Homemade Healthy Poptarts
By
Yay…the promised poptart recipe!!
I truly don’t like boxed poptarts…blech. But these I DO like…which is why I hesitate to even call them poptarts. Can we call them Delightful Little Jelly Pastries? Maybe we could call them Flaky Fruity Melty Yumminess?
At our house, I suppose I’d have to call them “Gone“. Or “The Empty Plate“. They don’t last long. :)
For the crust, I found that using the same recipe I use for my Homemade Pizza Pockets and Mini Apple Pies works the best. Buttery and flaky…and oh so easy.
Homemade Healthy Poptarts
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup melted butter
1 cup plain yogurt
About 5 ounces of 100% fruit jelly or jam – any flavor you like!
Begin by mixing the flour, salt, butter and yogurt. If you want to soak this dough overnight to break down the phytic acid and make the grains more digestible, go for it. Just be sure to soak the dough on the counter overnight, not in the fridge, or the dough will be terrible to work with! (The recipe will work with or without this step.)
Knead the dough just a little bit to make it nice and workable. Roll out the dough on a large, well floured surface. Use a knife to cut the dough into the desired poptart size you would like. I tried to cut mine into “normal” poptart sizes. But nothing I ever do is very normal so I came out with a nice variety of sizes.
Place about a 1/2 teaspoon of jelly on 1/2 of the dough rectangles (squares?).
Spread the jelly around, leaving the edges free.
Find a second square or rectangle or thingamajigger that matches closely
with each jellied one. Place it on top and use a fork to seal the edges.
Lay each poptart in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Bake in a 350° oven for about 25 minutes or until the crust is lightly browned.
This recipe makes around 15-20 poptarts, depending on how big you make them.
I have found that making them ahead of time and then putting them in our toaster oven to re-heat makes for a very fast and popular breakfast! These CAN be frozen as well. Bake them first, let them cool and the freeze until you’re ready to re-heat and eat!
Is it just me, or is it more than a little bit tempting to reach through the screen to lick the jelly oozing out of that poptart?
Edited to add: Many of you who are new to this site are commenting that while this is a healthier poptart, this isn’t necessarily a healthy breakfast. Sure, good point. I totally hear what you’re saying. This was a reader requested recipe. Many are taking baby steps toward better nutrition and working their way “out of the box” when it comes to feeding their families. If you’re looking for a healthier variety of Poptart…this is your recipe. If you’re looking for a special treat for your family…here you go. If you’re looking for a well balanced diet…don’t eat these Poptarts for every meal. :) (Want to see my menu plans to know how I feed my family regularly? I’d love for you to click over and take a peek!! Maybe you’ll even find more recipes you’re interested in!!)
Could not pass this one up – made them today- super easy to make and yummy
I filled mine with a little dab of cream cheese and jelly – ham and cheese with a dab of cream cheese… and my fave, nutella – all of them are great ! thanks for the recipe :)
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I just made these with my homemade cherry freezer jam in them. They are so delicious. I did not have any yogurt, so I used milk in place of the yogurt and the dough turned out really nice. It was very easy to work with and rolled out beautifully. I mixed the flour, salt and butter together first and then I just kept pouring in small amounts of milk until I had a really nice dough.
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Hi Laura,
Just wanted to let you know that I posted a link to your Homemade Poptarts in a breakfast article I recently wrote (link is below if you’re interested). They were really good, as were the homemade chewy granola bars. Thanks for all your hard work! Your ideas make it easier for us as a family to transition to more whole foods and less processed “stuff”. :)
Jennifer
http://www.untrainedhousewife.com/healthy-breakfast-foods-for-a-healthier-family
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AMAZING. I was a little skeptical since the recipe had so few ingredients. DEFINITELY a keeper recipe for us. Thank you!!
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To cut out some fat how would things turn out if applesauce was used instead of butter? I have replaced it in some recipes with good results but didn’t know how this one would turn out.
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Crystal Reply:
January 20th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
You probably could replace the butter with applesauce, but butter is such a nourishing and healthy whole food, why would you want to replace it with anything?
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Laura, because of my fruit allergies I can only have certain types of jelly. For myself regular ole’ grape jelly and the boys like that and strawberry preserves. Can I use these jellies for the poptarts and and do you have a recipe I haven’t noticed for a frosting? A frosting that is even somewhat healthy and the boys will like. The oldest is beginning fractions and I thought baking would be something to make the dreaded fractions a little bit more fun. God’s Blessing’s to all, Yvonna
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Laura Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Sure, you can use whatever jelly or jam you want!! Look through this category of posts to find some frosting recipes: http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/category/healthy-celebrations :)
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How awesome! I cannot wait to make these, something I can make with my kiddos! :) Have you ever made a batch & stuck the extras in the freezer? If so how were they?
