Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

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Sharing these Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts to bring out our inner child this week! Sweet strawberry jam, stuffed between two layers of simple homemade pie dough, then baked until perfectly golden, and finished with a sweet vanilla glaze and a few rainbow sprinkles. All the nostalgia in one single treat! These delicious strawberry pop tarts are flaky, perfectly sweet, and extra jammy. They’re SO GOOD. Enjoy these tarts warm, right out of the oven for breakfast, a quick snack, or even a nostalgic dessert. Trust me, every bite is so much better than the store-bought version!

About The Recipe

Honestly, I have never been so excited for a Monday in my life! Okay, that sounds a bit dramatic, but it’s the truth. Why? Well, we’re finally getting to share Strawberry Pop-Tarts!

Let me tell you, we have been wanting to make these for 2+ years.

Anyone that has read our blog before knows that there are just certain treats that my mom and I desperately want to make. I have deemed it our “baking bucket list” over the last few years.

These pop tarts, as simple as they seem, have been on it for as long as I can remember.

Growing up, pop tarts were a staple in our home. Everyone at them! Me, my mom, my brother. Though, none of us liked the same flavors.

My mom loved unfrosted blueberry and brown sugar, my brother loved strawberry and cookies & cream, while I was a fan of s’mores, hot fudge sundae, and chocolate chip cookie dough (shocking, right?).

These were all staples in our pantry. So, when my mom and I started blogging, we knew we wanted to share homemade versions of all of them!

And, we’ve shared a few recipes over the years. Though, I think we were all most excited about these strawberry pop-tarts!

We just never knew when was the right time to share them. It always felt too early or too late. But, with it finally being strawberry season (aka, the best season!), we knew it was finally time to make and share these cuties!

And let me tell you, if you love strawberry pop-tarts, you will never want to buy them again after making these.

Tender, flaky, buttery pie dough incasing the most perfect strawberry jam that’s not too sweet, but extra strawberry-y! Though, the goodness doesn’t just stop there. Each pop tart is finished with a sweet and simple icing to really give them the cutest finish!

Every bite is reminiscent of the classic breakfast treat, but made EVEN BETTER as there are no preservatives, words you can’t pronounce, or artificial colors or flavors.

Just simple, delicious, and easy to make pop-tarts that!

What Are Pop Tarts?

First off, if you’ve never had pop tarts, I am so sorry. Secondly, expect your life to be changed from today forward!

Pop-Tarts a toaster pastry created by Kellogg’s in 1964. Essentially, it’s a sweet filling incased in two layers of thin pantry. The fill widely ranges in flavors. From jam to cookie dough! There are also a few different flavored crusts, but it’s typically just plain, sweetened pastry.

This version is strawberry! So, it’s a plain pastry crust, filled with strawberry jam.

Reasons You Will Love These Strawberry Pop Tarts

• Unlike the store-bought version, this recipe does not contain corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives!
• Actually really simple to make.
• FULL of fresh strawberry flavor.
• Sweet without being too sweet.
• Can be made with or without the icing, depending on your preference!
• Can easily be made vegan, if desired.

Equipment Needed

• 2 Quart Saucepan
• Wooden Spoon
• Food Processor
• Rolling Pin
• Rectangular Cutters
• Sheet Pans
• Fork
• Mixing Bowl
• Whisk

Ingredients

Full ingredient amounts and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

For The Jam:

• Strawberries – For this recipe, you can use fresh or frozen strawberries to make the jam!
• Granulated Sugar – Adds sweetness and creates the “jammy” texture.
• Lemon Juice – Cuts some of the sweetness, while also acting as a natural preservative.

