Healthy Vegan Pop Tarts with Strawberry Filling

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These sweet, flaky, healthy homemade vegan pop tarts are scrumptiously delicious and so easy to make! Dairy free and healthier than traditional pop tarts, these low sugar treats are a healthy alternative to those super sugary store bought pop tarts! The whole family will love these colorful treats with rainbow sprinkles!

You are going to LOVE these easy homemade vegan pop tarts. Made with a sweet strawberry jam and vanilla, these healthy pop tarts are even more delicious because they are drizzled with a sweetened coconut glaze. The flavors from these baked goods are joyful, fun, and yummy.

Your tastebuds will favor these vegan strawberry pop tarts for breakfast, brunch, or even dessert – these treats are perfectly soft, tender, and perfect anytime of the day!

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You can either use a sweet homemade strawberry jam or storebought, but for either option you choose, the results will be the same: delicious and mouthwatering.

If you’re in need of some party favors or sweets for a birthday party or other festive occasion, celebrate with this easy recipe.

We like to make these healthy strawberry pop tarts to keep around the house for easy breakfasts and snacks. With the kids being back in school, these treats make the perfect additions for lunchboxes! Have fun with the different colors of sprinkles there are as there are so many choices. Between you and me, the simple icing and sprinkles are the best parts!

Whether we’re baking healthy cinnamon rolls, these biscuits without baking powder, or pop tarts, we like to keep things fun and light around the house with easily accessible snacks and treats we can enjoy.

As most storebought pop tarts are made with questionable ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, and mysterious animal products, these homemade pop tarts are made with simple ingredients that are familiar and well-known. The entire household will love this amazing recipe for pop tarts because they taste just like original pop tarts!

🥗 Are Pop Tarts Vegan?

On first glance, the ingredients list for pop tarts looks vegan friendly. However, one thing to keep in mind with most processed foods, is that the sugar used in the foods is processed using bone char from animals. So technically, because of that, traditional pop tarts are likely not vegan!

🍓 Are Pop Tarts Healthy For You?

Unfortunately, no, pop tarts are not healthy at all! They contain up to 30 grams of sugar (that’s equal to FIVE oreo cookies!) and they are filled with processed, controversial ingredients like artificial colors that are banned in Europe. Store bought pop tarts are not a healthy breakfast. Even though they are marketed as an easy breakfast, they are actually worse for you than many desserts!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

• Kid-Friendly: These healthy homemade pop tarts are perfectly kid-friendly and suitable for even toddlers! The kids will love helping in the kitchen with these delicious toaster pastries.
• Simple to Make: With just some easy steps, you will have these ready in no time! The pie dough is super simple to make and comes together so easily. Who knew homemade pop tarts could be so simple?!
• Delicious: The coconut glaze and low sugar strawberry jam will satisfy your sweet tooth! When you bite into the crispy dough, you will soon be met with a smooth strawberry-filled center.
• Lots of Variations: There are so many different flavors of pop tarts and this recipe is easily adaptable to accommodate all of them! See all the ways you can change up these vegan pop-tarts below!

🥘 Ingredients

This recipe calls for simple pantry ingredients you may already have, but if not, you can easily access these items from the local grocery store or market. One of our favorite things about this recipe is how the ingredients are so minimal and basic!

• Flour: For these pop tarts we used whole wheat flour. This adds a dose of whole grains and fiber and is healthier than regular all purpose flour. You can substitute oat flour, spelt flour, or your favorite gluten-free flours.
• Baking Powder: A leavening agent for the dough, you will want to make sure to have baking powder for this recipe.
• Oil: Any type of vegetable oil will work such as coconut oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, etc. You could probably also use melted vegan butter too.
• Vanilla Extract: You will want vanilla extract to make the dough slightly rich in flavor.
• Jam: Any type of jelly-like strawberry jam will work. Just be sure to choose a low sugar or sugar free jam made with real fruit. You can use any type of jam or preserves such as blueberry, blackberry, raspberries, muscadine, etc. for this delicious sweet filling.
• Sugar: Powdered sugar is used for the sweet icing topping. For a sugar-free version, substitute with powdered erythritol.
• Yogurt: Dairy-free coconut yogurt replaces cream cheese for the glaze, and you can use any type of plant based yogurt for a customized icing option.
• Sprinkles: The sprinkles are optional, but highly encouraged for bonus fun! Make sure to use vegan sprinkles with natural colors!