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Laura Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Yes, these freeze very well! They’re great to have on hand to just put in the toaster or toaster oven in the morning!
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Denise C. Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Thanks! :)
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Kim Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Do you freeze them before or after they are baked?
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Celena Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 11:46 am
I’m sure after. Putting them in the toaster would be sufficient to thaw and crisp them, but not to cook them thoroughly. :)
I made these and posted about them! I also made one with ham and cheese!! yum! http://housekeepinginprogress.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-three-words-homemade-breakfast-tarts.html
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WOW!!! Thanks alot! I can try and make some homemade hot pockets. My hubby loves ham and cheese.
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Love this! Just posted to my blog as a great snow day activity!
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These look yummy.I’m going to try to make these tomorrow.Do you think it would be ok to use while flour,and do you still use yogurt if your using white flours ? Thanks
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Yvonna Reply:
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:23 am
Oh dear, I forgot to ask if I could use something other than yogurt :(
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Laura Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Yvonna – try using milk instead of yogurt…just in a lesser amount I think.
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Laura Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Nannette – yes, using white flour should work okay, although I’ve not tried it to be sure. You can use yogurt, or just milk…but if you use milk, I don’t think you’ll need the same amount as if you were using yogurt.
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Samantha Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
White flour worked great! I made them the other day and they were
devoured in a few minutes!
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Nannette Reply:
January 25th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Thank you for the reply.I’m going to make them right now…I cant wait
We made the poptarts and the pizza pockets today. The dough will definitely be a favorite! Thanks!
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These are sooo yummy! Funny thing is, my kids don’t like pop-tarts all that much, but they LOVE these! The first batch I tried I used all wheat flour, the second was about half and half, and I personally preferred the all wheat, it gives it a nutty, yummy taste. I have tried freezing these and then reheating them in the toaster oven, and they work out pretty well, mine just were a little soggier than normal. I would not even bother freezing them, honestly, because we ate them so fast it was not even an issue, lol! Thanks so much for sharing this great recipe!
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Thanks for the recipe; I am eager to try it! It is fun to mix up breakfast. I think it makes for a healthy breakfast. It is actually important for young kids to have fat in their diet; important building block in brain development!
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These sounds yummy. Great for a healthier treat that the kids are sure to love. Plan on having DD make some soon. Thanks for sharing.
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Oh these are a big hit at my house! Thank you!
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These are amazing!! I used rice milk instead of milk and used a cup of ground flax seed in place of 1/2 cup of butter. They turned out amazing. I also used my homemade applesauce (which has no added sugar) for my 2yr old daughter’s pop tarts. She loves them! I also made Chicken salad hot pockets using the same idea. I added a bunch of seasonings to the dough and used shredded canned chicken, mozz. cheese a little mayo and more spices. They are baking now and smell great! Thanks so much for the recipe and ideas!
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I just made these today with my 2 1/2 yr old daughter and they came out amazing! Thank you so much for the recipe. I already put it in my recipe box and will be making these all the time.
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What if I don’t have enough butter in the house?! I have 1/2 cup! What could I sub for the rest?!
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Laura Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Hmmm…maybe some milk?? I think that would work, the dough just won’t be as flaky. I’d say don’t add an entire 1/2 cup of milk though to make up for the butter…just add it in until the dough is the right consistency.
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My kids and I made these for home-ec today. We did use 1/2 unbleached white flour & half fresh ground hard white wheat flour. This is a fantastic dough! It was so easy to work with. The pastries turned out beautifully! We filled them with a variety of fillings: nutella, homemade grape jelly, homemade apple butter, natural peanut butter & homemade grape jelly & peach jam. Everyone loved these pastries!! Thanks so much for posting this recipe:)
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I forgot to add, we made mini apple pies with the left over dough. They turned out great as well! Made for a great home-ec class!
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This will be a great hit here as we try our best to mimic the “bad” stuff and make a healthier homemade version. My girls were quite excited to see this post. Another idea is a fruit cobbler that is so easy to whip up and can use almost any fruit. I usually make it the night before and we enjoy it on our Sabbath mornings. You could probably google “Essie’s Cobbler” as it has been around since my childhood and maybe before! I’ve tweeked the recipe to fit my nutrition requirements and anyone else could do the same.
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Okay I might be a little special…first attempt I used Bestlife baking sticks…the dough was like rubber so I thought must just need to use good ol butter…and this batch is the same!! Help! My only guess is I used plain greek yogurt instead of regular??? Im bummed Im thinking I just wasted 7 cups 0f flour, a carton of greek yogurt and a pound of butter :(
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Laura Reply:
February 9th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
I’ve never used greek yogurt in the recipe, just plain regular yogurt. So, I suppose that could have been the trouble. Also, I’d suggest trying to make this dough without the soaking process if you haven’t already. The dough should be much easier to work with that way.
