Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts are delicious pastries that combine a buttery, flaky crust with a sweet strawberry filling. Making them at home allows you to enjoy fresh ingredients and customize the sweetness to your liking. You can make them however you want – whether it’s for breakfast, snack time, or a fun dessert. These delightful pop tarts are perfect for sharing with family and friends or enjoying all on your own!

Why Make This Recipe

There are plenty of reasons to make Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts. First and foremost, they are made with wholesome ingredients, allowing you to avoid artificial flavors and unhealthy additives. When preparing these pastries at home, you can control the sweetness and the filling. This means you can adjust it to suit your tastes or dietary needs.

Moreover, creating these pop tarts can be a fun activity for family or friends. It’s easy to get everyone involved in the kitchen, from rolling out the dough to filling the pop tarts. Plus, you’ll enjoy the delightful aroma of strawberries baking in your kitchen, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

How to Make Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), chilled and cubed
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 16 oz (~450g) strawberries (fresh or frozen – thaw if frozen)
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2-1 cup powdered sugar
• 1-2 tbsp milk

Directions:

1. Prepare the Dough: Start by placing the flour, sugar, and salt into a food processor. Add the chilled and cubed butter to the mixture. Pulse everything together a few times until the butter pieces are about the size of peas. This will ensure your crust is flaky.
2. Add Water: With the processor running, stream in the cold water slowly while pulsing at the same time. You want to combine everything without overmixing.
3. Form the Dough: Once the mixture starts to come together, transfer it to a bowl or a lightly floured surface. Gently knead the dough into a ball, taking care not to overwork it. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and shape it into a rectangle that is roughly 1/2 inch thick. Refrigerate the wrapped dough for about 2 hours. Chilling the dough makes it easier to roll out later.
4. Prepare the Strawberry Filling: While the dough is chilling, rinse the strawberries. If you’re using frozen strawberries, make sure they are thawed. Place the strawberries into a blender along with the honey and lemon juice. Blend them until smooth. Then, pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve directly into a saucepan. This helps to remove any seeds.
5. Cook the Filling: Over medium heat, cook the strawberry mixture for about 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally. You’ll know it’s ready when you can scrape the bottom of the pan, and the jam takes a little while to run back together. Transfer the cooked filling to a bowl and allow it to cool.
6. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper to prevent the pop tarts from sticking while baking.
7. Roll Out the Dough: After the dough has chilled, remove it from the refrigerator. Divide the dough in half. On a well-floured surface, roll out one half into a square roughly 14 x 14 inches in size. You should be able to see the lines of your work surface through the dough, which should be about 1/8 inch thick.
8. Cut the Shapes: Use a knife or a pizza cutter to cut the dough into rectangles measuring approximately 3.5 x 4.75 inches. You will need two rectangles for each pop tart. Gather any scrap dough, re-roll it, and cut out more rectangles.
9. Fill the Pop Tarts: Place a tablespoon of the cooled strawberry filling onto the center of each rectangle. Spread it out into a thin layer, leaving about 1/3 inch of space around the edges. To help seal the pop tarts, beat the egg yolk and brush it around the border of the jam on each rectangle.
10. Assemble the Tarts: Take a second rectangle and place it on top of the filled one. Press down to seal the edges, then crimp the sides using a fork or your fingers. Dock the tops of the pop tarts using a fork or skewer to allow steam to escape while they bake.
11. Bake: Place the pop tarts on your prepared sheet pan and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes. They are done when they are lightly browned on top and have developed a golden color on the bottom.
12. Prepare the Glaze: While the pop tarts cool, whisk together powdered sugar and milk in a bowl until a thick glaze forms.
13. Glaze the Pop Tarts: Once they have cooled, spread about 1 tablespoon of the glaze over the top of each pop tart and add sprinkles if desired.

