Name: Conversation Heart Pop Tarts
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 9
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour; 2 tbsp granulated sugar; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 cup salted butter, cold and cut into cubes; 3-4 tbsp ice water; 1/4 cup of filling; 1 lb vanilla frosting; Food gel coloring

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·★★★★★5 from 11 reviews

Who needs store bought pop tarts when you can make your own right at home? These flaky pop tarts stuffed with your filling of choice are the perfect way to get your Valentine's Day off to a sweet start.

We're just 2 ½ weeks away from Valentine's Day, which means it's time to make sure your valentine dessert and breakfast game are strong.

And if you're like me and not much of a morning person, these make-ahead conversation pop tarts are the perfect treat to get your bae's day started on a sweet note! (adorable cat optional)

How to make conversation heart pop tarts

First, whip up your pop tart dough. This is really just a basic pie dough recipe, so feel free to substitute with store-bought dough if you’re short on time. If you're using store-bought you'll need two crusts.

Second, cut out your dough using a large, heart-shaped cookie cutter. Fill with about a teaspoon of your filling of choice. Jams work well as does nutella.

Third, seal your pop tarts by running a little water along the edge and pressing together with a fork. Use your fork to poke a couple of vents in the top so the pop tarts don't explode while they're baking.

Fourth, bake the pop tarts at 350F for about 30 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. If a little filling oozes out of the sides during baking, just wipe that away with a paper towel while it's still warm.

Finally, color all but 2 tablespoons of your frosting, warm each one until it has a thick, glaze consistency and then dip your pop tarts. Tint the remaining couple of tablespoons of frosting and use it to write a message on top of the pop tarts.

How to make perfect conversation heart pop tarts

Never made pop tarts before? No sweat! Here are some tips and tricks to help you make them perfectly from the very first batch.

If you’re making your pie dough from scratch, don’t skip the refrigeration step. Fun fact: refrigerating your dough for at least 30 minutes allows the gluten to relax and the fat to firm up resulting in an extra-flaky texture.
Want to make your pie dough ahead of time? You can make it and refrigerate it for up to 2 days.
Be sure not to overfill your pop tarts; Overfilling will lead to your filling oozing out the sides and potentially ruining your seal. A teaspoon or two is more than enough.
Consistency of the frosting is key to a smooth finish. The easiest way to reach the right consistency is to microwave the frosting for no more than 5 seconds at a time. Once it reaches a thick, glaze-like consistency, it's ready to go!
To get a smooth finish: The final trick to getting a smooth finish on the icing is to gently tap the pop tart until it settles into a smooth finish. The easiest way to do this is to hold the pop tart by the sides and gently tap the bottom against your counter.
Leftovers: Leftover pop tarts can be stored at room temperature in an air-tight container. To reheat, simply microwave them using 10 second increments until warm. DO NOT put these in a toaster.

Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear how it went in the comments below. Better still, snap a photo and tag it on Instagram with #thesimplesweetlife. I love seeing your creations!

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