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How to Make Vegan Pop-Tarts

Make vegan pop tarts at home following my detailed step-by-step instructions. The result is a rich flaky pastry and the filling of your choice topped all topped with a sugary glaze. How is that for a perfect unprocessed breakfast treat?

Stack of pop-tarts.

Crafting homemade pop tarts or breakfast pastries is easier than you might realize. It takes a little bit of pastry work, but the skill level needed is perfect for any level of baker.

Most importantly, don’t worry about making them perfect; their imperfect shapes add to their unique character! No matter how imperfect the shape might be, one bite and you will immediately notice the difference. Homemade pastry has a rich flavor and a flaky texture that cannot be sold in a box!

Did you Know Pop Tarts are Not Vegetarian?

I have this tradition on a snow day; I go to the grocery store the night before and buy pop tarts. I usually eat the entire box with the record — and embarrassing — speed.

However, I was crushed when I learned most pop-tarts include gelatin. All my years of eating vegetarian, I was unknowingly eating gelatin. As vegetarians and vegans can attest, this is a crushing realization.

Since then, I have begun making pop-tarts at home. The ingredients are all-natural, with no preservatives, and no high fructose corn syrup is used in this recipe!

Brown Sugar, Fruit, or Chocolate Filling?

Make your pop-tart with your favorite filling! I love brown sugar, so the recipe is written for a vegan brown sugar pop-tart. I have also created a table filled with additional fillings you can use in place of the brown sugar.

Another option is to use your favorite jam or compote. If using a store-bought jam, warm it up in the microwave so that it is easier to spread!

Dripping icing on to baked pastry.

What I Love About This Recipe

  • The recipe is easy to make!
  • Most ingredients are pantry staples.
  • I can eat cinnamon brown sugar pop tarts again!
  • Homemade pop-tarts freeze well, making them easy to stock.
  • This recipe does not contain high fructose corn syrup or preservatives!

Ingredients

Ingredients used in recipe.

Filling and Pastry Ingredients

Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is the star flavor of this recipe. It creates a rich, caramel-like sweetness and adds depth of flavor.

All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour serves as the foundation for the pastry dough. Its gluten content helps create the desired flaky texture while providing structure and stability to the pop-tart.

Ground Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon is a warm spice-enhancing brown sugar filling.

Maple Syrup: Maple syrup adds a natural sweetness and a hint of maple flavor to the filling, balancing the flavors and adding warmth.

Salt: Salt is a crucial ingredient in both the pastry dough and the filling. It enhances the overall flavor profile, intensifies the sweetness, and helps to balance the taste by offsetting excessive sweetness.

Vegan Butter: Vegan butter contributes the essential fat component to the pastry dough, ensuring its flakiness. It adds richness and moisture to the dough, creating a tender and indulgent texture.

Glaze Ingredients (optional)

Confectioners Sugar: Confectioners sugar, also known as powdered sugar, forms the base of the glaze. It provides the sweetness and smooth consistency that drapes over the pop-tarts, creating a hard topping.

Non-Dairy Milk: Non-dairy milk serves as the liquid component in the glaze, helping achieve the desired thickness and creaminess without dairy products.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon in the glaze echoes the warm flavor also in the filling. It infuses the glaze with a hint of spiciness that complements the pop-tart’s overall flavor.

Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract contributes to the glaze by enhancing its overall flavor.

A bite taken out of a tart.

Additional Pop Tart Flavors

Using pastry as your foundation, use your preferred filling to create a personalized Pop-Tart. Simply combine the ingredients to create your desired filling.

TypeIngredients and Measurements
Apple Cinnamon– Apples: 2 cups, peeled and diced
– Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
– Brown sugar: 1/4 cup
– Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon
– Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon
Blueberry– Blueberries: 2 cups, fresh or frozen
– Sugar: 1/4 cup
– Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon
Cherry– Cherries: 2 cups, pitted and chopped
– Sugar: 1/4 cup
– Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon
Chocolate– Vegan chocolate chips: 1 cup
– Vegan chocolate spread: 1/4 cup
– Almond butter: 2 tablespoons
– Vanilla extract: 1/2 teaspoon
Peanut Butter Banana– Ripe bananas: 2 (mashed)
– Peanut butter: 1/4 cup
– Brown sugar: 2 tablespoons
– Cinnamon: 1/2 teaspoon
Raspberry– Raspberries: 2 cups, fresh or frozen
– Sugar: 1/4 cup
– Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon
Strawberry– Strawberries: 2 cups, fresh or frozen
– Sugar: 1/4 cup
– Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon

Expert Tips

Work Swiftly – The key to achieving excellent pastry is maintaining vegan butter at the coldest possible temperature. This chilled fat is responsible for creating those delicate, flaky layers. Should the dough start to soften, immediately place it in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.

Precise Measurements – Bakers often prefer using metric measurements (weight) for utmost accuracy. If using volume measurements (cups), gently mound the ingredients within the cup, then use a knife to level off the excess. This method is especially recommended for flour, cinnamon, and confectioners’ sugar.

Use Flour Sparingly – Too much flour results in a tougher pastry. To avoid this, always use flour sparingly.

