Pop Tarts
Child,  Toddler

How to Make Homemade Pop Tarts

May 7, 2018

I love pop tarts! I mean, isn’t it special to make a homemade version of those sugary treats you had as a kid for your little one?  Yes, I realize – they are basically hand pies – but they also have fruit, and in this case – oats and whole wheat flour. In my world, that qualifies as healthy-ish. They’re not hard to make (I promise!) I’ll admit, a little time consuming, but so worth it! Breakfast is the most ‘important meal of the day’, after all. You can always skip a step and buy dough, or buy the jam, but homemade is always better. You can customize them into any flavor you want – Nutella, blueberry, s’mores – whatever your childhood (or adulthood) favorite flavor combo, pop tarts are little endless possibility pies.

5 from 1 vote
Print

Homemade Pop Tarts

Make a gourmet version of this nostalgic treat

Course Breakfast, Snack
Servings 13 pop tarts

Ingredients

Pop Tart Dough (for semi-homemade, use store-bought pie dough)

  • 1/2 lb Butter very cold, cut into small cubes
  • 1 cup Rolled oats
  • 4 cups Flour 1 cup whole wheat, 3 cups all purpose
  • Water as needed
  • 1 Egg

Jam (for semi-homemade, use store-bought jams)

  • 1 quart Fresh fruit I used strawberries
  • 3/4 cup Granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla
  • 1 pinch Salt
  • Optional: lemon juice

Instructions

Make the dough

  1. Put the oats and flour into a food processor and ground until the oats are fine

  2. Add the cold butter and pulse until the butter resembles very coarse crumbles

  3. Gradually add just enough water until the dough comes together

  4. Take the dough out of the food processor and shape into a round disc

  5. Cover with plastic wrap and chill 20-30 mins

  6. Mix the egg with 1 tbsp of water, and set aside

Make the jam

  1. Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer

  2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook the sugar, salt and fresh fruit

  3. Occasionally stir (or the jam will burn on the bottom) and cook until the fruit is soft and your jam is done

Roll the dough

  1. Roll the dough out to about 1/8” thick

  2. Cut 4x5 rectangles, and then cut each rectangle in half, to get (2) 2.5” x 4” pieces. (You can cut them in any size you like, but this size is great! A little smaller than a regular store-bought pop tart, I think they’re the perfect size) Tip: for a perfect 4x5 rectangle, cut a piece of paper to be that size and trace each piece you cut out so each pop tart is even.

Assemble the pop tarts

  1. Take the egg wash (egg with 1 tbsp of water) and using a pastry brush, trace along the outside of one of the rectangles

  2. Put a heaping tbsp of jam in the middle, and place the other rectangle on top.

  3. Seal the edges by pressing down on the egg wash, and use a fork to create the ridges on the edge

  4. Use a toothpick to poke holes (as pictured) so they bake evenly

Bake

  1. Freeze for 30 minutes before baking so the dough does not spread

  2. Brush the tops with egg wash

  3. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees, or until the bottom is lightly browned

For other breakfast ideas, see Rachel’s post here.

 

Pin
Share
Tweet
Share

You May Also Like

5 Tips for Promoting Healthy Sleep Habits in Children

April 24, 2018
Back To school Must Haves

5 Back to School Must Haves (Preschool and Daycare)

July 23, 2019

Teach your Child Patience and How to Share

September 16, 2019

7 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating