Oh, who doesn’t love a good old pop tart? That flaky crust, that sweet, gooey filling – it just screams comfort, right? I remember sneaking them from the pantry as a kid, and honestly, the nostalgic feeling is still one of my absolute favorite parts of baking. Now, I’ve totally cracked the code on making these nostalgic treats completely vegan, and let me tell you, these Homemade Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts are a game-changer! You get all that amazing sweet-tart strawberry goodness and buttery crust flavor, all without a single animal product. Trust me, it’s pure magic in every bite, and so worth making from scratch.

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts

Honestly, why just buy them when you can MAKE them? It’s so much more rewarding, and these vegan strawberry pop tarts are genuinely spectacular. Here’s why you’ll be obsessed:

Super easy to whip up, even if you’re new to vegan baking!
Bursting with that fresh, sweet-tart strawberry flavor we all adore.
Completely vegan, so everyone can enjoy a piece of nostalgic bliss.
They’re perfect for a quick breakfast, a delightful afternoon snack, or even dessert.
You get that satisfyingly flaky crust and gooey center, just like the real deal.
Customizable with your favorite vegan frosting and sprinkles – get creative!

Gather Your Ingredients for Homemade Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts

Alright, let’s get everything ready to make these amazing little treats! You’ll want to have your vegan pie crust dough ready to go – I usually make mine from scratch, but hey, if you’ve got a trusty store-bought vegan puff pastry that works wonders too! You can even make your own pie crust if you’re feeling ambitious, maybe check out this great ketchup recipe for some inspiration on homemade basics though it’s not for pie crust.

For that vibrant strawberry filling, you’ll need about 1 cup of fresh strawberries, or if you’re using frozen ones, just make sure they’re thawed out and mashed up good. We’ll toss those with some granulated sugar (about 2 tablespoons), a little cornstarch to thicken things up, a tiny splash of lemon juice for brightness, and a whisper of vanilla extract. Oh, and don’t forget about your vegan frosting and sprinkles to make them extra pretty!

Here’s the full rundown so you don’t forget a thing:

Vegan Pie Crust Dough: Enough for one batch (about 2 crusts).
Strawberries: 1 cup, fresh or frozen (thawed and mashed).
Granulated Sugar: 2 tablespoons, or a bit more if you like things sweeter.
Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon, for that perfect jammy consistency.
Lemon Juice: 1 teaspoon, just to make the strawberry flavor pop!
Vanilla Extract: 1/4 teaspoon, a little goes a long way.
Vegan Frosting: Your favorite kind, for drizzling on top.
Vegan Sprinkles: For that fun, festive touch!

Essential Equipment for Making Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts

You really don’t need a ton of fancy gadgets for this. Just a few kitchen staples will do the trick:

Rolling Pin: To get that pastry dough perfectly thin.
Baking Sheet: Your go-to for baking these beauties.
Parchment Paper: A must for easy cleanup and preventing sticking!
Knife or Pizza Cutter: Handy for slicing out those uniform rectangles.
Small Bowl: For mixing up that delicious strawberry filling.
Fork: Perfect for sealing the edges and making little steam vents.
Wire Rack: So your pop tarts can cool down completely before frosting.

Step-by-Step Guide to Delicious Homemade Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts

Alright, let’s get down to business and make these amazing little pockets of joy! It’s not as tricky as you might think, and the results are SO worth it. Think of it like building little edible presents for yourself! If you’re looking for a shortcut and want to try some really amazing pastry, you might want to check out this homemade puff pastry recipe, though my classic pie crust works wonderfully too!

Preparing the Pastry and Filling

First things first, get that oven preheating to 375°F (190°C – that’s a medium-hot oven, perfect for getting that crust nice and golden!). While it’s warming up, grab your rolled-out vegan pie crust dough. You want it about 1/8 inch thick – not too thick, not too paper-thin. Now, use a knife or a pizza cutter and slice it into about 12 rectangles, aiming for around 3×4 inches. Try to make them as even as you can! In a separate little bowl, mix up your strawberry filling. Just gently mash those strawberries (or dump in your thawed frozen ones), then stir in the sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla. Give it a good stir till it all comes together. Easy peasy!

Assembling Your Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts

Now for the fun part – putting them together! Grab six of those pastry rectangles. Spoon about a tablespoon of your strawberry filling onto the center of each one, leaving a good half-inch border all around. You don’t want filling oozing out *during* baking if you can help it! Then, carefully place another pastry rectangle on top, like you’re giving the filling a little blanket. Now, press those edges down really well. I like to use a fork to crimp them shut – it makes them look pretty and makes sure they stay sealed. Super important: poke a few little slits on the top of each pop tart. This lets the steam escape while they bake, so they don’t puff up weirdly. Like little happy sighs for your tarts!

Baking and Cooling for Perfect Pop Tarts

Once they’re all sealed and vented, carefully place them onto your parchment-lined baking sheet. Make sure they have a little space between them. Pop them into that preheated oven and let them bake for about 18 to 22 minutes. Keep an eye on them – you’re looking for a beautiful golden-brown color on the crust. When they’re done, carefully take them out and transfer them to a wire rack. And here’s a crucial step: let them cool COMPLETELY. I mean it! If you try to frost them while they’re still warm, that yummy frosting is just going to melt into a sad, gooey puddle. Patience, my friend, patience!

Decorating Your Homemade Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts

Okay, the moment you’ve been waiting for! Once those beauties are totally cool, it’s time to make them look as good as they taste. Grab your favorite vegan frosting – maybe something simple like this easy royal icing recipe, or just your favorite store-bought vegan vanilla frosting. Spread or drizzle it all over the top of each pop tart. And for the finishing touch? Shower them with vegan sprinkles! Get wild with it – use a mix of colors, shapes, whatever makes you happy. This is where you can really let your personality shine!

