This super simple recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day (or Galentine’s Day) is perfect for a loved-up breakfast or afternoon treat. To make these Valentine’s Day pop-tarts as easy as possible this recipe uses Pillsbury pre-rolled pie crust pastry, so even if you don’t consider yourself a baker you can absolutely make these like a pro!
I love Valentine’s Day, sure it’s a ploy for encouraging overconsumption of heart-shaped gifts, can make you feel inadequate and lonely and yes the stress of trying to find a reservation that isn’t 5pm or 9pm can reduce you to tears – but I love it. I love love and I’ll happily spread it whilst wearing hearts all over my jumper/sweater (thanks Mum, I freaking love that jumper).
These easy themed pop-tarts are perfect for a Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day celebration and look way cuter and festive than the shop bought ones – sorry, not sorry Kellogg’s!
Within this blog post I will answer a few questions about these heart-shaped pop-tarts then share what equipment you need, the ingredients, a step-by-step guide with photos for anyone who needs visual help and then the recipe.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 1 DSC01002](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC01002.jpg)
What are pop-tarts?
Pop-tarts are a north American toaster pastry – literally one of the most American things to eat for breakfast – they’re sweet and offer little to zilch nutritional value.
If you make them at home though you can drastically reduce their sweetness. Have one as an afternoon treat with a cuppa or for dessert, the same way you would enjoy a biscuit or a slice of cake.
If you’re a fellow Brit then they’re not unlike a jam tart or turnover but with icing on the top.
Do I need to use Pillsbury pastry?
No you don’t, you can make these homemade heart-shaped pop-tarts with any brand of pre-made pie pastry or you can go the extra mile and make your own puff pastry.
I chose to use Pillsbury because I know a lot of my readers don’t feel confident in the kitchen and often don’t have a stocked pantry for baking.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 2 DSC00910](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00910-683x1024.jpg)
How long does icing take to set
It will take the icing made with icing sugar for the top of the pop-tarts about 3 hours minimum to set. If you’re not in a rush you can leave them overnight but if you aren’t storing them then you can eat them as soon as you want.
What jam is best in pop-tarts
You can choose whatever flavour of jam you want to go into your homemade pop-tarts!
I used three different jams for variation of flavour: guava, passionfruit and homemade raspberry jam.
Check out my blog post featuring my Mum’s small-batch jam recipe, it only takes 3 simple ingredients to make a jar of jam and is way more delicious than any jam you can buy.
How long will homemade pop-tarts keep
These homemade pop-tarts will keep in an airtight container for about 4-5 days or you can freeze them for around 3 months.
Can I toast these homemade pop parts?
Though you definitely can warm these pop-tarts in the oven I wouldn’t recommend any longer than 1-2 minutes as the icing is going to lose its integrity.
These homemade pop-tarts are best enjoyed cold.
Are these pop-tarts vegetarian or vegan
Unfortunately the Pillsbury pie crust pastry contains lard and is therefore not vegetarian or vegan.
How long does it take to make these heart-shaped pop-tarts?
It takes approximately 30mins to prepare, 10mins to bake, 30mins to cool, 15mins to ice and decorate and 3hrs minimum for the icing to completely set.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 3 Postcards from Hawaii Travel Lifestyle Blog Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/header-02-1024x682.jpg)
What you need to make heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day
- Heart shaped cookie cutter (whatever size you want your pop-tarts to be)
- Teaspoon
- Rolling pin
- Greaseproof or parchment paper
- Baking tray
- Small bowl
- Fork
- Pastry brush
- Medium mixing bowl
- Tablespoon measurement
- Cup measurement
- Whisk
- Wire cooking rack
Ingredients to make heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day
Makes 14 – 16 3” wide heart-shaped pop-tarts
- Teaspoon flour (for dusting surface)
- Pillsbury pre-rolled pie crust pastry
- 14 tsps jam of your choice – get my Mum’s homemade jam recipe here
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1½ tbsp cold water
- Red food colouring
- Sprinkles
How to make heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day
1. Take your pre-rolled Pillsbury pie crust pastry out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 4 DSC00913](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00913.jpg)
2. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
3. Lightly flour a flat and even surface to stop the pastry from sticking and open out one of the two rolls.
4. Take a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut out as many hearts as you can from the pastry.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 5 DSC00920](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00920-683x1024.jpg)
5. Place each heart on a lined baking tray about half an inch apart from each other.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 6 DSC00927](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00927-683x1024.jpg)
6. Drop a teaspoon of jam into the centre of each heart.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 7 DSC00936](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00936-683x1024.jpg)
7. Break and beat the egg, then using a pastry brush line the edges of the hearts all the way around.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 8 DSC00946](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00946-683x1024.jpg)
8. Unroll the second packet of pie crust pastry onto the same floured surface and cut out the same amount of hearts as before.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 9 DSC00921](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00921-683x1024.jpg)
9. Place each of the hearts over the ones with jam, lightly pressing the edges down as you do.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 10 DSC00954](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00954-683x1024.jpg)
10. Take a fork and press the ends of the tines into the edge of the hearts, working your way all around the hearts to form a seal to stop the jam from spilling out.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 11 DSC00960](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00960-683x1024.jpg)
11. Brush the tops of all of your heart-shaped pop-tarts with the beaten egg then use the fork to puncture holes with the tines in the centre of the top layer of pastry.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 12 DSC00962](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00962-683x1024.jpg)
12. Place in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes and remove when golden.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 13 DSC00965](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00965-683x1024.jpg)
13. Allow to completely cool on a wire rack – half an hour should do the trick.
How to make the icing for your Valentine’s Day heart-shaped pop-tarts
1. Measure out 1 cup of icing sugar into a medium mixing bowl.
2. Add 1½ tbsp of cold water and stir into a paste with a whisk, beating out lumps for a smooth texture.
3. Add red food colouring, two drops for pink and 4-5 for red, and whisk until all the icing is an even colour.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 14 DSC00975](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00975-683x1024.jpg)
4. With a spoon, spatular or the whisk drizzle the icing back and forth across your heart-shaped pop-tarts.
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 15 DSC00979](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00979-683x1024.jpg)
5. Before the icing starts to set, scatter sprinkles of your choice onto the icing.
Allow at least 3 hours for the icing to completely set but you can eat them as soon as you want!
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 16 DSC00991](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC00991-683x1024.jpg)
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 17 DSC01006](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC01006.jpg)
Ingredients
Makes 14 – 16 3” wide heart-shaped pop-tarts
- Teaspoon flour (for dusting surface)
- Pillsbury pre-rolled pie crust pastry
- 14 tsps jam of your choice – get my Mum’s homemade jam recipe here
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1½ tbsp cold water
- Red food colouring
- Sprinkles
Recipe
- Take your pre-rolled Pillsbury pie crust pastry out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
- Lightly flour a flat and even surface to stop the pastry from sticking and open out one of the two rolls.
- Take a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut out as many hearts as you can from the pastry.
- Place each heart on a lined baking tray about an inch apart from each other.
- Drop a teaspoon of jam into the centre of each heart.
- Break and beat the egg, then using a pastry brush line the edges of the hearts all the way around.
- Unroll the second packet of pie crust pastry onto the same floured surface and cut out the same amount of hearts as before.
- Place each of the hearts over the ones with jam, lightly pressing the edges down as you do.
- Take a fork and press the ends of the tines into the edge of hearts, working your way all around the hearts to form a seal to stop the jam from spilling out.
- Brush the tops of all of your heart-shaped pop-tarts with the beaten egg then use the fork to puncture holes with the tines in the centre of the top layer of pastry.
- Place in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes and remove when golden.
- Allow to completely cool on a wire rack – half an hour should do the trick.
How to make the icing for your Valentine’s Day heart-shaped pop-tarts
- Measure out 1 cup of icing sugar into a medium mixing bowl.
- Add 1½ tbsp of cold water and stir into a paste with a whisk, beating out lumps for a smooth texture.
- Add red food colouring, two drops for pink and 4-5 for red, and whisk until all the icing is an even colour.
- With a spoon, spatular or the whisk drizzle the icing back and forth across your heart-shaped pop-tarts.
- Before the icing starts to set, scatter sprinkles of your choice onto the icing.
- Allow at least 3 hours for the icing to completely set but you can eat them as soon as you want!
![Recipe for heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day 1 DSC01002](https://postcardsfromhawaii.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC01002.jpg)
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If you use this recipe to make your own heart-shaped pop-tarts for Valentine’s Day, I’d love to hear how it went in the comments below.
Do more on & for the planet, Gabriella
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