If you have never had a homemade pop tart, you have no idea what you are missing. I strongly encourage you to take the time to make these at least once.
Growing up, my mother never bought commercially made baked goods like Pop Tarts, and most of what she baked was on the healthier side. I think the first time I had a Pop Tart, I was in college. I couldn’t understand the hype, because the crust seemed like cardboard to me and the flavors were underwhelming. On the rare occasion that I ate them, I always threw away the edges.
This recipe has a slightly flakier, more tender crust than the ones you may remember from your childhood. They are oh, so good, and you will want to eat all the crust.
This gluten free version of Pop Tarts is an adaptation of my regular pop tart recipe that was always a favorite for brunch at my restaurant Sweet and sold out every time we made them. As with all of my recipes, I have tested these with Cup4Cup Flour, King Arthur Measure for Measure GF Flour and Bob’s Red Mill GF Flour — and they all work in all of my recipes. For most recipes, my first choice is Cup4Cup, followed by the other two in the order written. I still use Bob’s quite a bit, because it is often the most available and the least expensive.
* If you need to be dairy free click here for the dairy free version of this crust.
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS
Crust
- 224 grams unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks)
- 224 grams cream cheese, room temperature
- 112 grams heavy cream
- 400 grams 1:1 gluten-free flour blend
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Filling
- 2 tablespoons gluten-free cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- 1½ cups jam (homemade or store-bought)
Assembly
- 1 large egg (to brush on pastry before filling)
- 1 tablespoon water, cold
- 1 pinch salt
Frosting
- 130 grams confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon cream (or milk)
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon jam for filling (optional if you want plain vanilla frosting)
Instructions
INSTRUCTIONS
Dough
-
Process the butter, cream cheese and cream in an electric mixer fitted with a paddle or in a large food processor to thoroughly combine.
-
Add the flour and salt. Mix until just combined, and the dough holds together in a ball. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a rough 3x5-inch rectangle, smoothing the edges. Cover in plastic wrap or waxed paper, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up the dough, making it easier to roll out. You can also refrigerate the dough for up to two days; let it rest for 15 minutes or so at room temperature before you roll it out.*
Filling
-
Mix the cornstarch with the cold water, and add the jam. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer, stirring, for two minutes. Remove from the heat, and set aside to cool. Use to fill the tarts.
Assembly
-
Roll out one piece of dough to about ⅛-inch thick in a 9½ by 12½ rectangle. Using a sharp knife, pastry wheel or bench scraper, trim the rectangle to 9×12 inches. Cut the sheet of dough into nine 3×4-inch rectangles. Using a spatula, transfer the rectangles to a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
-
In a small bowl, whisk the egg with one tablespoon of cold water and a pinch of salt. Brush the egg wash on each of the rectangles. Spoon a tablespoon of filling into the center of each rectangle, leaving a ½-inch of space around the edges. Place your baking sheet with the tarts in the refrigerator while you roll out the tops.
-
Roll out and cut the second piece of dough the exact same way as you did the first. Prick the tops in multiple spots with a fork or a toothpick to allow steam to escape during baking.
-
One at a time, place a top rectangle of dough on the assembled ones. Using your fingers, press around the seams of the dough to make sure they are sealed. Press the tines of a fork around the edges of the rectangles. Refrigerate or freeze the pan with the pastries for at least 20 minutes (this will give you flakier tarts).
-
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
-
Remove the tarts from the fridge, and bake them for 30 to 35 minutes, until they're a light golden brown. Remove them from the oven, and allow them to cool on the pan.
Frosting
-
In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, cream, vanilla and jam (if using). The icing should have a very thick, but still spreadable, consistency. If necessary, add cream, milk or water, a little at a time, until that consistency is reached. Spread a spoonful of icing over top of each pastry, and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes so the icing can set. (Easier said than done; in my house every time I make these, at least one gets eaten before the icing is set!)
Recipe Notes
*Both the dough and the filled, unbaked tarts freeze incredibly well. To use the dough from frozen, take it out of the freezer the night before, and defrost in the refrigerator overnight. The filled and frozen tarts can be baked straight from frozen; you may need to add an additional three to five minutes to your baking time.
was always a favorite for brunch at my restaurant Sweet and sold out every time we made them.