Tips for Perfect Homemade Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts

Okay, let’s talk about making these pop tarts absolutely perfect. Even the best recipes can have little hiccups, but don’t you worry! I’ve learned a thing or two from making these, and I want to share so yours turn out beautifully.

First off, the dough! If your vegan pie crust dough feels a bit sticky while you’re rolling it out, just dust your surface and the rolling pin with a little extra flour. It makes a world of difference! If it starts to feel too warm and soft, pop it back in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. Cold dough is your best friend for flaky pastries. You know, it’s kind of like how you want your wonton wrappers to be pliable but not sticky for wonton soup – same idea!

For the filling leakage, make sure you’re really pressing those edges together firmly and using that fork to crimp them good. Also, don’t overfill them! A tablespoon is usually just right. If you’re worried, you can always bake the bottom crusts for a few minutes *before* adding the filling, kinda like pre-baking a pie shell.

And that frosting melting issue? Seriously, wait until they are *completely* cool. It feels like forever when you’re excited, but it’s so worth it for a clean, pretty finish. If it’s a super warm day, you can even pop the frosted pop tarts in the fridge for a few minutes to set the frosting. Happy baking!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Vegan Pop Tarts

Let’s chat a little more about these ingredients because, honestly, using the right stuff makes all the difference! For the pie crust, if you can’t find a good vegan one, you can totally make your own. It’s not as hard as it sounds! Or, if you’re in a real pinch for time, a vegan puff pastry sheet works too, though it’ll give you a different, lighter texture.

As for the strawberries, fresh is always amazing, but frozen work just fine! Just make sure they’re thawed and mashed well. If you’re looking to cut back on sugar, you could experiment with a sugar substitute, but start with a little less and taste as you go. Or, if you’re curious about healthier baking options, check out these bread recipes for some ideas on natural sweeteners. The lemon juice is just a touch to brighten things up, you could skip it but I wouldn’t!

Frequently Asked Questions about Homemade Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts

Got questions? I’ve got answers! Making these Homemade Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts is pretty straightforward, but here are a few things people often wonder about.

Can I use frozen strawberries?

Absolutely! Frozen strawberries are totally fine for these pop tarts. Just make sure you thaw them completely and drain off any extra watery liquid before you mash them up for the filling. They work just as well as fresh ones, and sometimes they’re even more affordable!

How long do these vegan pop tarts last?

Well, if you can resist eating them all in one sitting, they’ll last about 2-3 days at room temperature in an airtight container. If your kitchen is super warm, or you want them to last a bit longer, popping them in the fridge is a good idea. They taste great slightly warmed up too!

Can I make the pie crust dough from scratch?

Oh, definitely! I actually prefer making my own vegan pie crust dough because you know exactly what’s in it. Plenty of recipes out there use simple ingredients like flour, vegan butter or shortening, and ice water. It’s a little extra effort, but it makes these pop tarts even more special. If you’re looking for a great pie crust recipe, you might want to check out some online resources focusing on vegan baking – there are tons of fantastic options!

What if my filling leaks out?

Don’t you worry if a little bit seeps out – it happens! The most important thing is to make sure you seal the edges really well. Pressing them down with a fork is key. And try not to overfill them; a tablespoon of filling per pop tart is usually just right. If you want to be extra careful, you can even bake the bottom pastry layer for about 5 minutes before adding the filling and the top layer.

Nutritional Information (Estimate)

Now, I have to say, this is just a rough ballpark figure because, you know, homemade baking can vary a bit depending on exactly what you use! But, on average, you’re looking at around 350 calories per Homemade Vegan Strawberry Pop Tart. That’s pretty reasonable for such a delicious treat, right?

Think of it this way: each pop tart packs about 18g of fat (mostly good stuff!), 45g of carbs, and 4g of protein. And yes, there’s some sugar in there, around 25g, but that’s mostly from the yummy strawberries and a little from the crust and frosting. For more on sugar, you might find this guide to fruit sugars interesting!

Homemade Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts

Author: ferecipe.com
Total Time: 50 min
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Diet: Vegan

Print Recipe

Description

Enjoy these delicious homemade vegan strawberry pop tarts, perfect for breakfast or a snack.

Ingredients

Scale

1 batch vegan pie crust dough
1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed and mashed
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vegan frosting, for topping
Vegan sprinkles, for topping

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out your vegan pie crust dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. Cut out 12 rectangles, approximately 3×4 inches.
In a small bowl, combine the mashed strawberries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Stir until well combined.
Place about 1 tablespoon of the strawberry filling onto 6 of the pastry rectangles, leaving a 1/2 inch border.
Top each filled rectangle with another pastry rectangle. Press the edges firmly to seal, using a fork to crimp the edges.
Cut a few small slits in the top of each pop tart to allow steam to escape.
Place the pop tarts on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
Let the pop tarts cool completely on a wire rack.
Once cooled, frost with vegan frosting and decorate with vegan sprinkles.

Notes

You can make your own vegan pie crust or use store-bought vegan puff pastry for a quicker option.
Adjust the sugar in the filling to your preference.
Ensure the pop tarts are completely cool before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.

Prep Time: 30 min
Cook Time: 20 min
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 pop tart
Calories: 350
Sugar: 25g
Sodium: 200mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 13g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: vegan pop tarts, homemade pop tarts, strawberry pop tarts, vegan dessert, breakfast pastry