Have you ever had Pop-Tarts? These toaster pastries come in various flavors and are a convenient snack or breakfast. People often heat them in a toaster before eating, but you can also eat them cold.
Pop-Tarts are essentially pastry crust surrounding a sweet filling, like strawberry, blueberry, chocolate, and more. You can top them with nuts, sprinkles, frosting, etc.
They are super easy to make at home; all you need is pie crust, jam, and an egg. You can even skip the egg if you don’t have one!
How to Make Homemade Pop Tarts
Making homemade pop tarts is easy, and your kids will love to help. Take both pie crusts, and put one on top of the other. You want both pieces to be nice and cold, so they don’t stick together. If you’re worried about it, cut them each separately.
With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the pie crusts into four pieces by cutting once from top to bottom and then from left to right. Then cut each piece in half. You will end up with eight triangles.
If you made your own pie crusts, you can also roll them into a rectangle and cut them in half widthwise and fourth lengthwise to get eight smaller rectangles.
Spread one tablespoon of jam on one piece of crust and brush the beaten egg around the edges. Top it with more crust, and, using a fork, press the edges together to seal them shut. Brush more beaten egg on the top, poke a few holes into it to let the steam escape, and repeat until you’ve used everything up.
That’s it! The homemade pop tarts are now ready to go into the oven.
The Benefits of Baking with Children
Baking with children has many benefits, and this recipe is a great starting point because it only has a few steps and will be easier than making a complicated cake. And you can enjoy the results in about 15 minutes! Here are some of the many reasons why you might want to bake with your kids:
- Teaching math skills: Baking with children can teach them about measuring ingredients, following instructions, and learning about different types of foods and flavors.
- Practicing fine motor skills: Baking can help children develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- Teaching social skills: Baking with children can be a bonding experience and help children learn about sharing and taking turns.
- Fostering creativity: Baking allows children to express themselves creatively through food.
- Encouraging independence: Baking can help children to feel more independent and capable.
- Encourage healthy eating: Children may be more inclined to try new ingredients when they are involved in the cooking and baking process.
- Having fun: Baking is a fun activity that can create positive memories and experiences.
- Encourage self-esteem: When children see the finished product of their hard work, it can boost their self-esteem and self-confidence.
To round up the benefits of baking with kids, some positive affirmations are the perfect side for these homemade pop tarts, like the ones created especially for pre-teens and teens in Miranda Mathis’ Beautiful… That’s Me – Positive Affirmations book.
Easy 3-Ingredients Homemade Pop Tarts with Jam
Ingredients
2 9-inch pie crusts
1/2 cup of jam or preserves
1 egg, beaten
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut each pie crust into eight sections like a pizza, trying to keep them about the same size.
- Add a tablespoon of jam on top of 8 sections, spreading it as much as possible without touching the edges.
- Brush some of the beaten egg all along the edges.
- Top each piece with one of the extra sections and press down all around with a fork to seal them and prevent the jam from escaping during baking.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let your homemade pop tarts cool before eating, as the jam will be very hot!