Make-Ahead and Storing

Make-Ahead and Refrigerate Instructions: Store in an airtight container for three days on the counter or in the refrigerator for six days. When you are ready, reheat in the oven for 5 minutes.

Freezing Instructions: Freeze baked pop-tarts without glaze (sorry, the glaze does not freeze well). Place in an airtight container and store for up to three months. To reheat, place them in the oven for 10 minutes. Please do not put them in a toaster.

Stack of pop-tarts.

Vegan Pop-Tarts

Make vegan pop tarts at home following my detailed step-by-step instructions. The result is a rich flaky pastry and the filling of your choice topped all topped with a sugary glaze. How is that for a perfect unprocessed breakfast treat?
5 from 13 votes
Print Rate
Course: Breakfast, Pastry
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Brown Sugar, Pop-Tart, Vegan
Servings: 8 Pop-Tarts
Prep Time: 3 hours
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Equipment

  • Rolling Pin
  • Knife or pastry cutter
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper or silicone mat
  • Mixing bowls

Ingredients

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Filling

  • ¾ cup brown sugar (165g)
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (8g)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (8g)
  • 2 tablespoon maple syrup (40g)

Pastry

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (250g)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (6g)
  • 10 tablespoons vegan butter, cold and cubed (151g)
  • 2 – 4 tablespoons ice-cold water (89ml)

Glaze (optional)

  • ¾ cup confectioners sugar (90g)
  • 1 tablespoon non-dairy milk (15g)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (1g)

Instructions

  • Prepare the Brown Sugar Filling
    Combine all the filling ingredients in a small bowl, then set the bowl aside.
    3/4 cup brown sugar (165g), 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (8g), 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (8g), 2 tablespoon maple syrup (40g)
  • Prepare the Pastry Dough
    1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
    2. Add cold unsalted vegan butter and shortening to the bowl.
    3. Use your fingertips to blend the ingredients until the dough resembles different-sized bread crumbs, with some pea-sized bits of butter remaining.
    4. Gradually drizzle ice-cold water over the mixture, one tablespoon at a time.
    5. Stir with a wooden spoon until the dough begins to come together. Continue adding ice water in tablespoon increments until the dough forms a ball without being sticky.
    5. If the dough becomes too wet, mix in 1 tablespoon of flour.
    2 cups all-purpose flour (250g), 1 teaspoon salt (6g), 10 tablespoons vegan butter, cold and cubed (151g), 2 – 4 tablespoons ice-cold water (89ml)
  • Shape the Dough
    1. Place the pastry dough on a lightly floured surface and shape it into a rectangular form.
    Alternatively, divide the dough into two or three sections to work with each section individually
    2. .Roll the dough to a thickness of about 1/8 inch.
    3. Cut the dough into an even number of 4 x 3-inch rectangles.
    4. Transfer half of the rectangles to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
  • Assemble
    1. Spoon one tablespoon of the brown sugar cinnamon filling into the center of each dough rectangle on the baking sheet.
    2. Dampen the edges of the dough rectangles with a little water.
    3. Place another dough rectangle on top and press down gently to seal.
    4. Use a fork to crimp and seal the rectangle's edges.
    5. Make a few small holes in the top of each pastry to allow steam to escape.
  • Chill and Bake
    1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
    2. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap.
    3. Chill the pastries in the refrigerator for one hour or in the freezer for 20 minutes.
    4. Brush the pastries with a plant-based milk.
    5. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until the pastry is slightly soft. Avoid overcooking, as it can cause the cinnamon filling to caramelize excessively.
  • Prepare the Glaze (Optional)
    1. In a medium bowl, whisk together all the glaze ingredients until you achieve a spreadable consistency. If it's too thick, add a teaspoon of non-dairy milk.
    2. Use a knife to spread the glaze over each pop-tart.
    3. The pop-tarts can be enjoyed immediately, or if you prefer a firmer glaze, let them sit uncovered on the counter for 1 to 2 hours.
    3/4 cup confectioners sugar (90g), 1 tablespoon non-dairy milk (15g), 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (1g)

Notes

If you want to use a different filling, jump to Additional Pop Tart Fillings in the blog post for the recipe.
Make-Ahead and Refrigerate Instructions: Store in an airtight container for three days on the counter or in the refrigerator for six days. When you are ready, reheat them in the oven for 5 minutes.
Freezing Instructions: Freeze without glaze (sorry, the glaze does not freeze well). Place in an airtight container and store for up to three months. To reheat, place them in the oven for 10 minutes. Do not put them in a toaster.
 
  • The equipment section may contain affiliate links to products used in this recipe.
 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Vegan Pop-Tarts
Amount Per Serving
Calories 461 Calories from Fat 216
% Daily Value*
Fat 24g37%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Trans Fat 2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 7g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Sodium 122mg5%
Potassium 86mg2%
Carbohydrates 60g20%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 30g33%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 369IU7%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 47mg5%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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8 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My boys love pop tarts and I am in love with this recipe. They work so well and it makes them very happy. I am going to try experimenting with different kind of fillings.

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