I know what you're thinking, "Pop Tarts? Really?"
I used to be in the same boat, thinking that I'd never again want to eat those questionable rectangles in a package. But every once in a while I hear them whispering to me out of a random vending machine and I give in, only to be overcome by mild guilt after inhaling them.
Honestly, how many wholesome breakfast options can you think of that are covered in frosting and rainbow sprinkles?
Yes, I've eaten cupcakes for breakfast.
No, that's not what I was thinking of.
These things are better than anything out of a package and though I wouldn't necessarily call them "healthier" since there's a full stick of butter involved, they are delicious and it's ridiculously easy to make them better at home.
Crust
1 1/4 cup flour
1 stick butter (cut into small cubes and frozen for 5 minutes)
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg (cold)
2 tablespoons ice water
Filling
Strawberry Jam
*you can actually use anything you'd like here substituting your favorite pop tart flavor... I'm just partial to the strawberry ones myself
Frosting
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4-1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 Tablespoons milk
Crust
Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl until combined. Then, dump the butter in all at once and work it into the dough with your fingers until there are little clumps of butter all throughout the dough.
Beat the egg with the ice water and fold into mixture until just combined. Push the whole thing together with your hands on a floured surface trying not to knead too much as you work it into a ball.
Divide the ball in half and freeze for 3-5 minutes so the butter can re-solidify.
After it's done chilling, roll each ball into a rectangle and cut into rectangles.
Make your Pop Tarts by spreading 1-2 tablespoons of jam (depending on how big your rectangles are) around the center of one of the rectangles, placing another rectangle over the jam, and pressing together with a fork. Place your completed Tarts on a cookie sheet and freeze for 10-15 minutes to re-chill the dough.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until the tops and edges begin turn golden brown.
While they are baking, whisk together frosting ingredients, adding more milk as needed to get the right consistency of frosting. Once the Tarts are cooled to room temperature, frost and eat!
