Homemade pop tarts are everywhere these days. I haven’t had one since college, but I remember Pop Tarts as one of those treats Mom rarely allowed me to indulge in. In college, my sorority stocked the goodies in the 24/7 kitchen. My favorite? Brown sugar cinnamon. I loved to toast it, nibble off the pastry edges first, then delight in bite after bite of the gooey, numbingly-sweet center.
While many love Pop-Tarts, let’s face it, they’re not exactly good for you with neon-colored frostings, heaps of refined sugar, and unknown preservatives. Enter the homemade version. Here, the pastry crust is flaky and buttery with whole grain goodness and stuffed with natural fillings. (Fresh strawberry filling and cinnamon brown sugar recipes below). This is the perfect portable breakfast or lunchbox snack. I think even my Mom would have approved.
What would you stuff into a homemade Pop-Tart?
Pop Tarts, from Cheeky Kitchen
Ingredients
Whole wheat pie crust, recipe here
Filling of your choosing: peanut butter, jam, nutella, chocolate chips, or something savory?
Glaze (I thought they were perfect without a glaze, but you could fancy these up with a drizzle of powdered sugar and milk or powdered sugar and a fruit puree, for more color and flavor)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- On a lightly-floured cutting board, roll pie crust ¼” thick.
- Use a pizza cutter to cut pie dough into same-sized rectangles (size of your choosing).
- Spoon a 2-3 tbsp of filling on top of one of the rectangles.
- Gently place a second rectangle of pie dough atop.
- Secure edges together by pressing them gently with the tines of a fork.
- Transfer to a cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges of the tart begin to brown slightly. Remove and cool.
Fresh Strawberry Filling
1 tbsp butter, sliced
1 cup strawberries, pureed
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup honey or agave nectar
1 tbsp cornstarch
If using the strawberry filling, prepare by whisking together the cornstarch and water, and then combine with the jam in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and let cool.
Cinnamon Filling
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, to taste
4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
Whisk ingredients together.
Beautiful! These have been on my list to make for years! I like the use of whole wheat, and will definitely use that as well.
I agree that brown sugar cinnamon is probably the least offensive flavor of store bought Pop Tarts. I always preferred the Toaster Strudels myself though.
Hey Rice Kernel (love the way you came up with that name, by the way)!
Yay! You won a copy of my book, Recipes Every Man Should Know. I’m going to be away next week, so I’m going to the post office this afternoon to mail books in time for Father’s Day. Please send me your name and address ASAP! If I don’t get it in time, I’ll mail it the week after.
Cheers!
I’ve actually been wanting to make homemade pop tarts for quite some time, but haven’t gotten around to it. Love the variety of fillings. Yours look delicious! Brown sugar cinnamon was one of my favorite kinds as well. 🙂
Homemade pop tarts – how wonderful. Not processed, and with whole wheat, I’m sure a lot healthier than the store-bought stuff! It looks delicious too, more like a mini pie than a cardboard-and-dye pop tart.
You are so bad! I must try these this weekend!