Description
Delightful homemade heart-shaped strawberry pop tarts bring nostalgic sweetness with flaky pastry and fresh strawberry filling. Romantic pastry perfection makes breakfast or dessert special, inviting cherished moments of pure culinary joy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ½ cup (150 g) strawberry jam
Pastry and Filling Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 45 tablespoons ice water
- 1 tablespoon water
Glaze and Decoration:
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- A drop or two of pink or red food coloring (optional)
- Heart-shaped sprinkles
- Sanding sugar
Instructions
- Craft the pastry foundation by combining flour, sugar, and salt in a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Incorporate cold, cubed butter into the flour mixture, using fingertips or a pastry tool to create a crumbly texture resembling coarse sand.
- Gradually introduce ice water, gently blending until the dough forms a cohesive mass. Divide the mixture into two equal portions, wrap in film, and chill in the refrigerator for minimum 60 minutes.
- Prepare the strawberry filling by combining jam, cornstarch, and water in a small saucepan, heating and stirring until the mixture thickens and becomes glossy.
- Preheat the oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to approximately 1/8-inch thickness, using a heart-shaped cookie cutter to create symmetrical pastry bases.
- Arrange half of the heart-shaped dough cutouts on the prepared baking sheet, carefully placing a dollop of cooled strawberry filling in the center of each piece.
- Moisten the edges of the filled hearts with water, then delicately overlay matching heart-shaped dough cutouts, pressing edges with a fork to create a secure seal.
- Create small ventilation holes on the top of each pop tart using the tip of a knife.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until the edges transform into a golden-brown hue, then allow to rest on the baking sheet momentarily before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and optional food coloring to create a smooth, glossy glaze.
- Once completely cooled, adorn the pop tarts with the prepared glaze, embellishing with heart-shaped sprinkles or delicate sanding sugar while the glaze remains wet.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is crucial for creating flaky, tender pastry that won’t shrink or become tough during baking.
- Keep butter extremely cold and work quickly to maintain small butter chunks that create delicate, layered texture in the pop tarts.
- Use fresh, high-quality strawberry jam for the most vibrant and authentic fruit flavor in your homemade filling.
- Create gluten-free versions by substituting all-purpose flour with a reliable gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum for better binding.
- Prevent soggy bottoms by preheating your baking sheet or using a pizza stone to ensure crisp, golden pastry edges.
- Experiment with alternative fillings like raspberry, blueberry, or even chocolate spread to customize your pop tarts for different taste preferences.
- Cool pop tarts completely before glazing to prevent the icing from melting and sliding off the pastry surface.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg