How to Make Strawberry Pop Tarts from Scratch
A Homemade Breakfast Treat You Cook in Your Toaster
Oct 16, 2008
Who can say what it is about pop tarts? They are a loveable, but simply awful breakfast food. There is nothing remotely nutritious about them. Eating these for breakfast will definitely send you into crash mode about 30 minutes later. (Who thought this was a good thing for kids?)
However, they are pretty fun. This homemade version is no healthier, but it is guaranteed to produce a smile.
You can keep them simple, or go all out. Use the White Glaze recipe below, and top it with colored sugar or candy sprinkles. Any way you finish them off, these tarts are sure to brighten your day.
Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 3 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 TB. milk
- 2 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 1-2 cups strawberry jam
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup sugar
Directions:
- Beat together butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add egg, milk, and mix thoroughly. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and add. Chill dough for 30-60 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll dough to [1/4] in thick, and cut an even number of 3x4" rectangles. Mix egg with a tablespoon of water, and brush the edges of half the rectangles. Place 1-2 tablespoons of jam in the center. Pierce the remaining rectangles decoratively with a fork, lay on top of the filling, and press to seal. Use a fork to create a decorative edge, and place on prepared pan. Repeat with remaining dough, then chill all assembled pies for 30-60 minutes, until dough is very cold.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush top crust with egg wash, and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown. Cool completely before icing.
Tarts can be assembled and frozen raw for up to 2 weeks, then baked directly from the freezer.
White Glaze
This glaze is perfect for pop tarts, doughnuts, cookies, petit fours, sweet rolls, or anything you think deserves a little shine. It is thin, translucent, and just sweet enough.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup hot water
Directions:
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Off heat, stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
- Add salt, and adjust consistency with hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed. Use while hot.
Variations: Additional liquid flavoring can be added in place of the vanilla. Food coloring should also be added at this time. Be sure to add food coloring slowly, one drop at a time. If the color is too light, it's easy to add more. But if it's too dark, you can't take it out!
