Pucker up and get ready for a delicious burst of sunshine with these mini lemon pastries, the perfect bite-size treat, and a family favorite pastry recipe. Each mini puff pastry is filled with a sweet cream cheese mixture and lemon pie filling and drizzled with a sweet glaze. They are super easy to make and are devoured every time they are made.
As you all know by now, I love pastries. It’s obvious with all the pastry treats you can find on the site. Well, I have another one for you today! This one transforms classic lemon pastries into a little bite-size version perfect for breakfast, brunch, snacking, or dessert. They’re full of sweet, bright citrus flavor, look adorable, and are so good! Oh, and let’s not forget how easy they are to make. That’s always a plus!
Lemon Pastries
These summer pastries start with a braided puff pastry pinwheel that’s made in just a couple of minutes. I top it with a sweet, tangy homemade cream cheese mixture and bright, citrusy lemon pie filling. Then, I bake it until the pastry is golden brown and drizzle it with an easy lemon glaze. That’s all there is to it! These little bites come together in a flash, and they’re gone just as quickly. Pro tip: Save a few for yourself if you want to enjoy ANY of them. LOL
Why You’ll Love These Mini Lemon Pastries
- They are bite-size and are ideal for satisfying a sweet tooth craving without overindulging.
- The combination of sweet cream cheese and tangy lemon pie filling is a match made in heaven and a flavor combo that is simply out of this world.
- The flaky pastry is the perfect base for cream cheese and lemon filling, making these the perfect sweet treats for any occasion all year long.
Lemon Pastry Ingredients
- Lemon Pie Filling: Lemon pie filling makes adding the citrusy, fruity element of these pastries so quick and easy.
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese is the classic filling found in so many pastries because it’s so rich and creamy, and it makes a perfect counterpoint to fruity flavors.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice adds a bit more tang to the cream cheese mixture and balances out the sweetness from the sugar.
- Powdered Sugar and Lemon Juice: These come together to create the sweet, tangy glaze for the pastries.
- Puff Pastry Sheets: Any puff pastry sheets will work.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
How to Make Mini Lemon Pastries
Making these pastries is a simple matter of braiding, mixing, topping, and baking. The entire recipe is done in just about 45 minutes!
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the Pastry Base
Cut each pastry sheet into 16 strips. Then, twist each strip until it forms a braided piece. Place one end of a strip on the parchment paper, then roll it around itself to form a pinwheel. Repeat until all the strips have been used.
Step 3: Make the Cream Cheese Filling
Beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Then, add the egg yolk, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice and beat for another 2 minutes.
Step 4: Top
Add a spoonful of cream cheese mixture to the center of each pinwheel followed by a spoonful of lemon pie filling.
Step 5: Bake
Whisk the egg and water together in a small bowl. Then, brush the egg wash over each pastry. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
Step 6: Make the Glaze
When the pastries have cooled, mix the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla together. Drizzle over each pastry and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Fully soften your cream cheese and bring your eggs to room temperature. This allows for easy mixing and the richest, smoothest possible filling.
- Keep the tip of your finger on the end of your braided dough when making the pinwheel so it stays in place as you wrap.
- Your pastries should be fully cooled before adding the drizzle so it begins to solidify immediately.
Variations
- Use any of your favorite fruity pie fillings to make different pastry flavors.
- If you’re not a fan of cream cheese, just add the lemon filling.
- Jam can be used in place of pie filling if you prefer.
What to Serve with Mini Lemon Pastries
Just like their big brothers, these pastries are delicious with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack. You can also pair them with your favorite savory breakfast items for a larger meal with a kick of sweetness.
Recipe FAQ
Mini lemon pastries are smaller versions of regular lemon pastries made with a braided puff pastry base, cream cheese filling, and lemon pie filling, then topped with a lemon glaze.
Strawberry and cherry generally take the top spot for everyone’s favorite fruit-filled pastry.
Absolutely! Use any of your favorite pie fillings to create different pastry variations. I recommend sticking to fruity fillings.
These mini lemon pastries will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Yes, you can. These pastries will last for up to a month in the freezer when stored properly.
How to Store Leftover Bite-Size Lemon Pastries
Refrigerate these pastries for up to 3 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, wrap them individually in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
Set the pastries out on the counter for an hour or two to bring to room temperature and enjoy.
Try This Delicious Mini Lemon Pastry Recipe Today
These mini lemon pastries are as delicious as they are easy, and you have to love that! These bite-sized versions of the classic pastries are perfect for parties or just because, and they’re so simple that you’ll be happy to make them for family and friends. When you can get all that flavor and texture in just about 30 minutes, why wouldn’t you?!
More Delicious Lemon Desserts You’ll Enjoy
This Cream Cheese Lemonade Pie is an easy and delicious lemon dessert recipe that can be made in about 10 minutes if using a premade pie crust, and a little longer is making a homemade graham cracker crust. It’s one of the most popular desserts on the blog. And, it’s a family favorite summertime dessert.
Lemon Pastries ( Bite-Size Puff Pastry)
Ingredients
Lemon Filling
- 22 ounce lemon pie filling, will not use all of it
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ teaspoon water
Glaze Drizzle
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 box store-bought puff pastry sheets
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Pastry
- Cut each pastry sheet into 16 strips.
- Twist the strip until it forms a braided piece.
- Place one end of the long, twisted strip down onto the parchment paper and wrap the dough around it, starting in the center and creating a pinwheel base.
Cream Cheese Mixture & Lemon Filling
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add egg yolk, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat for 2 more minutes.
- Add a spoonful of cream cheese mixture to the center of each pastry followed by a spoonful of the lemon pie filling.
Egg Wash
- In a small bowl, whisk egg and water together until combined.
- Brush easy pastry with egg wash.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool.
Glaze Drizzle
- Once the pastries have cooled, mix powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla together.
- Drizzle each pastry with glaze and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media. Here are a few pics that are perfect to save to your favorite Pinterest boards on Pinterest.
