few minutes to make it warm and fresh again!
Strawberry Heart Bread
Ingredients
Dough
- ⅔ cup (163 g) whole milk, warmed in the microwave for about 30 seconds
- 5 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
- 1 envelopes (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 2 large eggs, room temperature, beaten
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (127 g) bread flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Filling
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (128 g) strawberry preserves
- 1 cup (166 g) strawberries, finely diced
Topping
- confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Instructions
Dough
- To the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment, add the warm milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and yeast. Mix together and let sit for about 5 minutes, until the yeast becomes foamy.
- Add eggs, butter, the remaining 4 tablespoons of sugar, all-purpose flour, bread flour, and salt. Mix on low speed until combined. Continue kneading on medium speed for about 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth.
- Spray a medium bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to grease all sides. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, until it has doubled in size.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Once the dough has doubled, transfer it to a floured work surface and divide it into 2 equal portions.
- Roll each portion into a 10-inch circle. Using a pre-cut heart-shaped template (made from parchment paper or cardboard) as a guide, gently shape each circle of dough into a heart by stretching and pinching the edges as needed.
- Transfer one of the heart-shaped dough pieces to the lined baking sheet, leaving the other on the work surface for assembly.
Filling
- In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, and sugar together using a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Spread the mixture evenly over the heart-shaped dough on the pan, covering the entire surface.
- Top with an even layer of strawberry preserves.
- Sprinkle diced strawberries on top.
Assembly
- Carefully place the second dough heart on top of the first, aligning the edges. Place a small circular cookie cutter (or a mason jar lid) in the center of the heart to act as a guide, ensuring you don’t cut through the middle.
- Using a sharp knife, make the first guiding cut from the edge of the cookie cutter down to the bottom point of the heart. Then, make one additional cut on each side of the first cut, creating two complete strips at the bottom point of the heart.
- Twist each of the two bottom strips in opposite directions (one clockwise, the other counterclockwise). Then, pinch them together at the bottom point to secure the heart’s shape.
- From there, continue making 1-inch-wide cuts along the right side of the heart, starting from the cookie cutter and moving outward. Twist each strip 1 ½–2 full turns in the same direction (clockwise).
- Next, repeat the process on the left side of the heart, making 1-inch-wide cuts and twisting the strips 1 ½-2 full turns in the opposite direction (counterclockwise).
- Cover the twisted heart, and let it rise for 60 minutes.
- After the dough has risen, gently adjust the strips as needed to maintain the heart shape. Smooth any uneven edges for a clean finish.
Bake
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Bake for 20–30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Let the heart-shaped strawberry twist cool slightly before dusting with confectioners' sugar.
Did you make this recipe?
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What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
This is the perfect blend of soft dough and sweet strawberry filling! It looks as beautiful as it tastes!
Elizabeth
I loved this strawberry bread! The shape was so lovely, but I had no trouble tearing it apart to enjoy lots of it!!!
Stephanie
This is flaky, buttery, and I like that is is filled with fresh strawberries, too (besides the preserves). Perfect for Valentine's Day!
Annabelle
This is definitely a treat or desser for a special occasion. It's really neat and tastes even better!
Bella
I love this! It is a wonderful treat with the perfect amount of strawberry flavor.
