Homemade Pop Tarts

My boys loves pop tarts but I don't really love buying them for several reasons: #1 - processed foods may have trace amounts of eggs or nuts, both of which Jack is allergic to and #2 they are loaded with sugar, additives and preservatives that I don't feel good about us eating. When I saw this recipe on Heavenly Homemakers I knew I wanted to give it a try. I adapted a couple things and added the hallmark frosting and sprinkles. Today was the perfect day. The kids are excited about all their new toys and about the huge snow storm we are getting. We have over a foot already!

Here is the view from our front porch (the blue house across the street is my parent's house.)

Here is the the view from our back porch. And it is STILL coming down! Okay, now on to pop tarts.

Homemade Pop Tarts

recipe adapted from Heavenly Homemakers

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour (can use white whole wheat or whole wheat if you prefer)

1 teaspoon coarse salt

1 cup (2 sticks) melted butter, unsalted

1 cup (8 oz) plain low fat yogurt

about 1/3 cup of your favorite jam, jelly or preserves

for the frosting:

1 cup confectionery sugar

2-3 teaspoons milk

2-3 teaspoons light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

sprinkles!

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the flour, salt, butter and yogurt until combined (I used my kitchen aid mixer with the paddle attachment). Lightly flour your counter and knead the dough for 1 minute. The dough will be moist. Roll it out pretty thin - about 1/8 inch. Cut into desired size. I used a pizza cutter and made mine into rectangles that were 3 1/2 inches by 4 inches (I used a ruler to make sure they were all the same size, because I am a dork like that). On half of the rectangles spread about 1 teaspoon of jam over the center, leaving room around the edges. We had some delicious homemade jam that we got for Christmas. Cover the jam-filled rectangles with the remaining pieces and crimp the edges with a fork to seal them shut. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees, until top is lightly browned. Cool completely.

They tasted pretty delicious just like this. Watch out though, the filling is HOT when they first come out. Let them cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before you eat them.

Jack told me that he really didn't like these pop tarts but if I put frosting on them, then he would like them. So that is exactly what we did.

Make frosting - I used my standard sugar cookie frosting since it hardens up nicely after it dries. In a small bowl mix together the confectionery sugar and milk. Add the corn syrup and vanilla extract until it is thin but spreadable. Frost the centers of the pop tarts and add sprinkles. Now you can enjoy them...or you can wait for the frosting to harden once it dries (takes a couple of hours.)

These pop tarts I don't mind feeding my kids, or eating myself! This recipe make about a dozen pop tarts. If your family doesn't devour them you can store them wrapped individually in wax paper and place in an airtight container. You can also freeze them and reheat in the toaster oven.

Pretty cool, huh?