For The Pastry:

• All-Purpose Flour – No specialty flours are needed for this recipe! All-purpose gives this pastry a tender crumb and excellent structure.
• Granulated Sugar – Adds just a little bit of sweetness, while also helping promote even browning.
• Salt – This is essential for baking, as it really adds a depth flavor.
• Baking Powder – Just a little bit of leavening to help this pastry rise.
• Unsalted Butter – We like to use unsalted butter for this pastry to help us control the amount of salt going into it. Butter also is what gives this crust it’s flaky texture!
• Large Egg – This acts as a binder, as well as making the dough easier to handle and roll out.
• Heavy Cream – Makes the crust richer, but also oh-so tender and delicious.

For The Icing:

• Powdered Sugar – Sift the powdered sugar to ensure no lumps in your icing!
• Whole Milk – Adding just the right amount of milk makes this icing perfect for topping the pop-tarts, as it’s not too thick nor too runny!
• Vanilla Extract – A splash of vanilla is a must-have for this icing!
• Sprinkles – These are optional, but they do add a cute pop of color.

How To Make Strawberry Pop Tarts

Step 1: Make the jam

Combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a heavy saucepan. Cook and stir over medium low heat until sugar has melted, strawberries have broken down, and mixture has thickened, about 20-30 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Step 2: Prepare pastry

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a dough blade, combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Pulse until combined.

Add butter, a few Tablespoons at a time. Pulse until broken up and coated with flour mixture.

Add egg and cream. Pulse until mixture comes together.

Remove dough from food processor. Divide into 2 even portions. Shape each into a rectangle. Wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Step 3: Roll and cut

Remove dough from refrigerator, one piece at a time. Place dough on a piece of parchment paper. Roll into a rectangle that is ⅙ inch thick.

Cut out 8 rectangles using a 4½ inch x 3 inch cutter, re-rolling as necessary to get the full number. Place rectangles on prepared sheet pan.

Step 4: Fill and seal

Top each with 1 Tablespoon strawberry jam. Set aside.

Repeat rolling and cutting process with 2nd piece of dough. Place a rectangle of dough over each of the filled pieces. Gently press to remove air. Press edges together gently with finger. Use a fork to press around the edges to ensure each pastry is sealed. Prick the tops of each pastry with tines of fork.

Step 5: Bake

Bake for 30 minutes, until lightly browned around edges.

Step 6: Make icing

Combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth.

Spread over top of cooled pop tarts. While frosting is wet, top with sprinkles, if desired.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my jam spill out while baking?

If the jam came out of the pop tarts while baking, this could be caused by a few things. The main cause is over-filling! We recommend only 1 Tablespoon of filling. The other thing could be that the pop tarts weren’t sealed properly. If you’re worried about the pop tarts not sealing, you can use an egg wash around the edges of the of the crust before placing the top piece of dough. This will create a stronger seal!

How To Store

Once the icing has set, you can store these pop tarts in airtight container or zip top bag and keep at room temperature for 5-7 days. You an also freeze them! Though, we don’t recommend putting these pastries in the toaster. The best way to reheat them is to place them in the microwave for a few seconds.

Substitutions

• You can store-bought jam, if desired.
• Not a fan of strawberry? You can fill the pop tart with any flavored jam that you like!
• If you wish to make this recipe vegan, use your favorite vegan butter, non-dairy milk, and your favorite egg replacer.

Looking for more recipes like this? Here are a few you may like:

Triple Chocolate Pop Tarts

Blueberry Pop Tarts

Peach Hand Pies

Blueberry Crumble Bars

Strawberry Nutri-Grain Bars

Expert Tips

• Fresh or frozen strawberries may be used to make the jam.
• While cooking, mash the strawberries with your wooden spoon!
• Overcooked the jam? No problem! You can add a few Tablespoons of water to loosen it.
• Be careful to not over-work the pastry!
• Don’t skip refrigerating the dough.
• If you’re not using parchment to roll out the dough, you will need to lightly flour your work surface.
• Try to re-roll the pastry as little as possible! The more you work it/roll it out, the tougher the crust will be.
• Be sure to place the jam in the middle of each pastry.
• If you want to make sure the pastries are well sealed, you can brush the edges with an egg wash before sealing.
• The icing is optional, but highly recommended!

When you make these Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.

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