A chocolate flavored pop-tart with a strawberry & nutella filling. The top is covered in a pink-dyed glaze and decorated with heart sprinkles.
I have been known to single-hand-idly polish off a box of pop-tarts. I know. Probably not the healthiest thing in the world. But then again, neither is finishing an entire bag of chocolate chips in one sitting. And I’ve done that too.
Granted both occurrences (finishing a box of pop-tarts and a bag of chocolate chips) were during my younger years… Like last week.
Okay, so longer than that. In fact, the last time I ate a pop-tart was in high school. Sad, right? I’m not even sure why. I mean I love pop-tarts! In fact, pop-tarts were sometimes my lunch of choice in high school. You know those days…when you forgot to bring your own lunch and everything in the cafeteria was so blah…and the vending machine had a shiny light around it calling your name.
I’m the only one? Ahem, alright. Nevermind about that.
As much as I love pop-tarts, I’m not so sure I’d go out and buy them ever. Maybe it’s my nutrition education that changed that, but there is something scary in that mile-long list of ingredients that I can’t even pronounce 1/387381 of them. Gross.
And that’s why I’m so excited about today’s recipe! Super duper pronounce-able ingredients, and albeit not your healthiest lunch or breakfast (I’d consider these a dessert!) these are pretty dang delicious and less chemically.
Oh, and I almost forgot. These are also day EIGHT of Chelsea’s Messy Apron + Griffanie Valentine’s Day Series. In case you’ve missed day what’s going on, we have 14 days of Valentine’s Day treats + tags. Oh and there is a giveaway to win all of the Valentine’s tags going on right now. So far we’ve had lovebirds in a nest, white chocolate snack mix, red velvet heart pound cake, mini red velvet cheesecakes, Valentine’s S’mores cookies, (2 serving size) red velvet molten lava cake, and (2 serving size) miniature apple pies. (That list is growing, my friends. And it’s growing loooong!)
So, I’ve kind of been rambling on about nothing, (and if you’ve actually read this all, I should send you a whole batch of these!) so let’s talk about making these pop-tarts for a quick minute.
First off, they are SO much easier than they seem or look. They come together in a cinch! I’m not going to lie and tell you there isn’t some good prep time, but it’s nothing outrageous or tricky to complete. First off, you are going to want to start with making the dough. The dough is simple, but let me warn you. You are going to think my recipe is wrong. You are going to think the dough is too crumbly and that I forgot an ingredient. Promise, pinky promise, I didn’t. Just keep kneading and mixing and it will come together. Don’t add more water or wet ingredients or you will ruin the dough.
Then the filling is just a few more ingredients that are cooked over low-medium heat for about five minutes. That cools and sets up for a bit while you roll out your dough. When the dough is all rolled out (and make it thin!) you spread on some nutella, top it with the strawberry filling mixture, and the other heart piece goes on top. The edges get crimped together with a fork, the top gets brushed with beaten egg whites, and in the oven they go! 7-8 minutes later and you are in pop-tart heaven.
Oh, wait, 9-10 minutes later. You need to let them cool first! I learned that from experience (insert BURNED mouth). Oh, and the glaze – don’t forget the glaze. Which you are going to again think something is funky with the glaze. It is pretty thick and dough like, but for good reason. The glaze will get super melty on the warm pop-tarts and become the perfect consistency. So there you go! Homemade pop-tarts. And don’t forget this cute Valentine’s saying:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 and 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup butter barely softened
- 1 egg separated
- 1 tbsp heavy cream
- Nutella
- 3/4 cup seedless strawberry jam
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/8 tsp almond extract optional
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp water
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 and 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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Start with the crust. Combine the flour, sugar, salt, and cocoa powder in a large bowl. Stir together with a fork. With a pastry cutter, or two knives, cut in the butter until the pieces are very small (size of peas) and butter is well incorporated in the mixture.
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Separate the egg - place the yolk in a small bowl and the whites in another small bowl. Using a fork, beat the yolk with the heavy cream for about 20 seconds. Stir in the egg + heavy cream mixture with the flour mixture.
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Stir and knead until combined. You will think there isn't enough moisture, but just keep kneading and it will come together. (Read the post for more notes on this)
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Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the fridge while you work on the filling.
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Combine the strawberry jam, lemon juice, and almond extract in a very small pot over low-medium heat. Stir. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.
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Slowly add the cornstarch to the jam mixture and whisk. Let the mixture simmer over low-medium heat for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let stand while you roll out the dough.
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Melt the butter and combine it with the powdered sugar. Stir until combined. It will be thick and dough-like. Add in the vanilla and food coloring and stir again. This glaze is supposed to be very thick. It will melt to the perfect consistency on the warm pastries.
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Roll out the dough to 1/8th an inch thickness (very thin!) Using a heart cookie cutter, cut out as many pieces as you can. Then combine the dough and re-roll continuing to cut as many hearts as possible.
