Ingredients:
For the Pastry:
- 1 sheet puff pastry (store-bought or homemade, about 1 lb or 450g)
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (chilled)
Instructions:
1.
Prepare the Pastry:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Roll out the puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Using a round pan or a large bowl, cut the pastry into a large circular shape, roughly 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter. You’ll want the circle to be slightly larger than the final size, as the pastry will puff up during baking.
- Transfer the pastry to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Score a smaller circle inside the larger one (about 2 inches in from the edge) to create a ring shape. This helps the edges puff up nicely while baking.
- Brush the entire surface of the pastry, including the edges, with a light coat of egg wash (beat the egg with a bit of water).
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and puffed up. Once baked, remove from the oven and let cool completely.
2.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling:
- While the pastry cools, prepare the cream cheese filling. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until combined and smooth.
3.
Assemble the Cake:
- Once the puff pastry has cooled, carefully slice it in half horizontally to form two layers.
- Spread the cream cheese filling generously on the bottom layer.
- Place the top layer of puff pastry over the filling.
- Lightly dust the top with powdered sugar.
4.
Serve:
- Slice and serve immediately, or refrigerate for an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
- For extra flavor, you can also drizzle with some fruit syrup, or add fresh fruit on top.
Enjoy your delightful and creamy cream cheese cake – the perfect dessert for any occasion!