These easy-to-make vegan pop tarts have a flaky and crispy crust that encases sweet fillings for a vegan twist to your favorite childhood breakfast.
This recipe includes three delicious flavors: 1) frosted strawberry, 2) brown sugar cinnamon, and 3) cinnamon apple pie.
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Growing up, I loved having pop tarts for breakfast. Now that I am vegan, I enjoy this plant-based version, which is as delicious as the original but without any animal products.
For more vegan breakfast pastry options, you should try my apple pie spring rolls, caramel apple crisp, and vegan lemon poppy seed muffins.
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❤️ Why you’ll love it
I absolutely love how simple and straightforward this vegan pop tart recipe is. The 5-ingredient pastry dough is made with pantry staples, and there is no need for any kneading. Best part? The dough comes together in just 5 minutes in the food processor!
The dough is not only easy to make but also easy to work with. It is pliable and easy to roll, cut, and shape, which is a huge plus, especially for beginners. You can even get the kids involved in the process, and they will have a blast cutting out the pop-tart shapes.
The end result is a crispy, crunchy, and flaky pop tart that is filled with your favorite jam or apple pie filling. It is a delicious, plant-based version of the classic pop tart that you can enjoy for breakfast, as a snack, or even as a dessert.
🧾 Key ingredients
These vegan pop tarts are not only delicious but also easy to make with simple, plant-based ingredients that are readily available at your local grocery store. You may even have many of these ingredients in your pantry!
Buckwheat flour, rice flour, and tapioca starch are the keys to achieving the perfect, flaky pop tart dough. It’s a gluten-free blend that results in a wonderfully crisp and delicious pastry.
Sugar helps to sweeten the dough. I use a small amount of cane sugar or coconut sugar. It’s just enough to give the pastry a subtle sweetness without being overwhelming.
Dairy-free butter adds flavor. I recommend using dairy-free butter for a rich, buttery flavor without any dairy. It should be cold and cut into small pieces before being mixed into the dough.
Jam filling is the heart of these pop tarts, and you can use any flavor you like. Whether it’s classic strawberry, blueberry, or something more exotic, the key is to use a high-quality, fruit-filled jam.
Apple pie filling is simple to make using grated apple, cane sugar or coconut sugar, and cinnamon. It’s a delicious, homemade filling that adds a wonderful touch of sweetness and warmth to the pop tarts.
Glaze is a simple mixture of powdered sugar and water or dairy-free milk. It adds a sweet finishing touch to the pop tarts, making them look as good as they taste.
🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
🥘 Equipment
For this vegan pop tarts recipe, the most important piece of equipment you will need is a good quality food processor. This will help you achieve the perfect dough consistency, which is the foundation of your pop tarts.
👩🍳 Instructions
Preparing the ingredients
STEP 1
Gather all the dry ingredients for the dough, including buckwheat flour, rice flour, cane sugar, and tapioca starch.
STEP 2
Put these dry ingredients into the food processor and pulse once to combine them.
STEP 3
Add cold dairy-free butter, which should be in cubes, to the food processor. Continue to pulse until the mixture has a crumble-like texture.
STEP 4
Next, add cold water to the mixture. Do this one tablespoon at a time, pulsating the food processor between each addition.
STEP 5
The dough is ready when you can easily form a ball without any crumbles, it is soft to the touch but does not stick to your fingers, and you can easily scrape the dough out of the container without any trace.
Making vegan pop tarts
STEP 1
Take a non-stick parchment paper or a rolling mat. Place the dough in the middle and cover it with plastic wrap.
STEP 2
Roll the dough out, making sure it is not thinner than 0.5 inches. Aim for a rectangle or square shape, but do not worry if it is not perfect.
STEP 3
Use a sharp knife to cut out 2.5 x 4 inch (6 x 9 cm) rectangles. If you prefer, you can use a large cookie cutter to make different shapes.
STEP 4
Use a slotted turner to transfer the cut-outs to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
STEP 5
Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
STEP 6
Prepare the filling by mixing the ingredients in a separate bowl.
STEP 7
Place a spoon of the filling in the middle of half of the cut-outs on the baking sheet.