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I found it easiest to roll out the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap (parchment paper would work too) or make sure to have a well-floured surface*
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Spread a layer of nutella on half of the cut-out hearts. Top with about 1/2 tbsp. or a rounded teaspoon of the jam mixture on each heart. Make sure to spread the jam mixture so the heart is filled with it, but making sure to avoid the edges, Place another heart cut out on top, and crimp the edges with the end of a fork (otherwise the mixture will ooze out).
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Place the pastries on a tray and cook for about 7-8 minutes (Mine all took exactly 7 minutes)
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Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack. Let cool for one minute and then spread the glaze over the pastries. The thick glaze with melt and top the pastries perfectly. Top with sprinkles and let cool completely.
This recipe was inspired by Half-Baked Harvest
Check out some more fun Valentine’s treats:
Haha, I totally enjoyed way too many pop tarts back in the day too – they were so convenient when you were on the go! These look so much better than the ones I used to buy 🙂 Love the heart shape with sprinkles and the Nutella and strawberry filling sounds awesome! They look super adorable too 🙂
Thank you so much Kelly! 🙂 Hope you are having a great weekend!
Ok, you’re gonna judge me….I currently have two boxes of poptarts in my pantry: Funfetti Cake and Chocolate Chip Cookie dough. Yes, I eat them on a weekly basis. BUT only right after I workout so it doesn’t count 😉 Healthy? No. Delicious? Um yes.
But, I have actually been wondering how to make my own, so this is a perfect recipe lady! These look so delish and ya, definitely need to wait for those to cool down! I am still victim to the poptart mouth burn every. single. time.
I’ll never learn.
Haha oh gosh, I love it Taylor! After a work-out is totally acceptable 🙂 haha. and Funfetti cake = the best poptart flavor ever! Mouth burn- I’ll never learn either. Obviously!
I’m in no position to judge, Chelsea, I just ate pie for breakfast! 😉 Love the strawberry + Nutella combo!!!
LOVING all your sweet treats!!! 🙂 I used to love pop tarts too in middle school and high school, but haven’t touched them since, these are totally taking me back!!
Thank you so much Nicole! 🙂 We should trade – I’ll send you some poptarts for your yummy soup you posted today! Ha, I wish!
Yea…as much as I hate to admit it, Poptarts were my go-to lunch of choice in high school when I forgot to bring lunch from home as well. Now that I’m a bit older though I can’t eat them without squirming because of that lovely list of chemicals…I mean ingredients haha. I guess I’ll just have to try these out then! I’m sure they taste a lot better than the originals plus they’re so much prettier :).
Haha yep, totally me in high school! 🙂 Thanks so much Rebecca, I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! 🙂
haha you are definitely not the only one! I used to eat pop-tarts like it was my job in middle and high school. The cinnamon sugar one was my favorite! I love this homemade version – and with the nutella and strawberry – so perfect for valentine’s day! Have an awesome weekend Chelsea!
Hahahaha! Crack me up – “like it was your job” !! Okay, glad I’m not the only one ha! Thanks Ashley, hope you have a great one as well!
they are adorable!
Thank you Dina! 🙂
These are too cute, Chelsea! I can’t imagine anything more darling than a heart shaped pop tart!! 🙂
Thank you so much Kelly 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend!
These little poptarts are so cute!! I ate my fair share of poptarts when I was younger, then didn’t for awhile, and started again in college. Because I could use my student card to buy them, haha. The brown sugar cinnamon ones were my jam. 🙂 I am so impressed with your chocolate crust and strawberry and nutella filling! So much better than any of the store-bought flavors!
I love pop-tarts! Definitely ate them from the vending machine!! I had not eaten them in years and then when I was pregnant I had to have some! 😉 these are super cute and lovely photos as always!
As always, these are so cute!! I have to admit that I’m not really one to go for traditional pop tarts, but I could totally polish off a batch of these. Love the nutella and strawberry combination. I would love to add some pureed strawberries to the glaze for extra strawberry flavor. Have a great weekend, Chelsea!
How darn cute are these?!?! And obviously, if Nutella is in the title, I’m so beyond in. Need these in my life!! Pinned.
NO YOU DIDN’T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
… that is all 😉
Oh, Chelsea, these are so adorable and delicious looking! I used to eat pop tarts ages ago but stopped buying them because of all the unpronounceable ingredients. I’m pinning these to try!
These are SO cute and adorable!! Pinned!
Thanks so much Renee! Hope you are having a great weekend 🙂
Pop tarts are a staple around here with kids. I have made home made ones a few times, but then I went back to buying the boxed ones. Maybe I need to start stuffing them with Nutella and cutting heart shapes because these are seriously so cute! And I love all the sprinkles.
Thanks so much Jocelyn! And thanks for featuring them in the link party and pinning them 🙂 I really appreciate it! And especially when super big bloggers like yourself help out us little ones 🙂 Thanks again!