Homemade Poptarts

I saw these on Smitten Kitchen {which always intimidates me}, and I immediately thought “these look good, and I could probably make them.”  Then I forgot about them.  Until a little later when I saw them again on We Are Not Martha, and those two girls manage to make every recipe seem easy.  So I decided to add them to the menu, because if they could do it so could I {or at least that is how my self-pep talk went}.

First things first.  Make sure you have a decent rolling pin.  Mine is HORRIBLE.  I generally avoid all recipes that require one, because I always feel like I don’t have the space to roll out dough.  I think I’ve used it 3 maybe 4 times.  I wanted to cry by the time I had rolled out the dough for these just because it kept sticking to my rolling pin.  It’s official that I need a new one.  I’m on the hunt.

I decided to go with the brown sugar and cinnamon filling similar to that on We Are Not Martha.  I am glad I did!

So, don’t judge these by the way they look.  They tasted way better than it appears.  Unfortunately making baked goods look pretty is not and has never been my forte.  I always struggle with it, and these were no exception.

Homemade Poptarts {originally from Smitten Kitchen}

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbs sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into pats
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbs milk

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 to 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 4 tsp all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg to brush on pastry before filling

Directions:

1. Whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Then chop up all the butter (make sure it’s cold) and work it in with your fingers.
2. Whisk one egg and the milk together in a separate small bowl. Add them into the dough, mixing just until it feels sticky.
3. Flour your counter.  Use a LOT of flour.
4. Divide the dough in half and shape each into a smooth rectangle, about 3×5 inches. Then roll the dough out.
5. Roll the dough into a rectangle about 1/8 inch thick, large enough that you can get 6 rectangles from it.  I made mine smaller than the 9″x11″ that is recommended in the recipe.
6. Cut into equal size rectangles.  Mine were smaller than both Smitten Kitchen and We are Not Martha.  I don’t know the exact size though.
7. Beat the additional egg and brush it over the dough. This is the inside of the pop tart and the egg acts as a glue.
8. Place the dough on a baking sheet.
   
9. For brown sugar, cinnamon, mix the sugar, cinnamon, and flour together.
10. Place 2 teaspoons of the filling onto the dough, making sure you leave a 1/2 inch perimeter around the dough. 
11. Place a second rectangle of dough on top of the first, making sure you press around the edges to seal.
12. Use a fork to press all around the pop tart, creating the edges. Poke holes in the top to help them cook.
13. Put the poptarts in the oven while it heats up to 350 degrees.  DO NOT PREHEAT YOUR OVEN. Cook for 20ish minutes.

Grade: A+

Comments: I know there are a lot of steps, but this recipe really is easy…and it is so worth it!  It was a little time consuming, but that was mostly because I was having rolling pin issues.  They are really good, and while they taste better than the ones we all ate as kids, they still remind you of those boxed ones.  Next time I want to make some with apple filling {yes, there will definitely be a next time}.  My two major tips are: make sure you have a good rolling pin and use a lot of flour on your counter.  Both will make the entire process so much easier.

Tagged as: baking, breakfast foods, breakfast recipes, family meals, homemade poptarts, kid friendly, recipes