Introduction

This Pull-Apart Heart is a delightful treat perfect for sharing with someone special. Layers of Nutella sandwiched between buttery crescent dough create a gooey, irresistible pastry with a pretty pink glaze finish. It’s simple to make and impressive enough for any occasion.

A heart-shaped pastry with two twisted layers of golden-brown dough and dark chocolate spread visible between each twist, creating a spiral pattern all around. The top is drizzled with bright pink icing in irregular lines, adding a vibrant contrast to the warm golden and dark brown colors. The pastry is placed on parchment paper over a white marbled surface. Around it, there are fresh red raspberries, an open jar of dark red jam with a red and white checkered lid nearby, and a spoon with pink icing on the side. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

All-purpose flour, for dusting
2 (8-oz.) cans crescent roll dough

1/2 cup Nutella
1/4 cup (30 g) confectioners’ sugar

1 tablespoon raspberry jam
1 tablespoon whole milk

Pink food coloring
A 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter

Instructions

Step 1: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F (175°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out one can of crescent dough into a 12″ x 10″ rectangle. Repeat with the second can of dough. Using a paring knife and a heart-shaped piece of parchment for guidance if needed, cut a large heart shape from each rectangle, ensuring both are roughly the same size. Discard or save scraps for another use.

Step 2: Place one heart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread Nutella evenly over the heart, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Top with the second heart, aligning it carefully.
Step 3: Press the 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter into the center of the layered hearts to create an indent without cutting all the way through. Starting from the edge of this heart indent, use a paring knife to cut thin strips outward to the edge of the large heart. The strips should be about 1/4 inch wide at the base and 1/2 inch at the top. You should have around 24 strips total.
Step 4: Gently twist each strip 5 to 6 times without detaching it from the dough. Lay each twisted strip back in its original position to keep the heart shape intact.

Step 5: Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes.
Step 6: In a small bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar, raspberry jam, milk, and 1 to 2 drops of pink food coloring. Stir until smooth and adjust the color as desired. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled heart before serving.

Tips & Variations

For a nut-free version, substitute Nutella with a fruit jam or cream cheese spread.

Use different colored food coloring or flavored jams to customize the glaze to your taste or occasion.
Make smaller hearts using a smaller cutter for individual servings, adjusting baking time accordingly.

Storage

Store the pull-apart heart in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To enjoy warm, reheat in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5 to 7 minutes. The glaze is best added fresh before serving to maintain its texture and color.

How to Serve

The image shows a round baked pastry shaped like a flower with twisted segments radiating from the center. The pastry has two visible layers: a golden-brown dough layer and a dark chocolate spread layer twisted inside each segment. Bright pink icing is drizzled unevenly over the top, adding color contrast and texture. A woman's hand is pulling one twisted segment away, showing the inside layers clearly. The pastry sits on white parchment paper over a white marbled surface, and a small white bowl with more pink icing is visible in the upper right corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use homemade dough instead of crescent roll dough?

Yes, you can use homemade puff pastry or similar dough, but be sure it is rolled to a similar thickness and shape for best results.

How do I prevent the dough strips from breaking while twisting?

Make sure the dough is not too cold and that your cuts are clean. Twisting gently and evenly helps keep the strips intact without tearing.