STEP 8
Cover the filling with another cut-out. Use your hands to gently push the edges together.
STEP 9
Use a fork to seal them. Make a few small holes in the top of each pop tart to allow steam to escape while baking.
STEP 10
Place the pop tarts in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until they become crispy and have light golden brown edges.
STEP 11
While the pop tarts are baking, make the glaze by mixing the ingredients until smooth.
STEP 12
After removing the pop tarts from the oven, let them cool for a few minutes. Then, drizzle the glaze over the pop tarts and decorate them with sprinklers.
💡 Expert tip
The key to this vegan pop tarts recipe is to ensure that your dairy-free butter is cold, not at room temperature. Adding the butter in 1×1 inch cubes to the food processor last, and then pulsating it until you have a crumbly texture, will make your dough light, crispy, and delicious.
🔄 Variations
I tried and tested this recipe with 3 different vegan fillings. All of them were absolutely delicious!
How to make strawberry pop tarts
Add two teaspoons of any fruit jam or preserve to each pop tart (I recommend a 2.5 x 4-inch size. Please see the recipe card for further details).
Any flavor works like strawberry, blueberry, sour cherry, apricot, or whatever you have on hand. When making the vegan pop tarts with jam filling, do not over-fill them.
Due to their high sugar content, any type of jam will likely be boiling inside the pop tart during baking. They will pop the tarts open if you add too much. Poking holes on the top helps, but not necessarily. They will still be delicious though.
How to make cinnamon pop tarts
Follow my recipe and you will end up with 8 pop tarts that are 2.5 x 4 inches. Take a small bowl and mix together 8 teaspoons of cane sugar with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
This is the easiest filling to make for sure since there is no risk of over-boiling or popping like with jams and preserves.
How to make apple pie pop tarts
Make the apple pilling by washing and peeling and apple then coring and grating the pieces. Mix this grated apple with ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of cane sugar.
You will need approximately 1 tablespoon of this cinnamon apple mix for each of the 2.5 x 4-inch pop tarts you will make in this recipe.
How to make frosting (glaze)
Some people like them frosted, some like them unfrosted. The easiest glaze you can make is a mix of powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar) and water.
Whisk sifted powdered sugar with water until you get a lump-free mixture. Drizzle it on top of your pop tarts and then decorate with sprinkles or whatever you prefer.
Just make sure to place them in one layer until the glaze hardens. Otherwise, your pop-tarts will stick together. It will not look nice.
🥣 Serving ideas
Vegan pop tarts are a versatile treat that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. They make for a delicious and satisfying sweet breakfast option.
Start your day with a plate of these pop tarts alongside a cup of homemade cashew milk or a refreshing smoothie.
They also make a great addition to any brunch spread. Serve them alongside other vegan breakfast favorites, such as tofu scramble, banana pancakes, or apple cinnamon oatmeal, for a delicious and wholesome meal.
For a fun and interactive dessert option, consider setting up a DIY pop tart bar. Prepare a variety of fillings, glazes, and sprinkling options, and let your family and friends assemble their own custom pop tarts. It’s a great way to get everyone involved in the kitchen and enjoy a delicious treat together.
❄️ Storing tips
Storing and reheating vegan pop tarts is a simple process that can help maintain their flavor and texture.
To store, allow them to cool completely after baking. Once cooled, place them in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh and crispy for up to 3-4 days.
If you want to freeze them, I recommend doing it before adding the frosting or topping. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and put them in the freezer. Once frozen solid, you can transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. They will stay fresh in the freezer for up to a month.
To reheat, the best option is to use a toaster oven. Simply pop them back in the toaster oven and heat them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5-10 minutes, or until they are heated through and the crust is crispy again. If you do not have a toaster oven, you can use a regular oven, heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
🤔 FAQs
Can I use a different type of flour for the dough?
I do not recommend it. The ratio of the ingredients is carefully calculated to achieve the perfect texture. If you use a different type of flour, you may end up with a crumbly or tough dough.
What can I use to make the glaze if I do not have powdered sugar?
