Apple Pie Pop-tarts with a Cinnamon Glaze

Apple Pie Pop-tarts

I have been pretty excited about this one for awhile.  Ever since I started blogging and saw my first home-made pop tart I knew I had to give it a try. The question was, what do I fill them with? See- I never got to eat pop-tarts as a kid. My Mama (thankfully,) made us eat healthy things all the time and I only got to these an an adult. When I did, I was partial to the Brown Sugar flavor, but it just didn’t do it for me. I always found them a little too processed and “fake” tasting. So the thought of making my own flaky pastry and filling it with something made from scratch made me oh so excited.

Since September is apple bonanza month, I thought it would be a perfect chance to hit up the Union Square Greenmarket and bake something with those beautiful shiny apples. Combined with some sugar and spice, and topped with a cinnamon glaze, these were too good to be true. This pastry is flaky and perfect, and the glaze put me over the edge. I love for this concept, and I can’t wait to come up with more creative filling ideas!

Apple Pie Pop-tarts

Putting these together involves cutting the pastry into even rectangles, (they don’t have to be perfect,) filling them with cinnamon-sugar apples, and then placing the other half of the dough on top. After the edges are crimped and the tops are brushed with egg wash, they are baked to golden perfection and cooled. Finally a spoonful of glaze gets spooned over the top and there you go. A delicious and slightly decadent breakfast without all the chemicals. Love.

PS- Yup I’m still in Maine. One week of rehearsals down, one to go before we add costumes and set and an audience! I can’t believe how fast these productions come together! This weekend I made Apple Cinnamon muffins for my cast, which they loved of course. We’re planning on going to a farm for Apple Picking on our next day off- so maybe some more apple creations will ensue. Pics to come. :)

Apple Pie Pop-tarts

Apple Pie Pop-tarts with a Cinnamon Glaze

Ingredients

  • For the Pastry:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup 2 sticks or 8 ounces unsalted butter, cold, cut into cubes
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 large egg, for brushing the dough
  • For the Filling:
  • 3-4 tart apples, Granny Smiths etc peeled and chopped
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • Cinnamon Glaze:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 tbsp milk, or so depending on desired thickness
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar and salt. Add the cold butter and break it up in the flour mixture using your fingers, a pastry cutter or a food processor. Work in the butter until only pea sized lumps remain in your mixture. The mixture should also hold together when squeezed into a ball. (Yes there is a lot of butter.)
  2. In a small bowl, beat the egg with the milk. Add the mixture all at once to the dry ingredients and stir to make sure that moisture is introduced to all of the flour mixture. Lightly dust a clean counter with flour and knead the dough on the floured counter for a few turns until it really starts to come together. Divide the dough in two, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. *Forming the dough into a kind-of rectangular shape will make rolling it out much easier!
  3. While the dough is chilling, prepare the filling:
  4. In a small bowl combine melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir together to combine. Add the apples and toss in mixture until well-coated. Set aside.
  5. On a well floured work surface, press dough into a 3×5-inch rectangle, roll the dough out to about 1/8-inch thickness. The dough should be slightly larger than 9×12-inches. Trim dough with a pizza cutter, creating a rectangle that is 9-inches tall and 12-inches long. Using the pizza cutter, cut each side into thirds, creating 9 squares. Place dough squares in the fridge while you roll out the second piece of dough in the same way.
  6. Set out 9 squares onto a cookie sheet. Spoon about two tablespoons of filling into the center of each dough square. Brush the edges with water to help seat it. Top with a piece of dough and use a floured fork to crimp the sides closed. Use the tines of the fork to create vent holes in each tart. Brush all tarts with egg wash.
  7. Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Let tarts rest in the fridge for 30 minutes while the oven preheats.
  8. Remove tarts from the fridge and place in the oven to bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
  9. While the tarts bake, whisk together ingredients for the glaze and set aside.
  10. Let baked tarts rest on a cooling rack to cool completely before glazing. Best served within 2 days.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Source: Adapted from Joy The Baker

32 Comments

  1. These are so beautiful. I can just imagine the taste. Maine is so lovely, hope you get to spend some time seeing it.

  2. These are gorgeous! mmm that glaze!! I’m starving right now so I could eat so many of these for breakfast! I just buzzed this :)

  3. I’ve been wanting to get in on the homemade poptart trend and I think this is the recipe that is going to get me to do it. Totes yum!

  4. They look so good! I used to love pop tarts when I was a teen but now I can’t stand them. But these are a different story! I must give them a try soon.

  5. These are worthy of putting in the bakery window-I would surely buy them! No doubt they are delicious, they look flaky and delicious. Great post!

  6. I have yet to make my own pop tarts – but they are on my list of must makes! This is a great filling to go with!

  7. I’ve never made pop tarts, but I love that they’re “popping” up on the bloggy world! These look amazing!

  8. Oh goodness gracious! These looks so pretty. Pop tarts were ALWAYS such a guilty pleasure for me. Making them homemade will at least eliminate all the fillers. Can’t wait to make these:)

  9. I made some toaster pastries last week, but now want to make these. Thank you so much for the idea! They look amazing.

  10. Absolutely amazing! I grew up eating pop tarts but stopped when I went to college. My fav was hot fudge sundae. My brother will love these AND I got apples this past Saturday. Thanks for sharing!

  11. I can’t wait to try this out – can they be frozen after baking/icing and baked again in a toaster oven or conventional oven?

  12. Hey, I just ran across your blog after a friend sent me this AND I’m in Maine AND am planning on taking my kids apple picking soon! What are you guys working on up here?

    I have made poptarts once before (because the kids wanted me to buy them) and filled them with Nutella. Very delicious! Going to try your recipe next!

    Hope you are enjoying your time here…it’s a beautiful place to live!!!

  13. You are a genius! I was starting to run out of ideas (i.e. getting desperate for something new) for what to make with the remaining 15 pounds of apples I have from apple picking. I’ve gone through 15 pounds already. :)

  14. Great rendition! I absolutely despise store bought pop tarts, they don’t taste like anything but sugar! I always make some of my own with a Nutella filling, but I should bring a bit more variety into them. Keep up the tasty work! :)

  15. These look divine! I’m gonna have to try this recipe being the ultimate fan of Pop-Tart pastries. Thanks, Baker Chick!

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