easy breakfast pastries !!

i adore puffed pastry! so much so i order it by the case! its so easy to use and it can be used in sweet or savory dishes. the other morning i walked into the kitchen to make some coffee and noticed my cake dish was empty. so i went to the freezer pulled out a sheet, and 30 minutes later i was enjoying these fresh fruit pastries with my coffee. it was indeed the perfect way to start the morning.

* this recipe can be used with almost any fruit. this day i happened to have peaches and blueberries but it works well with pears, apples and raspberries. ( if using raspberries you add them after the pastry has baked and top with an apricot glaze) and if using apples be sure to add a bit of cinnamon into your sugar.

what you need:

1 sheet of thawed puff pastry
1/2 cup of sugar
4 oz cream cheese soft
1 tsp of almond or vanilla extract
1 egg
fruit of your choice
cookie cutter

line a baking sheet with parchment paper. pre heat your oven to 375. take your cookie cutter and cut out circles to desired size. in a bowl mix cream cheese, extract and 1/4 cup of sugar. take a fork a make holes into the center of the pastry (where the fruit will lay) so it doesn't puff up. place 2 tablespoons of cream cheese on each pastry. in a second bowl toss fruit with remaining sugar and place them on top of the cheese mixture. lastly brush the edges of the pastry with the egg wash so it can get golden brown. bake until fruit are soft and pastry is golden brown.
** if using fresh berries (like strawberries or raspberries) bake the same way but add fruit once pastry is done baking.
** make them shine by melting 1/4 cup of apricot or apple jam and brush all over the top!