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Why This Recipe Stands Out
These Homemade Pop Tarts are infinitely better than the store bought version we grew up with. This is one of our go-to cheesecake recipes when we’re looking for something portable, and delicious. Here’s why:- Valentine’s Day: Although these are amazing all year round, they make the perfect Valentine’s Day treat.
- Super Easy: With just a small list of simple ingredients, these pop tarts are super easy to make and come together in just about 30 minutes!
- Versatile: Homemade Pop Tarts are super versatile. You can easily tweak the recipe every time for new varieties.
- Great for Gatherings: This portable, easy-to-eat treat is one of our favorite easy desserts to pass around at family gatherings or to gift to friends and neighbors.
- The Crust: The crust in this recipe is the best melt-in-your-mouth, buttery, flaky crust you’ll ever taste!
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Pie Crust—We use the flaky, butter crust from our recipe for The Best Apple Pie for these pop tarts.
- Strawberry Cream Cheese—Strawberry cream cheese not only offers that creamy, cheesecake texture, but also adds extra strawberry flavor.
- Strawberry Preserves—Pure strawberry preserves add a sweet, juicy burst of strawberry goodness.
- Egg Wash—An egg wash makes these pop tarts turn a gorgeous, golden color.
Substitutions and Variations
Not only can you change the shapes of Homemade Pop Tarts, you can also play around with endless fillings. Check out some of our favorite variations for this recipe:- Crust: If you’re running short on time, feel free to opt for a shapeable store bought crust. Here’s some of the best store-bought crust options for pies.
- Jam Filling: We use pure strawberry preserves for this recipe, but feel free to swap this with homemade strawberry jam or any other kind of preserves like blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, or peach.
- Cheesecake Filling: This recipe uses Philadelphia strawberry cream cheese. But this brand has tons of fun, sweet flavors like brown sugar/cinnamon, blueberry, and honey pecan. You could also substitute mascarpone for the cream cheese.
- Other Varieties: Looking for a good autumn spin on this recipe? Check out our Pumpkin Hand Pies recipe. For a chocolatey spin, take a look at these Strawberry Nutella Hand Pies.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
Courtesy of Amy Dong
