Pop Tart Recipe

**This post is old- sorry for the removed photos***

Cody LOVES pop tarts. However I hate all the nasty preservatives and artificial sugars and dyes in them. So i found a happy medium; Homemade Pop tarts! I used google to make sure i could use some of the same recipes for other things, and what i already knew to come up with my own recipe.



 Get out a large mixing bowl, a piece of parchment paper, (or a clean lightly floured counter top), a cookie sheet, your favorite preserves/chocolate/Cinnamon and sugar/ whatever you like!,raw sugar if you don't like icing, a spoon(regular), a fork, a metal spatula/butter knife/anything along those lines,beaters (or a wooden spoon if you would like to do it by hand), 1/2 cup measure, and 1 cup measure, flour, sugar, butter(softened), salt, and milk.


Now your ready to go!

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of flour (don't level them out, let them be a little over 2 cups), a pinch of salt, about 1/2 cup of butter, 1/2 cup of milk, and a handful (or for those who like to measure, about half of your 1/4 measure) of sugar. You don't have to add sugar and you can add as little or as much as you like. This makes the dough slightly sweet. not too much, not too little. This recipe is very forgiving, so that's why i haven't given exact measurements. This is my recipe for pie crust.

 After you mix it, you get something like this.

 Wash your hands (if you haven't already!) and scoop your dough up and form it into a ball. Work with it for a minute or to to make sure it is together well.

 Break off pieces and form little balls approx. 2 1/2 inches. This gives you a chance to work the dough a little more thorough. You should get six balls.

Wrap each ball individually in Saran wrap an put in the fridge for an hour. Personally I make the dough/crust the day before and leave them in the fridge over night, so i can make them in the morning. You can even leave them in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Once your dough has sat, warm it and work it with your hands. Form it into a rectangular shape like so. As you can see, it doesn't need to be perfect! Now would be a good time to pre-heat your oven. Pre-heat your oven too 400 F.

Roll out your dough and try to maintain your rectangular shape. I use my fingers and hands when I'm done rolling. Also i realised i don't have a rolling pin (what the heck?!) so i used a long container!

plop 2 table spoons approx. (again this is up to you) of your favorite jam/chocolate(chips work too)/ Cinnamon and sugar/ whatever you like on the middle, bottom half.

Fold top half over and match up sides. press them down around your pocket of jelly or whatever you used.

Use a fork to press along the edges to give it that 'pop tart' affect. Also poke holes in the top for vents.

Use a metal spatula, knife, or whatever else you have handy an cut off a *bit* of the edges to make them square.
Add raw sugar here, if you don't like icing.
Place on floured baking sheet and pop in the oven. (don't worry about the distance away from each other because they don't grow.)
set timer to about 17 Min's. my oven is hot so i go by 17. anywhere from 15-25 will be good. you want them to be golden around the edges and bottom. don't try to guess from the way the top looks or your bottom will burn!


 While those are baking, i make icing. you could also use raw sugar and put it on before you put the in the oven.

ICING:
 this is very rough as i don't measure this, but its pretty close!

melt 2 tbsp of butter. (stove or microwave) add about a tbsp of milk, and add icing sugar until thick (how thick is up to you i would say about 1/2 cup- 1 cup but just add slow) use food coloring to color your icing if you like.

Once done, add icing and sprinkles if you like (or if you used raw sugar then your done) its okay to add icing while still warm. i do! serve, and enjoy!

I store mine in an air tight container but not in the fridge. you can refrigerate if you want. i like them room temp. to snack on with milk.