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Homemade Apple Cinnamon Pop Tarts – Perfect Breakfast!

Kickstart your morning with these delightful homemade Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Pop Tarts. Enjoy a flaky pastry filled with warm, gooey apples and fragrant cinnamon for a comforting breakfast treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 packages store-bought pie crusts (usually 4 crusts total)
  • 34 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and finely diced
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk (or non-dairy alternative)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • a tiny pinch of ground cinnamon (for glaze)
  • 1 egg (for egg wash, optional)
  • 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Apple Filling: Peel, core, and finely dice your apples. In a medium bowl, combine the diced apples with granulated sugar, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Mix well. For a softer filling and to reduce moisture, you can gently cook this mixture in a saucepan over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until the apples just begin to soften and juices thicken. Let it cool completely before assembling.
  2. Roll and Cut the Dough: Unroll your pie crusts onto a lightly floured surface. Gently roll each crust slightly thinner, aiming for about 1/8-inch thick. Trim edges to form a rectangle, then cut each into smaller rectangles, approximately 3×5 inches. You'll need an even number for tops and bottoms.
  3. Assemble the Pop Tarts: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a tablespoon or two of the cooled apple filling onto one half of a pastry rectangle, leaving a generous border. Lightly moisten the edges of the pastry with water. Place another pastry rectangle on top, aligning the edges.
  4. Seal and Crimp: Gently press around the filling to remove air and seal the layers. Use a fork to firmly crimp all four edges, creating a tight seal and classic look. Prick the top of each pop tart 2-3 times with a fork to create steam vents.
  5. Bake 'em Up: Carefully transfer assembled pop tarts to the prepared baking sheet. For a golden finish, you can brush the tops with egg wash (one egg beaten with a tablespoon of water). Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
  6. Whip Up the Glaze: While pop tarts cool slightly, prepare your glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk (or non-dairy alternative), and vanilla extract until smooth. Add a tiny pinch of ground cinnamon if desired. Adjust consistency with more sugar for thicker glaze or more milk for thinner.
  7. Glaze and Serve: Once pop tarts have cooled for about 10-15 minutes (still warm but not piping hot), drizzle or spread the glaze generously over the tops. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy warm or at room temperature!

Nutrition

Keywords: For the best texture, use firm baking apples like Granny Smith for tartness and Honeycrisp or Fuji for structure. To prevent soggy bottoms, pre-cook the apple filling slightly and cool it completely before assembling. Customize your filling with a pinch of nutmeg or ground ginger for added flavor.