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ok…well I made these today and I think I might not have rolled them thin enough. How thick does everyone else roll them? They were thick and not enough filling,barely noticed the filling after cooked. They have a great taste, so I will try again!!
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Laura Reply:
February 9th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
I roll mine quite thin, maybe a little thicker than cardstock??
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Alex Hall Reply:
February 10th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
How?!?! You have skills, Laura! :)
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Laura Reply:
February 10th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Hmm…I have no idea how. I just do it. Maybe I should film it sometime. And actually…after reading what I wrote I’m thinking to myself…really Laura? A little thicker than cardstock? It’s probably not really that thin. Maybe a little thicker than HIGH QUALITY cardstock! :)
Lana Reply:
March 9th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Rolling between two pieces of parchment paper really helps to get the dough thin. Just like I do when I make Laura’s yummy cheese crackers.
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Trudi Reply:
July 19th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Rolling between plastic wrap works well, too. I do that for all my pie crusts. And for thicker doughs (like bread dough or cinnamon roll dough), I just use a CLEAN, oiled countertop. No stickies, and easy to clean up! Thanks for the great recipes, Laura!
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We made these this morning and they are a hit! I halved the recipe and cut them in heart shapes for Valentines day. Next time, I will do the full recipe and use half for pizza pockets! Thanks for the great recipe.
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I love it!!!
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Do you freeze these?
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Laura Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 11:05 am
Yes, they freeze great!
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I wanted to make these this morning so I modified the recipe. I used half sprouted whole wheat flour and half sprouted spelt flour, organic butter, and raw milk kefir. Then I filled them with homemade soft raw cheese (like cream cheese) and organic strawberry jam. Then I put a egg white wash over them and sprinkled with a tad of organic sugar.
Delicious!!!! I’ll be making these again!
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Laura,
I am going to try this, this weekend. I will be making them very small, maybe bite size. What I wanted to know is: I do not like yogurt, any suggestions on replacing the yogurt with something like applesauce, or anything else?
Thanks,
Barbara
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Alex Hall Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 10:50 am
If you don’t like yogurt because of the taste, you don’t taste it at all! I just made some yesterday for the first time and the kids loved them!
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Laura Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 11:06 am
Agreed, you don’t taste the yogurt. BUT, if you prefer, you can use milk instead…just not quite as much since it’s runnier than yogurt!
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Okay, so I commented a while back asking if anyone had made these gluten free. I got brave and tried it today and I’m back to report!
I used a GF flour blend (which can be subbed cup for cup for “regular” flour). I think they turned out pretty good. :) Of course, I made them and expected it to fail totally…but really, I liked them! They had a slightly “crackery” taste to them, maybe from the different flours.
Now I want to use the recipe to make homemade pizza pockets!
I don’t have a Kitchen Aid mixer or anything, so I just did it by hand and it worked fine. Yay for more gluten free options!!
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I made these this morning and they were great along with the pizza rolls since it was the same dough recipe. I would like to make these next time using less butter. Besides maybe subbing some flax/water for the it, is there anything else you might recommend using to sub half the butter in this delicious recipe?
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Laura Reply:
February 20th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
I’ve never tried anything but butter, so I don’t really know. I would imagine coconut oil would work okay.
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I had trouble with all my jelly running out while cooking
but other than that they are yummy
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Lana Reply:
March 9th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Me too, the first time I made them. I think I overstuffed them. Make sure you pinch all the dough all the way around with a fork to seal.
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do you know how many calories are in these?
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Laura Reply:
April 11th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
No, I’m sorry, I don’t. I would imagine there are a lot, but because they are made with “whole food” ingredients, I feel good about feeding them to my family every once in a while.
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Danielle Reply:
May 26th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
I made them following all the listed ingredients for the dough. It made 16 poptarts and without filling they were right about 200 calories each–the perfect amount for a snack in my opinion. I put nutella in 1/3, brown sugar and cinnamon in 1/3, and all-fruit spread in the rest. Your fillings will have to be taken into account.
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I was thinking about making some but freezing half the dough (after the cutting step but before the filling step) for another day…any suggestions or thoughts? Would this do freeze well? Does dough in general freeze well? Lol, sorry, new to the homemade breakfasts….well, actually homemade anything ;)
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Shannon Reply:
March 21st, 2011 at 12:50 pm
I think your best bet is to make them all and freeze them. She says the finnished ones can be frozen, not sure aboout freezing the dough.
