Adorable heart shaped pop tarts are made with a pie crust mix and strawberry jam! Drizzle or dip in a frosty glaze and adorn with Valentine’s Day sprinkles for your sweetheart.
Why this recipe works
We’re reshaping our homemade pop tarts into a sweet hand pie perfect for Valentine’s Day gifting. Strawberry jam is layered between a flakey, soft crust made from a Jiffy pie crust mix in this heart shaped pop tarts recipe, though you can use any jam flavor you want here. Shape, bake, and decorate using only 4 ingredients plus an easy glaze. Even the kids can get in on the fun with this one!
Because they aren’t overly sweet they make a lovely breakfast pastry, but double as a cute homemade treat crafted with love. Let’s get started!
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
CRUST – We’re using an easy Jiffy pie crust mix. We have also tried using a refrigerator pie dough, but you won’t get very many pop tarts out of it, so we suggest a pie crust mix or even a homemade pie dough. There’s no need to chill this pie dough before rolling it out, but make sure you roll it out on a well-floured surface. Gently shake or wipe off any excess flour when you place the hearts on the baking tray.
JAM – You can use whichever flavor of jam you’d like. Strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry jam, and even apple butter are all great choices! Don’t overfill the pastries with jam or you risk them oozing out from the sides.
GLAZE – The glaze is made with powdered sugar, milk, and optional strawberry jam which adds color and flavor. If your strawberry glaze is more beige than pink, you can add a little bit of red food coloring. Be careful because a little goes a long way!
How to Make Heart Shaped Pop Tarts
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Add the pie crust mix to a large bowl, and then add in the water 1 tablespoon at a time while mixing with a fork until it forms dough. Form the dough into 2 balls so they’re easier to roll out.
- Roll out the dough balls one at a time on a well-floured surface to a circle about 10 inches in diameter.
- Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter (about 4 inches across at its widest part) to stamp out as many hearts as you can. Repeat this process with the second ball of dough. Gather all the dough scraps into a ball, roll them out again, and stamp out more hearts. You should get enough hearts for 7 pop tarts (14 hearts total).
- Arrange 7 hearts on a large baking tray lined with parchment paper. Put about 1/2 tablespoon of jam on each heart and slightly spread it out (but leave a border at least 1/4-inch all the way around).
- Lightly brush the outside of each jam-topped heart with water. Place another heart-shaped piece of dough on top of each. Use the tines of a fork to lightly crimp the edges of each heart and seal the jam inside.
- Bake until set, about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Once the pop tarts are baked, whisk together all ingredients for the glaze.
TIP – If your strawberry glaze is more beige than pink, you can add a little bit of red food coloring. Be careful because a little goes a long way!
- To glaze the pop tarts, transfer them while they’re still warm to a wire rack placed on a baking tray. Spoon the glaze onto each, letting the excess drip off. Top with sprinkles immediately before the glaze sets.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
What if I don’t have a heart shaped cookie cutter?
If you don’t have a heart-shaped cookie cutter about 4 inches wide at its widest part, you can draw a heart about this size on paper, cut it out, and use it as a stencil to cut the dough into hearts.
How do you store heart shaped pop tarts?
You can store your pop tarts in a sealed ziplock bag or an air-tight container kept at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also keep them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Can you freeze them?
Yes, these homemade pop tarts freeze well. Place your room temperature pop tarts in a freezer-safe bag or container and transfer to the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat them, let them thaw at room temperature and pop in the toaster!
Serving Suggestions
To keep on theme with Valentine’s Day, garnish your heart shaped pop tarts with heart shaped sprinkles and a white, pink, or red glaze. Nonpareil sprinkles or red, white, and pink Jimmies are also great options. If you aren’t a big fan of glaze, you can cut it back by simply drizzling the pop tarts, or omit it altogether.
Pop the pop tarts in a toaster or toaster oven or enjoy them at room temperature, the choice is up to you! For gifting, you can wrap a pop tart or two in a cellophane baggy or gently stack them in a pastry box.
Ingredients
Pop Tarts
- 9 ounce box of Jiffy pie crust mix
- 4-5 Tablespoons water
- 4 Tablespoons strawberry jam about 1/2 tablespoons per pop tart
- water to seal the pop tarts
Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon strawberry jam optional
Things You’ll Need
Rolling pin
Mixing bowls
Heart shaped cookie cutter 4 inches wide
Baking sheet
Before You Begin
- If you don’t have a heart-shaped cookie cutter about 4 inches wide at its widest part, you can draw a heart about this size on paper, cut it out, and use it as a stencil to cut the dough into hearts.
- We’re using an easy Jiffy pie crust mix. We have also tried using a refrigerator pie dough, but you won’t get very many pop tarts out of it, so we suggest a pie crust mix or even a homemade pie dough.
- There’s no need to chill this pie dough before rolling it out, but make sure you roll it out on a well-floured surface. Gently shake or wipe off any excess flour when you place the hearts on the baking tray.
- You can use whichever flavor of jam you’d like. Strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry jam, and even apple butter are all great choices! Don’t overfill the pastries with jam or you risk them oozing out from the sides.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400F.
Add the pie crust mix to a large bowl, and then add in the water 1 tablespoon at a time while mixing with a fork until it forms dough. Form the dough into 2 balls so they’re easier to roll out.
Roll out the dough balls one at a time on a well-floured surface to a circle about 10 inches in diameter.
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter (about 4 inches across at its widest part) to stamp out as many hearts as you can. Repeat this process with the second ball of dough. Gather all the dough scraps into a ball, roll them out again, and stamp out more hearts. You should get enough hearts for 7 pop tarts (14 hearts total).
Arrange 7 hearts on a large baking tray lined with parchment paper. Put about 1/2 tablespoon of jam on each heart and slightly spread it out (but leave a border at least 1/4-inch all the way around).TIP – You can line your baking tray with silpat baking mats or parchment paper for easy cleanup if desired.
Lightly brush the outside of each jam-topped heart with water. Place another heart-shaped piece of dough on top of each. Use the tines of a fork to lightly crimp the edges of each heart and seal the jam inside.
Bake until set, about 10 to 12 minutes.
Once the pop tarts are baked, whisk together all ingredients for the glaze.TIP – If your strawberry glaze is more beige than pink, you can add a little bit of red food coloring. Be careful because a little goes a long way!
To glaze the pop tarts, transfer them while they’re still warm to a wire rack placed on a baking tray. Spoon the glaze onto each, letting the excess drip off. Top with sprinkles immediately before the glaze sets.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- You can store your pop tarts in a sealed ziplock bag or an air-tight container kept at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also keep them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freeze – Place your room temperature pop tarts in a freezer safe bag or container and transfer to the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat them, let them thaw at room temperature and pop in the toaster!
Nutrition
Serving: 1pop tart | Calories: 236cal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 0.3mg | Sodium: 154mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
