Craving something flaky and berry-bright without losing your whole evening to the oven? Make these strawberry jam puff squares. Store-bought dough keeps it quick, the filling does the heavy lifting, and the result feels like a little tea-time celebration.
What you need
- Puff pastry, all-butter and unleavened, 500 g
- Strawberry jam, 150 g
- Egg, 1 (for brushing)
- Powdered sugar, 1 tsp (for serving)
- All-purpose wheat flour, 1 tbsp (for dusting the surface)
Make the pastry
Pull the puff pastry from the freezer ahead of time and thaw it at room temperature. This gentle thaw keeps the layers intact so they rise beautifully in the oven. Lightly flour your work surface, then roll the dough in one direction to about 3–4 mm thick.
Fill and shape
Use a sharp knife or pastry wheel to cut the dough into squares roughly 10 x 10 cm. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of strawberry jam into the center of each square, leaving clean borders all around so the filling stays put. Fold each square in half over the filling to enclose it, then press and crimp the edges firmly with a fork to seal.
Tray and glaze
Heat the oven to 200°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set the pastries on it with a little space between each. Let them sit for 10 minutes so the dough relaxes. Beat the egg with a fork and brush it over the tops for that glossy, golden finish.
Bake
Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the pastries turn a deep golden brown and look puffed and crisp.
Finish and serve
Cool the pastries on a rack so the bottoms stay crisp. Dust lightly with about 1 teaspoon of powdered sugar in total, then serve warm with tea, coffee, or a cold glass of milk. Simple, fast, and exactly the kind of treat that makes an ordinary afternoon feel special.