Homemade Pop Tarts

These homemade pop-tarts were so much fun to make with my little one!  With Valentines day's in a couple weeks, this felt like the perfect nostalgic snack to whip up. With an ooey-gooey center, a flakier pastry than what you'd buy in the store, these pop tarts are easy to make and 100% delicious. You can really add any filling you desire! We made 2 versions! 

• Classic strawberry jam with pink-vanilla icing & heart sprinkles
• Apple pie jam and cheddar - a new family favorite.

Try them for yourself and let us know which one you love! Easily freeze for a quick grab-and-go snack. Check out the recipe below:

Homemade Pop-Tart Recipe 

You can cut these pop tarts in to hearts, squares, or even circles. Made with with real fruit and sharp cheddar cheese, the flakey pastries just melt in your mouth. 

For the pastry, my chef tip is to add a teaspoon of vinegar to make it extra flakey. Trust me, this works so well. You can always pick up some store bought pie crust if you need, or you can use whole wheat flour instead.

For the filling, I used real fruit. You can really choose anything you think will work. Grab what you have on hand in the pantry, fridge, or in your freezer - cinnamon and sugar, cherries, blueberries etc. Just make sure to add some sugar to any fruit filling and cook as per the directions below. That way filling isn't watery.

For the icing, I used milk, but you can substitute with almond or oat milk depending on your needs. We used fun heart sprinkles and red sprinkle sugar to to make them pop. Be sure to wait a bit until the pop tarts cool before adding the icing, so it doesn't melt off. My assistant was a little impatient. 

Homemade Pop Tart Ingredients

For these pop tarts you'll need the following ingredients:

How to Make Homemade Pop Tarts

For the Pastry Dough:

1.  Combine flour, salt, sugar, butter ice water and vinegar in your mixer or food processor. Pulse the dough into the food processor until combined.
2. Once combined, mix on a flat surface dusted with flour. Roll into a ball. Halve the dough and form into 2 discs and wrap with reusable beeswax food wraps and place in the fridge for an hour or so. (while you are waiting you can make the filling- details below). TIP: If you don't have beeswax wraps, try one of our our best selling beeswax wrap sets - the Market Fresh print.

For the Pop Tarts:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
2. Once the dough is chilled, take 1 disc out of the fridge. On a surface lightly dusted with flour, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Use a knife or cookie cutters and cut the dough into fun shapes. Be sure you make 2 of each shape, since you need a top and bottom for each pop tart.
3. Place one layer of the pastry shapes on a tray lined with a reusable silicone baking sheet. Be sure they are spaced evenly. Then spoon the filling into the middle - about 1 1/2 Tbsp depending on your shape.
4. Use a pastry brush and wet the edges with egg wash around each shape before placing the top on. That way you'll get a strong seal. Top each pop tart with it's matching shape and seal with a fork on the edges.
5. Poke a hole in the top of each pastry with a fork or toothpick, and coat with the egg wash on top. 
6. Place in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for  25-30 minutes. This length of time is based on making 5 x 3 inch rectangles, so you can reduce the time slightly if you have made smaller shapes. 
7. Allow to cool on the tray for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Filling: Mind Your Bees original recipe

Strawberry Jam Filling:

1.  Place a sauce pan on the stove and turn it on medium. In the pot combine 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1/2 cup grated apple, lemon zest and 1/4 cup sugar.
2. Simmer on low until it becomes thick and has a jam-like consistency.

Apple Jam & Cheddar Filling:

1. Place a sauce pan on the stove and turn it on medium. In the pot combine 1 cup grated apple, lemon zest and 1/4 cup sugar.
2. Simmer on low until it becomes thick and has a jam-like consistency.
3. In a separate bowl, cube 1/2 cup to 1 cup of cheddar. Place to the side.

For the Icing:

1. Combine the icing sugar, milk and vanilla extract in a bowl.
2. Add extra milk if necessary to reach your desired consistency. 
3. Be sure to let the pop tarts cool. Then top with icing and sprinkles or leave plain if you're making a savory version.

These homemade pop tarts make a great afternoon snack or are perfect to pack in your lunch. Just fold a beeswax wrap into a pouch, pop them in, seal it and go. 

Let us know in the comments below or tag Mind Your Bees on Instagram  with your version. I can wait to see what you make!

Can I freeze my homemade pop tarts?

Absolutely! That's the best part. Freeze your pre-made pop tarts for up to a week or you can freeze them for longer after you bake them. Be sure to let them cool, seal them in a reusable container and place in the freezer. When you're looking for a snack, take them out warm them up in the oven on low until they are toasty on the inside.

Notes: Recipe Source for pastry: adapted from Cooking Classy