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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
5. Place each heart on a lined baking tray about half an inch apart from each other.
6. Drop a teaspoon of jam into the centre of each heart.
7. Break and beat the egg, then using a pastry brush line the edges of the hearts all the way around.
8. Unroll the second packet of pie crust pastry onto the same floured surface and cut out the same amount of hearts as before.
9. Place each of the hearts over the ones with jam, lightly pressing the edges down as you do.
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.
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.
12. Place in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes and remove when golden.
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.
4. With a spoon, spatular or the whisk drizzle the icing back and forth across your heart-shaped pop-tarts.
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!
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!
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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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