These Strawberry Pop Tarts are truly the BEST and way better than the store-bought version! Made with a melt-in-your-mouth flaky, buttery pastry crust and balanced to perfection with a sweet strawberry jam filling, these homemade pop tarts are DELICIOUS. Everyone will love this recipe!
Pop Tarts have always been a favorite for an on-the-go breakfast and are loved by so many. Anyone else out there obsessed with breaking them in half, eating the centers first and then enjoying a slightly savory finish of the edges? There’s nothing like it!
If you’ve been a fan of store-bought pop tarts in the past, then you will absolutely LOVE this homemade version. The pastry is to live for with a soft, buttery taste and flaky texture. The sweet strawberry filling adds the perfect balance and the easy-to-make icing on top takes these to another level!
Strawberry Pop Tarts Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make these strawberry pop tarts:
Pastry Dough – The very best part about these strawberry pop tarts is the pastry crust. It’s unlike any other and INCREDIBLY delicious! If you’re short on time, feel free to use a pre-made or store-bought pastry dough. However, if you make this easy pastry dough recipe, you definitely won’t regret it and it takes these pop tarts to another level!
Strawberry Preserves – These pop tarts are filled with strawberry preserves. Strawberry jelly also work great, or you can make this homemade jam as well!
Homemade Icing – This simple icing is incredibly easy to whip up with only 3 ingredients: powdered sugar, half and half (or milk), and vanilla extract.
Toppings of Choice – Icing with sprinkles, dried strawberries, or just a dash of sugar are all great options to top these pop tarts off!
How to Make Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts
Making these homemade pop tarts is actually VERY easy! Here’s how to do it in 7 simple steps:
- Mix the pastry dough ingredients together.
- Roll it into two disks and chill in the refrigerator.
- Roll out each disk into a large rectangle and cut into 4-5 strips.
- Brush an egg wash over the lower half of each strip and fill with strawberry preserves.
- Fold the strip over and bind the edges using a fork.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Let cool and add icing!
Make these gluten free by using almond flour instead of all-purpose flour!
Tips to Save Time
In a hurry? Save time with these easy tips:
- Use a pre-made pastry dough.
- Skip the egg wash and just use water to bind.
- Use a store-bought icing.
- Skip the pastry dough chill time and go straight to making the pop tarts instead.
While these steps definitely help make these pop tarts phenomenal, there isn’t always time to make the pastry dough from scratch or wait out the refrigerator chill time. No worries! These tips can help for when you’re in a rush!
Other Filling Ideas & Variations
Want to make these your own? You could make savory pop tarts with a pesto and mozzarella filling. Pizza pop tarts with mini pepperonis. Nutella pop tarts with strawberry jam or fresh fruit. The filling possibilities are endless! Here are a few other filling ideas for pop tarts:
- Blueberry Preserves
- Hot Pepper Bacon Jam
- Pumpkin Butter
- Peach Preserves
- Berry Chia Seed Jam
- Apple Pie Filling
What would you fill these pop tarts with? Let us know in the comments below!
This Strawberry Pop Tarts Recipe Is The BEST!
Whether you’re looking for a brunch treat to impress your guests or something fun and unique for dessert, these Strawberry Pop Tarts are here to make your day. After making this easy and delicious recipe, you’ll never want to go back to store-bought pop tarts again!
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Strawberry Pop Tarts Recipe
Ingredients
Pastry Dough & Filling
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter cold and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
- 5 Tbsp ice cold water
- 3/4 cup strawberry preserves
- 1 egg
Homemade Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp half and half or milk
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Making the Pastry Dough
- In a mixer or food processor, bring together the flour, salt, and granulated sugar.
- Add the butter and mix until it resembles a coarse meal.
- Add 5 Tbsp water and mix until it appears to be in pea-sized pieces (carefully adding more water 1 Tbsp at a time if it seems too dry).
- Drop the mixture onto a clean surface, gathering the dough into a ball then dividing it into two portions.
- Shape each portion into a 5-inch disk.
- Cover each disk with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour (if possible).
