Valentines Love Letter Pastries
Vegan Love Letter Pastries are not just desserts; they are little bundles of joy and affection perfect for Valentine’s Day celebrations. Enveloped in a delicate, flaky pastry, each piece is filled with luscious strawberry jam that bursts with sweetness. The charm of these pastries lies in their playful shape, resembling love letters sealed with care. Whether you’re treating a loved one, friends, or even yourself, this delightful recipe is not only easy to whip up but also incredibly satisfying, making it a crowd-pleaser that everyone will adore.
Table of Contents
A few years ago, I decided to venture into the world of homemade pastries. I stumbled upon the idea of crafting cute, dessert versions of traditional love letters, and the moment I made these Vegan Love Letter Pastries for the first time, I knew I had found something truly special. The combination of textures—from the flaky crust to the gooey filling—creates a charming experience that goes beyond just taste. Delicious, elegant, and surprisingly straightforward to make, these pastries are a must-try!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple & Quick: Whip up these beauties in just about an hour, including prep and bake time.
- Irresistible Flavor: Enjoy the delightful contrast between the buttery pastry and the sweet strawberry jam.
- Eye-Catching Appeal: Bold diamond shapes adorned with cute heart cutouts will impress your loved ones!
- Flexible Serving: Perfect as a dessert, snack, or even for breakfast; versatile enough for any occasion.
- Diet-Friendly Options: These pastries are entirely plant-based and vegan-friendly, so everyone can indulge.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 2 cups plain flour: All-purpose flour provides the structure for our pastries. If you need a gluten-free version, you can try a 1:1 baking flour blend.
- 2 tablespoons caster sugar (plus extra for sprinkling): This fine sugar adds a touch of sweetness to the pastry, which contrasts nicely with the jam. You can use granulated sugar, but caster sugar dissolves better.
- 1 cup dairy-free block butter: Use a high-quality block butter that’s cold and cubed for the flakiest texture. Make sure it’s firmly plant-based to keep this recipe vegan!
- Ice water: Adds moisture to the dough without making it overly wet. Only add enough to bring your dough together—about 1 to 2 tablespoons should do.
- 1 jar vegan-friendly strawberry jam: A good quality jam packs in the flavor. You can also use other flavors like raspberry or blueberry if you’re feeling adventurous!
- Dairy-free milk (optional): This is for brushing the pastries to give them a golden finish. Almond or oat milk works great here.
- Icing sugar (dusting, optional): For that finishing touch, a light dusting of icing sugar adds sweetness and a beautiful presentation.
How to Make Valentines Love Letter Pastries
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, sift together the 2 cups of plain flour and 2 tablespoons of caster sugar. This ensures your pastry has a light texture.
Add Cold Butter: Incorporate the 1 cup of cold, cubed dairy-free block butter into the flour mixture. Using your fingers or a food processor, mix until it resembles coarse sand. This step is crucial for achieving that flaky texture we all love!
Form the Dough: Gradually add in ice water, about 1/2 tablespoon at a time, until your dough starts to come together. It should be smooth, slightly sticky but not overly wet or dry—usually needing about 1 to 2 tablespoons of ice water.
Chill the Dough: Wrap your dough in greaseproof paper and pop it in the fridge for about 30 minutes, or until it feels firm. This step helps prevent sticking when you roll it out and is key to the pastry’s flaky texture.
Preheat Oven: While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 170°C fan (340°F) and prepare 2 baking trays lined with greaseproof paper for baking.
Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, lay down a sheet of greaseproof paper and roll out the chilled dough between two sheets of floured paper until it’s in a large rectangle. Cut the dough into diamond shapes, approximately 10cm on each side. Place these on the prepared trays, and don’t forget to use up the scraps with a heart-shaped cookie cutter for cute embellishments!
Fill with Jam: Take a teaspoon or two of strawberry jam and place it in the center of each diamond. Fold the three corners into the center to mimic the look of an envelope; the pastry should now look like a sweet love letter! Make sure to press down on the corners firmly to seal in that luscious jam.