You can make a simple glaze by mixing a small amount of dairy-free milk with some cane sugar or coconut sugar. However, keep in mind that this glaze will not be as smooth and white as the one made with powdered sugar.
Do I have to use a food processor to make the dough?
While a food processor makes the process much quicker and easier, you can also make the dough by hand. Simply use a pastry cutter or two knives to cut the dairy-free butter into the flour mixture.
Can I use fresh fruit for the filling?
Yes, you can use fresh fruit for the filling. However, you may need to adjust the amount of sugar and the cooking time. Fresh fruit contains more water than jam or canned pie filling, so the cooking time may be longer.
What can I use to decorate the poptarts if I do not have sprinklers?
You can use a simple glaze or melted dairy-free chocolate to decorate the pop tarts. Alternatively, you can sprinkle some cane sugar or coconut sugar on top before baking.
More vegan dessert recipes
You can browse through our vegan dessert recipes or check out
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Vegan Pop Tarts (3 Flavors!)
Equipment
Ingredients
Dough
- ¾ cup Buckwheat flour
- ½ cup Rice flour
- ½ cup Tapioca starch
- 3 Tbsp Cane sugar or coconut sugar
- ½ tsp Salt
- 4 oz Dairy-free butter
- 1-3 Tbsp Cold water depending on texture
Jam filling (2 teaspoons per pop tart)
- 16 tsp Jam
Apple pie filling (1 Tablespoon per pop tart)
- 1 Apple (grated)
- 1 Tbsp Cane sugar or coconut sugar
- ½ tsp Cinnamon
Cinnamon sugar (1 teaspoon per pop tart)
- 8 tsp Cane sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
Glaze
- ½ cup Powdered sugar (confectionary sugar)
- ½ Tbsp Water or dairy-free milk
Instructions
Mixing the dough
- Add all dry ingredients to the food processor (buckwheat flour, rice flour, cane sugar, and tapioca starch). Pulse once to combine.
- Add cold dairy-free butter in cubes and pulse until you have a crumble-like texture.
- Add cold water 1 Tablespoon at a time. The dough is perfect if 1) you can easily form a ball without any crumbles; 2) it is soft to the touch but does not stick to your fingers and 3) you can easily scrape the dough out of the container without any trace.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
Rolling the dough
- Take a non-stick parchment paper or a rolling mat. Place the dough in the middle and cover it with plastic wrap.
- Roll the dough out, but not thinner than 0.5 inches. Aim for a rectangle or square shape but don’t worry if it is not perfect. If you tear it somewhere or you get a hole, just patch it with a little bit of dough. Smooth it with your fingers, roll over it, and it will still be perfect in the end.
- If you are ready with the rolling, peel off the plastic wrap. Use a sharp knife and cut out 2.5 x 4 inch (6 x 9 cm) rectangles. Or, if you want to be creative, take any large cookie cutter, and make as many pairs as you like.
- Use a slotted turner to gently transfer the cut-outs to a sheet pan with parchment paper or to a non-stick baking sheet.
Cutting, filling, and baking
- Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
- Place your filling in the middle of the cut-out. Mix the filling ingredients in a separate bowl and add the amount written in the Ingredients section to every pop tart.
- Cover it with another cut-out and use your hands to gently push the edges together. Then use a fork to really seal it. Poke a couple of holes to let the filling breathe a bit.
- Bake them for 20-25 minutes until they become crispy and have light golden brown edges.
- Drizzle the glaze over the pop tarts and decorate them with sprinkles.
- Even more tips in the post above the recipe card!
Notes
Top tips
- Make sure you use cold butter and not room temperature.
- Add the butter to the food processor at last in 1×1 inch cubes so that it doesn’t stick to the sides.
- Use silicone / non-stick parchment paper. If you don’t have one, sprinkle it with a little rice flour before rolling.
- Use plastic wrap on top if the dough sticks to your rolling pin.
- You can leave the dough in the fridge overnight and roll it out the next day. No problem.
- Cane sugar can be substituted for any dry sugar, like coconut sugar. Liquid sugar like maple syrup will make the dough too wet to roll out, so might need to add more flour to get to the same consistency.
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