Homemade Pop Tarts

You'll love this recipe for scratch made Homemade Pop Tarts filled with strawberry preserves. They're a special treat for the family you can make for breakfast, brunch, snacking or dessert.

Homemade Pop Tarts Recipe

Pop tarts are one of my favorite childhood treats. There was just something about those little rectangular breakfast pastries filled with jam that made them irresistible. This strawberry pop tart recipe starts with scratch made pastry dough which sets them apart in both flavor and appeal.

How to Make the Best Homemade Pop Tarts

Homemade strawberry pop tarts require several steps to make but the flavor of the homemade version is well worth the effort it takes.

• Why chill the pie crust dough? This will relax the gluten and firm up the dough a bit, making it easier to roll.
• How long does pie dough last? You can refrigerate the pastry dough for up to 2 days then let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature before you roll it out. Shaping the discs into rectangles instead of a rounds assist with the rolling out process. 
• The combination of vegetable shortening and butter is preferred for this pop tart recipe and results in a flaky pie crust.
• Cut the rectangles using a pizza cutter or a pastry wheel to get those clean edges that will match up in pairs forming the top and bottom crust.
• In this recipe an egg wash is the glue that holds it all together. An egg wash is simple to make, it's basically a beaten egg mixed with cold water that's used to brush along the edges of the pop tarts to seal. It also gives the pop tarts a pretty golden color.
• Don't skip the cornstarch in the preserves, it's used s a thickener to stabilize the strawberry preserves decreasing the amount that could potentially escape while baking.
• An important step is to cut slits or openings in the top of each pop tart to make sure steam can escape while baking. If not, the pop tarts will become billowy pillows rather than flat toaster pastries.
• Once the pop tarts are assembled, they go back into the refrigerator for chill time. This step is important as it decreases the shrinking of the dough while it's baking. Refrigerate them, uncovered for 30 minutes.
• Can I make pop tarts in a toaster? These strawberry pop tarts should be baked and I wouldn't recommend reheating a glazed pop tart in a conventional toaster. You may be able to reheat them in a toaster oven, but watch them closely.
• You can freeze pop tarts for up to 1 month. Bake from frozen per the recipe, adding additional time as needed and glaze just before serving.
• Store baked strawberry pop tarts at room temperature for up to 3 days or chilled in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Other Homemade Pastry Recipes to Add to the Menu

When making homemade pop tarts you can get creative with the fillings using a variety of different flavors of preserves, nutella, lemon curd, brown sugar and cinnamon or dulce de leche. Other homemade pastries you may like to try:

• Bakery style Cream Horns recipe filled with whipped cream.
• Glazed pastry cream filled Chocolate Eclairs made with choux pastry.
• Heart shaped Cherry Hand Pies.
• New Orleans Beignets dusted with powdered sugar.
• Mini Blueberry Pies from Beyond Frosting.

 

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Silicone Pastry Mat
• Pastry Wheel
• Sheet Pans
• Silicone Pastry Brush

 

Print

Homemade Pop Tarts

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snacks

Cuisine American

Keyword homemade-pop-tarts, pop-tarts-recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Cooling time 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 9 servings

Calories 410kcal

Ingredients

• Dough:
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 12 tablespoon cold unsalted butter cubed
• 4 tablespoon cold vegetable shortening cubed
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoon whole milk
• Filling:
• ⅔ cup strawberry preserves or jam not jelly
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon cold water
• 1 large egg beaten with 1 teaspoon cold water
• Frosting:
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• ¼ teaspoon pure almond extract
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 tablespoon heavy cream or whole milk plus additional as needed
• Colorful nonpareils for top

Instructions

• To make the pastry dough: In a medium size mixing bowl, use a whisk to sift together flour, sugar, and salt. Use a pastry blender to cut the butter and shortening into the dry ingredients until it resembles peas. Whisk together egg and milk in a separate bowl. Add it to the dough, mixing with a large spoon or silicone spatula just until everything comes together.
• Divide the dough in half shaping into rectangles, around 3 x 5 inches smoothing the edges. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 30 minutes. (You can also refrigerate the dough for up to 2 days. When doing so, let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature before rolling it out.)
• To make strawberry filling: In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with cold water just until dissolved. Stir into strawberry preserves, mix well. Set aside. (Chunky fruit preserves or jam works best, not jelly)
• To assemble: Place one half of the dough onto a non stick floured surface or silicone pastry mat. Roll into a 12 x 9 inch rectangle about ⅛" thick. Repeat with the second piece of dough. (Keep second half of dough chilled until ready to roll)
• Use the edge of a ruler to mark both sheets of dough in thirds lengthwise and widthwise to make nine 3 x 4 inch rectangles. Use a pizza wheel or a sharp knife to cut apart.
• Whisk together egg and water. Brush around the edges of each rectangle. Spread about 1 ½-2 tablespoon of jam down the center of 9 rectangles, leaving about a ½-3/4 inch border. Gently lift and place the second rectangle of dough centering it on top. The edges should be even.
• Seal the edges of each pop tart using the tines of a fork. Trim any uneven edges. Gently place onto a large parchment lined baking sheet 2 inches apart.
• Using the end of a sharp knife, cut 3 even ½ inch slits on the top of each pop tart. Place into the fridge and chill on the pan for 30 minutes.
• To bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove the pop tarts from the fridge. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or just until light golden brown. Remove from the oven, and allow them to cool on the pan for 15 minutes, then carefully remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
• To make frosting: Whisk together powdered sugar with almond extract and a pinch of salt. Add 2 tablespoon milk adding more 1 tablespoon at a time just until it's a soft spreadable frosting. Spread on pop tarts, sprinkle with colorful nonpareils or jimmies.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 410kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 291mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 532IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 2mg

 

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