Brush & Sprinkle: If using, brush the top of the pastries with a bit of dairy-free milk to help achieve a golden finish. Add heart-shaped cutouts in the center of each pastry and sprinkle a tiny bit of extra caster sugar on top for that added sweetness and crunch.
Bake: Carefully place the trays in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when they turn a lovely golden brown color and are aromatic throughout your kitchen—pure bliss!
Cool Down: After removing them from the oven, let the pastries cool slightly on a wire rack. They will be soft initially but will crisp up beautifully upon cooling.
Serve with Love: Dust with icing sugar just before serving for that charming final touch. While they are delightful on their own, a simple glaze drizzle can elevate them further, if you wish!
Storing & Reheating
Store any leftover pastries at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. If you need to keep them longer, refrigerate for up to a week. You can also freeze these pastries in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy again, simply reheat in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes until warmed through and crisp.
Chef’s Helpful Tips
- Avoid over-mixing the dough; it should be just combined for a flaky pastry.
- Use very cold butter for the best results; you can even chill your mixing bowl for good measure.
- Allow your pastry circles to sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes before rolling if they’ve been in the fridge for too long.
- Experiment with different fillings! Apple pie filling or chocolate hazelnut spread make for delicious variations.
- If the pastry feels sticky while rolling, dust it lightly with extra flour to help.
A delightful blend of flaky pastry and sweet jam, Vegan Love Letter Pastries are bound to find a place in your heart (and stomach!) this Valentine’s Day. They are not only delightful to eat but also fun to make—a perfect project for a creative afternoon! Feel free to try out different flavors and decorations as you savor the process.
Recipe FAQs
Can I make these pastries gluten-free?
Absolutely! You can substitute the plain flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Just make sure it’s a blend that includes a binding agent, like xanthan gum, to mimic the texture of traditional pastry.
How do I know when the pastries are done baking?
You’ll want to look for a lovely golden brown color on the edges of the pastries and a fragrant aroma wafting through your kitchen. The pastries should look slightly puffed as well!
Can I use store-bought pastry instead of making my own?
Yes, using store-bought vegan pastry is a great shortcut! Just follow the package instructions for rolling out and baking, and fill them with your favorite jam.
What other fillings can I use besides strawberry jam?
The sky’s the limit! You can use raspberry, apricot, or even a delightful chocolate spread for a more decadent treat. Feel free to get creative—your taste buds will thank you!
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📖 Recipe Card
Valentines Love Letter Pastries
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: DESSERTS
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Vegan
Description
These Valentines Love Letter Pastries are delightful treats filled with strawberry jam, featuring a flaky crust that’s easy to make, making them perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 240g of plain flour
- 2 tablespoons of caster sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
- 220g of dairy-free block butter (cold and cut into small cubes)
- ice-water (see method)
- 1 jar of vegan friendly strawberry jam
- dairy-free milk (optional)
- icing sugar (dusting, optional)
Instructions
- Sift the flour and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl. Add the cold butter and mix until it resembles sand.
- Gradually add ice water, one half-tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together, making sure it's smooth and slightly sticky.
- Wrap the dough in greaseproof paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Preheat the oven to 170°C fan and line two baking trays with greaseproof paper.
- Dust a sheet of greaseproof paper on your worktop with flour and roll out the dough until it's a large rectangle.
- Cut the dough into diamond shapes, approximately 10cm on each side, and place on the lined trays. Use a cookie cutter for any remaining dough.
- Place a teaspoon or two of strawberry jam in the center of each diamond shape. Fold the corners into the center to form an envelope and press to seal.
- Brush the pastries with dairy-free milk, apply heart shapes on top, and sprinkle sugar for a golden finish.
- Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
- Let the pastries cool; they will crisp up beautifully. Serve dusted with icing sugar.
Notes
Ensure the butter is cold for a flaky texture.
Use vegan-friendly ingredients to cater to dietary preferences.
Experiment with different jam fillings to personalize your pastries.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pastry
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
