Homemade Pop Tarts

Name: Homemade Pop Tarts
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 serving(s)
Ingredients: 2 whole Refrigerated Pre-made Pie Crusts; 1/2 c. Fruit Jam, Any Variety, Plus 1 Tablespoon For Icing; 1 tbsp. Cornstarch; 1 Egg; 1 c. Powdered Sugar; 1 tbsp. Heavy Cream (or More As Needed); Sprinkles

By Sommer CollierPublished: Jan 3, 2024

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Better than any store-bought toaster pastry you’ve ever tasted! From Sommer Collier of A Spicy Perspective.

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Yields:: 6 serving(s)
Prep Time:: 15 mins
Cook Time:: 15 mins
Total Time:: 30 mins

Ingredients

2 whole Refrigerated Pre-made Pie Crusts
1/2 c. Fruit Jam, Any Variety, Plus 1 Tablespoon For Icing
1 Tbsp. Cornstarch
1 Egg
1 c. Powdered Sugar
1 Tbsp. Heavy Cream (or More As Needed)
Sprinkles

Directions

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix ½ cup jam with cornstarch. Crack the egg into a second small bowl and whisk.

Flour a large work surface and lay both pie crusts out on it. Roll the circles to 11 inches across. Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut the edges off, about 1 inch off all sides, to create two 9-inch squares. Then cut each square into three 3-inch stripes, or 6 total.

Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of jam on one end of each strip. Brush a rectangle of egg around the jam, to glue the sides together. Fold the dry end over the end with jam.

Use a fork to crimp the edges together on all sides. Repeat with remaining pie crust strips.

Move the pop tarts to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15–18 minutes, until golden. Cool.

After the pop tarts have cooled for several minutes, whisk powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon jam, and 1-2 tablespoons cream together to create an icing glaze. Spoon over the top of each pop tart and immediately sprinkle with sugar sprinkles. Let the icing dry, either on the baking sheets of on a dry rack.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

We don’t buy a whole lot of pre-packaged snacks and breakfast items at home. I try to keep healthy options on hand at all times.

However, when we take the kids to the lake, we always end up buying Pop Tarts and mini boxes of cereal. I’m not exactly sure why. It happened once or twice and now the kids act as if Pop Tart consumption is the standard protocol at the lake.

It’s not just the kids either. Dan now expects Pop Tarts at the lake and is just as forlorn if we show up without them, as the kids.

Yet every time I bite into a Pop Tart, I think, “Meh. Not worth the calories.” They’re just not my thing!

Then I discovered homemade (or at least semi-homemade) Pop Tarts!

What is a Pop Tart exactly? A little pastry crust, a little fruit filling, a little icing. That’s simple enough.

If Pop Tarts were made with pie crust, chunky jam, and fresh icing, would they taste better than the store-bought variety?

The answer is a resounding YES.

So just exactly how much better do Homemade Pop Tarts taste, one might ask? Enough to make you spend the extra time and money, I promise you that!

Plus, kids love this sort of quick-bake project. They were so impressed with the Homemade Pop Tarts, I think they are going to take this on as our new lake tradition!

Start by rolling out two refrigerated pie crusts. Cut off the edges to form two squares. Then cut each square into 3 equal strips.

Mix fruit jam, any kind you like, with a little cornstarch to help thicken the jam. Spoon it on one end of each strip.

Brush egg around the jam to serve as glue. Then fold the strip over the jam and crimp the edges.

Bake until golden.

Then whisk together a quick frosting if desired, and drizzle over the top.

These little beauties are so easy to make. Maybe not as easy as pulling them out of a box, but definitely worth the little bit of effort. The crust is richer and more flaky. The fruity center is more vibrant. And the icing is fresh.

Now Pop Tarts are worth the calories!

Make them with your kids for a weekend breakfast, or around the holidays as a special treat. Your family will never look at boxed toaster pastries the same way again.