Indulge in a delightful culinary romance this Valentine’s Day with our charming twist on a classic Italian treat. These buttery, flaky pastries filled with luscious jam are not only a delight to the taste buds but also a heartfelt gesture for your loved ones.
Crostata, the Italian version of a tart or pie, holds a special place in the hearts of many. With its crumbly pastry crust and decadent filling, it’s a dessert that embodies comfort and indulgence. These crostata hearts take this beloved classic to new heights, shaping into adorable heart-shaped pastries that are perfect for Valentine’s Day celebrations.
Ingredients
- flour
- sugar
- salt
- cold unsalted butter
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- Your favorite jam or preserves (strawberry, raspberry, or cherry work beautifully)
- lemon zest
How-To
Here’s a quick overview of how to make this recip:
- Prepare the Dough: Cut the cold (!) butter into the flour. Add the egg yolks, sugar, vanilla and lemon zest. Knead to bring the dough together.
- Chill the Dough: Shape the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up.
- Shape the Hearts: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out half the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to make heart shapes, without cutting all the way through.
- Fill: Spoon a dollop of your favorite jam or preserves into the center of each heart, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Lattice and Cut-Out: Roll out the rest of the dough and cut out strips. Make a lattice on top of each heart. With the cookie cutter use the first indent as a guide and cut out each heart crostata. Use a spatula to space them out on the baking sheet. Brush with egg wash.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake the Crostata Hearts in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant. Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Equipment you may need to make this recipe:
- Mixing Bowls
- Whisk
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Sifter or Fine-Mesh Strainer
- Silicone Spatula
- Baking Sheets
- Cooling Rack
- Heart Cookie Cutter
Crostata Hearts
Crostata, the Italian version of a tart or pie, holds a special place in the hearts of many. With its crumbly pastry crust and decadent filling, it's a dessert that embodies comfort and indulgence. These crostata hearts take this beloved classic to new heights, shaping into adorable heart-shaped pastries that are perfect for Valentine's Day celebrations.
Ingredients
- 150 g butter cold and cubed
- 250 g flour
- 2 egg yolks
- 100 g sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- fruit jam
- lemon zest optional
- 1 egg beaten, for the egg wash
Instructions
- In a large bowl, press the butter into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles wet sand. You can also cut the butter into the flour using a pastry cutter or a fork.
- In a small bowl whisk the egg yolks and vanilla extract. Add the egg yolks, sugar, salt and lemon extract to the flour mixture.
- Quickly knead to bring the dough together. As soon as it has come together, form a disk and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- On a floured surface, roll out ½ of the dough to about ¼ inch thick. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet.
- With a large heart shaped cookie cutter, make hearts into the dough without cutting all the way through. Spread a layer of jam inside each of the hearts.
- Roll out the remaining dough to the same thickness and cut into strips. Make a lattice over each of the hearts. With the cookie cutter, use the first indent as a guide and cut out each heart completely. Use a spatula to space the hearts out on the baking sheet.
- Brush each crostata with the egg wash. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.