Rolling the Dough
- Working with 1 disk at a time (keep other in fridge to chill), roll the dough out onto a floured surface to about 13×11-inch rectangle, then trim edges to get a 12×10-inch rectangle.
- Cut the dough into 4-5 rectangular strips.
Prep for Baking
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange the rectangles, spaced evenly apart on a prepared baking sheet.
- Brush each rectangle with egg wash on the bottom half of the rectangle and add 1 Tbsp of strawberry preserves in the center, leaving about a 3/4-inch rim on 3 of the sides.
- Fold the top half of the rectangle over the bottom half to cover the jam.
- Seal the edges with your fingertips, then reseal with a fork.
- Poke the top center of each tart about 4 times with a toothpick or fork.
- Cover and transfer to the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours.
- Repeat the process with remaining disk of dough.
Baking
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Bake the tarts until golden, about 25-30 minutes.
- Allow them to cool on a baking sheet for several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
The Icing
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together all of the icing ingredients, adding more half and half about 1/2 tsp at a time to reach the desired consistency (if necessary).
- Spread or drizzle the icing over the tops of cooled pop tarts, leaving a small rim uncoated around all sides.
- Add the sprinkles (or other toppings, if desired) and allow the glaze to set at room temperature.
- Store in an airtight container or enjoy immediately!
Notes
- Use a pre-made pastry dough.
- Skip the egg wash and just use water to bind.
- Use a store-bought icing.
- Skip the pastry dough chill time and go straight to making the pop tarts instead.
These strawberry pop tarts were so easy to make and delicious! This recipe took me back to my childhood; I haven’t had pop tarts in ages!
These are SO much better than the ones you buy in the box. Absolutely delicious!
Not only do these taste fab, but I also got my teenager in the kitchen for quality time together making them! Win win!
I love how festive and colorful these are! My niece had such a great time decorating these with me!
These are the best poptarts! I will definitely be making these again!
My kids loved these! Thanks for sharing!
I didn’t even know they still made pop tarts! But I know this homemade version will be a thousand times more yummy. Can’t wait to try.
Love a good pop tart! These were delicious!
What a sweet treat…a childhood classic!
These look divine. I cannot wait to get home and make your recipe
Can’t wait to make these! They look delicious!
These were easy to make and so good! My kids loved them!
These look delicious. Going to make them this weekend.
So nostalgic and delicious!!
Pop tarts were one of my kids’ favourite treats when they were younger. I haven’t made them for ages. But these are calling my name. On my to make list for the weekend!
I’m a huge fan of pop tarts and you’re absolutely right, the homemade version is so much better than store-bought. I use a a pre-made pastry dough and it was still amazing!
I love the presentation of these, so cute!
Our whole family loved these! And I really appreciate the step-by-step photos, it makes making them so much easier!
Made a batch and it lasted one day… 1! They were perfect.
Pop tarts were like the ultimate treat growing up! I used to beg my mom for them every time we went to the store. These homemade pop tarts are so pretty and look like so much fun to make. Homemade is always better anyway..cannot wait to give these a try!
I’m wishing I had a plate of these in front of me right now! They look delicious
Poptarts were always one of my favorite things to eat growing up and now I’m looking forward to making them on my own with this recipe.
My kids are going to love, love, love this classic breakfast treat. Making these this weekend to be prepared for busy weekday mornings.
A homemade pop tart recipe? No way! My kids would absolutely LOVE this, and I LOVE homemade versions of store-bought treats bc they’re always so much healthier!
I will love these so much! They look delish. I have never tried to make my own pop tarts before.
What a great idea to make homemade pop tarts! These are obviously way healthier and I’m sure they taste better too. I’d love to try these for my kids, and of course sneak a few for myself.
Yum my husband would simply love these, her grew up on poptarts, and to have them homemade would be such a treat for him
These are SO yummy! I love how tasty they came out and the strawberry flavor is perfect. My boys loved them for a treat.
These pop tarts are SO yummy!!!
I used sprouted whole grain flour, for a healthy twist…. and they turned out just scrumptious!