How to Serve Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

These pop tarts can be served warm or at room temperature. They make a delightful breakfast option paired with coffee or tea. You can also enjoy them as a snack or a sweet treat after dinner. If you want, serve them alongside some fresh whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a fun dessert experience.

How to Store Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

To store your homemade pop tarts, place them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will typically stay fresh for about 3-4 days. If you want to keep them longer, consider freezing them. To freeze, place the unglazed pop tarts in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze them for a couple of hours. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. To bake from frozen, just add a few extra minutes to the baking time.

Tips to Make Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

1. Chill the Ingredients: Keeping your butter and water cold is crucial for achieving a flaky crust. Don’t skip chilling the dough and ingredients.
2. Adjust Sweetness: If you prefer less sweet pop tarts, feel free to reduce the amount of honey in the filling.
3. Avoid Over-Baking: Keep an eye on your pop tarts while they bake. It’s better to under-bake slightly than to over-bake, which could result in a dry pastry.

Variations

While strawberry is a classic filling, you can customize your pop tarts with other fruit or flavors. Some variations include:

• Mixed Berry: Combine strawberries with raspberries or blueberries for a mixed berry pop tart.
• Chocolate Hazelnut: Spread chocolate hazelnut spread inside and top with chocolate glaze for a decadent treat.
• Apple Cinnamon: Use cooked apples with cinnamon and balance it with a vanilla glaze.
• Peach or Mango: Experiment with seasonal fruits like peaches or mangoes for a tropical twist.

FAQs

Q: Can I use store-bought pie crust for this recipe?

A: Yes, if you’re short on time, you can use store-bought pie crust as a shortcut. Just cut it into rectangles and follow the same filling and baking steps.

Q: How do I know when my pop tarts are done baking?

A: Your pop tarts should be lightly browned on top and slightly golden on the bottom. You can also insert a toothpick to check; it should come out clean.

Q: Can I make the filling ahead of time?

A: Absolutely! You can prepare the strawberry filling in advance and store it in the refrigerator for a few days. Just ensure it’s completely cooled before using it in your pop tarts.

Creating your own Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts can be a rewarding experience filled with joy and delicious flavors. Enjoy your baking adventure!

Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

Print Recipe

Delicious pastries with a flaky crust and sweet strawberry filling, perfect for any time of the day.

• Author: lila-monroe
• Prep Time: 120 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 150 minutes
• Yield: 12 servings 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 16 oz strawberries, fresh or frozen (thawed if frozen)
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2–1 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough: Place flour, sugar, and salt into a food processor. Add chilled butter and pulse until butter is the size of peas.
2. Add Water: Stream in cold water while pulsing until combined but not overmixed.
3. Form the Dough: Transfer to a bowl, gently knead into a ball, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for about 2 hours.
4. Prepare the Strawberry Filling: Rinse strawberries and blend with honey and lemon juice until smooth. Strain into a saucepan.
5. Cook the Filling: Cook strawberry mixture over medium heat for 20-25 minutes until thick.
6. Preheat the Oven: Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C) and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
7. Roll Out the Dough: Roll half of the chilled dough into a square approximately 14 x 14 inches and 1/8 inch thick.
8. Cut the Shapes: Cut dough into rectangles approximately 3.5 x 4.75 inches, re-rolling scraps as needed.
9. Fill the Pop Tarts: Place a tablespoon of filling on the center of each rectangle and brush edges with egg yolk.
10. Assemble the Tarts: Top with a second rectangle, seal edges, and dock tops to allow steam to escape.
11. Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes until lightly browned on top and golden on the bottom.
12. Prepare the Glaze: Whisk powdered sugar and milk until thick.
13. Glaze the Pop Tarts: Once cooled, spread glaze over tops of pop tarts and add sprinkles if desired.

Notes

Delightful for breakfast or as a snack; serve with whipped cream or ice cream for dessert.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 pop tart
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 8g
• Sodium: 200mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: strawberry, pop tarts, dessert, homemade, pastries, baking