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As a parent, finding activities that engage your child's creativity while meeting their attention span be a challenge. That's why I love hand pie and pop tart activities! Not only are these treats easy to make, but they also provide an opportunity for quality bonding time with your little one in the kitchen.
Getting Started
To begin our heart pop tart adventure, we gathered our ingredients:
Store-bought pre-made pie crust (time saver!)
Jam of our choosing (blackberry was our favorite)
An egg yolk for brushing
Ingredients for a simple frosting (powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a dash of milk).
The Process
First I rolled out one sheet of pie crust to make it a bit thinner. Then using heart-shaped cookie cutters, we carefully cut out pairs of hearts from the pie crust. My son took the lead on this part, he loves being in charge of the process.
After we had our heart-shaped crusts ready, we spooned a dollop of jam onto half of them, making sure not to overfill. Then, we gently placed another heart on top of each filled one, sealing the edges with a little yolk and then pressing with a fork. Tip: if you have a toddler fork, they are great for kids to use an maneuver. Before baking, you need to also add some steam holes, so I make an "x" in each one with a fork.
Lastly, I handled the egg yolk wash while my son took a break and played.
Bake and Frost
With our heart pop tarts assembled, it was time to bake them to golden perfection. We preheated the oven to 350°F and popped them in for 10-15 minutes, keeping a watchful eye until they were beautifully golden brown. (make sure you check them at 9 min then every 2 min after that). No one likes a burned pop tart.
While the pop tarts cooled slightly, we whipped up a simple frosting by mixing powdered sugar, a splash of vanilla extract, and a bit of milk until smooth. Once the pop tarts were cool enough to handle, my son eagerly drizzled the frosting over each one, adding his own unique touch to our creations with some leftover sprinkles we had.
The Verdict
The moment of truth had arrived – it was time to taste our heart pop tarts! With a sense of excitement, my son took his first bite and his face lit up with delight. The combination of flaky crust, sweet jam, and creamy frosting was an instant hit, and we both savored every delicious bite.
Final Thoughts
Making heart pop tarts turned out to be a delightful adventure that my son and I will cherish for years to come. Not only were they easy to make, but they also provided a wonderful opportunity for us to bond and create lasting memories together in the kitchen. Whether you're looking for a fun weekend activity or a special treat to share with loved ones, I highly recommend giving heart pop tarts a try. Your taste buds – and your kiddos – will thank you!
BONUS IDEA Pop Tarts 2.0
This could easily be adjusted for any party theme, just swap out the cookie cutter and you've got yourself an delicious party treat! Try using Nutella in the center for some yummy gooey goodness.
I'd love to see your colorful pop tart creations! Tag me on instagram
Recipe:
Ingredients:
Store-bought pre-made pie crust
Jam of your choosing
1 egg yolk (for brushing)
For frosting:
Powdered sugar
Vanilla extract
Milk
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Roll out the pie crust and use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out pairs of hearts.
Spoon a small amount of jam onto half of the heart-shaped crusts, leaving a border around the edges.
Place another heart-shaped crust on top of each filled one and seal the edges with egg yolk then press with a fork.
Poke holes in the top
Brush the tops of the pop tarts with egg yolk for a golden finish.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
While the pop tarts are cooling, prepare the frosting by mixing powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth.
Once the pop tarts have cooled slightly, drizzle the frosting over the top of each one.
Enjoy your homemade heart pop tarts with loved ones and savor every delicious bite!
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