Homemade Berry Pop-Tarts

Yields: 8 to 10 pop-tarts

Berry Filling:

• 2 1/2 Cups Blueberries or Raspberries
• 1/4 Cup + 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Corn Starch
• 2 Tablespoons Hot Water

Instructions for Berry Filling:

1. In a medium pot over medium heat, combine the berries and sugar. Cook until the sugar has dissolved.
2. In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of hot water with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch until smooth. Add this mixture to the berries.
3. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir constantly until the mixture thickens to a jam-like consistency. Remove from heat and set aside.

Pastry Dough:

• 2 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 Cup (2 sticks) Cold Butter, cubed
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 2 Egg Yolks
• 4 Tablespoons Milk (such as Almond Milk)
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 Egg (for egg wash)
• Optional: 1/4 Cup Sugar for topping

Instructions for Pastry Dough:

1. In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
2. In a food processor or blender, pulse cubed butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the flour mixture and blend until combined.
3. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix milk, egg yolks, and vanilla extract. Add this mixture to the butter-flour mixture and combine to form a dough ball.
4. Divide the dough into two disks, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
5. On a floured surface, roll out each disk into an 8×16 inch rectangle. Cut out 8 small rectangles from each dough portion.
6. Use a fork to poke holes in 8 of the rectangles to vent steam during baking. If there’s extra dough, you can make a couple more rectangles.
7. Spread berry filling onto the center of 8 rectangles, leaving space around the edges. Top with the remaining rectangles and press the edges with a fork to seal.
8. Refrigerate the assembled pop-tarts for 40-45 minutes to prevent leaking while baking.
9. Preheat oven to 350°F. Egg wash the top of each pop-tart and optionally sprinkle with sugar.
10. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Frosting:

• 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Berry Mixture
• 1 to 2 Tablespoons Milk (any type)

Instructions for Frosting:

1. In a bowl, combine powdered sugar, berry mixture, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Mix well, adding more milk if needed to reach desired consistency.
2. Once the pop-tarts have cooled, drizzle frosting over each one.

Enjoy these homemade berry pop-tarts with a delightful burst of fruity sweetness in every bite!