Strawberry Pop Tarts Revisited
Share
- ✉
-
Author Notes: I've recently seen some homemade pop tarts in magazines (like the April 2010 issue of Bon Appetit) and on food blogs (like Smitten Kitchen). I was a big fan of these as a child but haven't had one in years, so of course I wanted to make some. I tried the dough in the Bon Appetit article but found it to be too buttery (yes, there is such a thing). So I set out to create my own dough. After a couple of tries, I decided that the one below is my favorite. It's not at all terrible for you and it's really easy to work with. If you don't want to use spelt flour, you can try this with all purpose unbleached white flour or with whole wheat bread flour. As for the filling, I experimented with a few different strawberry jams, but the best one by far was Amanda's Preserved Strawberries with Chilies. If you're making these for kids or if you don't like the idea of spicy strawberry jam, though, feel free to use your favorite jam (Nutella is also good as a filling for these!). They're best a short time after they come out of the oven (though you can certainly reheat before serving). - WinnieAb
Serves 8
- 2 cups spelt flour
- 2 tablespoons organic sugar
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 stick organic unsalted butter
- 1 cup Greek yogurt or real buttermilk
- approximately 1 cup of strawberry jam (I used Amanda's Preserved Strawberries with Chilies)
- approximately 3 tablespoons of melted butter, for brushing the dough
- organic sugar for sprinkling the dough
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat all ingredients until the dough comes together. Divide dough in half, flatten each ball into a disc, and wrap in plastic or parchment paper. Chill several hours or overnight.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (or use a silpat). Flour your surface and roll one disc out into a large rectangle. Trim the edges (reserving the extra dough to roll out again with the next disc) so you have a rectangle that is approximately 9 or 10 inches by 12 inches. Cut the large rectangle into 8 smaller and equal rectangles.
- Place about 1 1/2 tablespoons of filling on each of 4 rectangles. Try not to just plop it right in the center- spread it down the length of each piece of dough (but keep it in the center, so that you can seal up the dough on all sides).
- Lay the other pieces of dough on top of the ones with the filling. Use your finger to press the edges down, then use the tines of a fork to press firmly around all the edges. It's important that the pop tarts are sealed well, so a lot of the jam doesn't come oozing out (a little might, and that's fine). Repeat with the other disc of dough so that you have 8 pop tarts.
- Poke a few holes into each pop tart with a fork or a toothpick and then arrange on your baking sheet. Place the pop tarts in the refrigerator for 30 minutes while you preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Remove from the refrigerator and brush each pop tart with melted butter. Sprinkle each one all over with organic sugar.
- Bake the pop tarts for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. Allow the pop tarts to cool on a rack before serving.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Strawberries
Tags: baking, breakfast, brunch, kid-friendly, kid-friendly
More Great Recipes
Share a Recipe
Enter one of our contests, or share that great thing you made for dinner last night.
Add a Recipe
about 3 years ago emofly
Thanks for the shout out and for trying our recipe, WinnieAb. Your picture is gorgeous. I'll have to try this version! -Emily, Bon Appetit web editor
about 3 years ago WinnieAb
Hi Emily,
In all honestly, my kids absolutely LOVED the BA version. It was me who found the dough too buttery...just couldn't rationalize them as breakfast! I hope you do try this version, and that you like it, and thanks so so much for the sweet comment about the photo!
about 3 years ago Mindy
I can't find Amanda's recipe for strawberry preserves with chilies - can somebody point me in the right direction?
about 3 years ago WinnieAb
Mindy,
Here's the link: http://www.food52.com/blog...
about 3 years ago Kitchen Butterfly
Superb....I too search for it to no avail and had to go back pages, till I found it. Thanks
about 3 years ago Mindy
thank you - i didn't realize there were recipes hiding in the blog too! they escape the search and save functions.
about 3 years ago testkitchenette
Pop Tarts were banned in my house when I was young (don't worry I scarfed them down like I'd never seen food before at my friends' houses)...these look wonderful...I'd never ask you to stop making them!
about 3 years ago WinnieAb
aw, thanks!
about 3 years ago monkeymom
yum yum YUM! Hmmm....I'm thinking nutella. Much less healthy though.
about 3 years ago WinnieAb
I'm working on a healthier nutella...will post the recipe when it's finished!
about 3 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
These sound great, Winnie. Would they qualify as gluten free?
about 3 years ago WinnieAb
Thanks! No, they are not gluten-free, though...wheat-free, yes.
about 3 years ago Margy@hidethecheese
I've been thinking of making pop tarts at home, too. I haven't used spelt flour -- what does it add?
about 3 years ago WinnieAb
I like it and use it a lot. It's more nutritious than wheat flour and is good for people with wheat sensitivities. You can certainly use unbleached white flour or wheat flour, though...I've done it with those, too...
about 3 years ago WinnieAb
I got obsessed and made them so many times in the last few weeks that my kids requested I stop. Hope your family enjoys them, and they're easy and fun to make together...
about 3 years ago thirschfeld
I was so thinking about this. I have been picking two to three lbs a day and my kids will love these.