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Laura Reply:
April 11th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
I have frozen this dough unbaked in my Mini Apple Pie recipe and it works well. http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/mini-apple-pies-a-part-of-this-complete-breakfast I don’t think I’d freeze it without already rolling it out and creating it into something first though.
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mfmcw Reply:
July 24th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Regular pie dough can be frozen for up to 6 months, so I assume that this dough can also be frozen for a while.
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I can’t wait to try these! I am going to use my Pampered Chef Cut-N-Seal to cut them. They will be round but oh well.. I hope my kids love them half as much as I expect they will. They love the real thing but I hate to buy them!! They are a VERY special treat.
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Melissa Reply:
August 10th, 2011 at 1:41 pm
Wow, what a great idea! I will def try that with mine as well!
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I am AMAIZED!! A friend gave me this recipie and I just got done making them and had to give them a taste. I can’t believe how close to the “real thing” these are!! I can’t wait for the kids to try them and see if they agree. I will definatly be passing this one on!!!!
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I used 3/4 cup whole milk and let them bake only 20 minutes. Very delicious! Thank you!
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Hello, Laura! I made these today and they turned out delicious! But still I thought it had way too much butter, because the dough came out looking very shiny, unlike the photos tu posted. So I had to add more flour, little by little. And another thing, I noticed that when I pulled them out of the oven the top and bottom parts of each poptart were separating. Next time I’ll try joining them with battered eggs, that way, the poptarts won’t come out lose when I try to eat them. Did this happen to you?
Still, bottom line, thank you very much for this delicious recipe. It turned out to be very very very good! :)
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Laura Reply:
April 11th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Weird about the shiny poptarts! I have had them separate a little bit from time to time. I like your egg sealing idea!
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Omg! This sounds delicious!!! My hubby will only eat the brown sugar cinnamon poptarts. Any idea how to make that kind of a filling for these?
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Laura Reply:
April 11th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
I’m thinking that if you spread butter on the inside, then sprinkle some brown sugar (or sucanat) and cinnamon in the middle, that should do the trick!
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Just made these yesterday-so good! For the filling, I used a mixture of half jelly & half unsweetened apple butter. They turned out nice, kind of pastey in the middle like the store-bought ones (or at least as I remember them from my childhood in the 80′s!)
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Made these yesterday and they are such a treat! My husband loves them! Did anyone have a problem with their dough being really greasy? I added the exact measurements. But I’m thinking maybe I need to add more flour next time and less butter. Any suggestions? :)
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Actually, these aren’t too unhealthy. Change the “jelly” for a fruit butter, or even puree your own fruit. The brain needs carbs so what’s the biggie?
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We just made these. My husband, daughter and I are doing weight watchers and we calculated (according to our poptarts) they were about 7 points each. Our batch made 14 and we had some leftover dough that we counted as 1 also. My husband mixed up the leftover dough with some jelly and added cream to make “dad’s oatmeal” it was tasty and really sweet. We used a little over 1/2 cup of milk instead of yogurt b/c we didn’t have any in the house. Thanks for all the great stuff. We’ve been doing lots of homeschooling with your site.
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I just made these for a fun treat. They are delicious! Thanks so much for sharing. I will definitely be making again.
I think I will try Amanda’s tip and use a little more flour and maybe a cinnamon version, mmm!
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I have made these a number of times and they are wonderful! I recently bought a Toaster Pastry Press at Williams-Sonoma and am anxious to try it… has anyone else used the press with this recipe?
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/toaster-pastry-press/
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sarah Reply:
August 5th, 2011 at 6:02 am
I just made them yesterday with the press thing. I only got 9 but probably could have gotten a 10th. Don’t know if my dough wasn’t thin enough or what. But they came out yummy. I made 4 with homemade blueberry jam and 5 with brown sugar and cinnamon. Put a bit of glaze and sprinkles on them.
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Someday, I’m going to make these!
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Made these with Dark Chocolate Almond Butter in them..fabulous. For those who like Nutella, the almond butter mentioned is better and doesn’t have all the sugar!
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Laura, you have SO many great recipes and ideas . . . I’m quickly filling up ANOTHER 3-ring binder! Thanks!
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laura,ur poptarts look delicious!cant wait to try but,could i substitute i cup butter with olive oil?n could i use home made curd in place of yogurt?lol,novice n all……….!
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Laura Reply:
July 25th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
I would imagine so. :)
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geet Reply:
July 29th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
thanks laura for your lovely recipes!whenever i start the comp to search for a particular recipe, i end up seeing several unrelated to my search first!u make straying easy!!!!!!!!!!!
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These are just like my mom’s turnovers she used to make, except that they are rectangular, rather than triangular. But they are turnovers……..
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