🍽 Equipment

• Mixing Bowls
• Whisk
• Measuring Cups
• Baking Sheet
• Pizza Cutter or Pastry Cutter
• Measuring Spoons

📖 Variations

There are so many different options for fillings such as brown sugar and cinnamon for brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts or chocolate chips for chocolate pop tarts–the list goes on. Here are 9 of our favorite variations!

• Puff Pastry Dough: Feel free to use a store-bought pie crust or a pre-made buttery pastry dough for these healthy pop-tarts. Just make sure the dough has vegan ingredients and no hidden animal ingredients (like shortening which can be made from lard)
• Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Pop Tarts: Instead of the strawberry filling, use 1 tablespoon of peanut butter in the center of each of these pop tarts! Drizzle with melted vegan chocolate on top instead of the vanilla icing!
• S’mores Pop Tarts: Add a couple mini vegan marshmallows and 1-2 teaspoons of vegan chocolate chips into the center of each of the pastry rectangles. Spread melted chocolate on top when the toaster pastry comes out of the oven!
• Lemon Cream Pie Pop Tarts: Use a vegan lemon curd instead of strawberry jam, and top with the coconut yogurt icing + lemon zest instead of the sprinkles!
• Vegan Blueberry Pop Tart Recipe: Use blueberry jam instead of strawberry jam!
• Healthy Cinnamon Pop Tarts: Instead of the strawberry jam filling, brush the dough rectangles with melted vegan butter and add a brown sugar cinnamon filling to the dough before sealing and baking. Top with a dusting of cinnamon sugar on top!
• Low Sugar Pop Tarts: Use sugar free jam and powdered erythritol instead of the powdered sugar.
• Make it Keto: Make these pop tarts keto by using gluten-free flour, sugar-free sweetener, and sugar-free sweet homemade strawberry jam.
• Healthy Gluten Free Pop Tarts: For a gluten-free version, you can try a 1:1 gluten free baking flour like Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1:1 Flour.

🔪 Instructions

Follow these step-by-step photos to make the best healthy homemade strawberry pop tarts every time!

Preheat Oven & Mix the Dry Ingredients: First, preheat the oven to 338 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking tray with a piece of parchment paper. Set aside. Next, in a medium mixing bowl, mix the flour and baking powder. Set aside.

Wet Ingredients: In a small mixing bowl, mix together the applesauce, oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.

Combine Wet + Dry: Add the apple sauce mixture to the dry ingredients and mix to form a dough. Add a couple teaspoons of ice-cold water to the dough if it is a bit dry.

Chill the dough: Shape into a ball of dough, cover with plastic wrap, and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes.

Prepare the Dough

Roll the Dough: After resting, cut the dough ball in half. Place one half of the dough onto a sheet of baking paper, cover with another sheet of baking paper, and, with a rolling pin, roll dough out to ⅛-inch thick.

Cut the Dough: With a pizza cutter, cut the pastry into four equal rectangles. Repeat with the remaining pastry.

Layer with Jam: Arrange the cut pastry rectangles onto a prepared tray lined with parchment paper. Place a heaped tablespoon of jam onto the center of each pastry rectangle and slightly spread out, leaving space around the edges.

Seal: Next, top each pop tart with a pastry piece and press down to seal the edges. Using a fork, press around the edges to ensure all edges are sealed.

Bake: Bake the pop tarts in the oven for ten to 15 minutes until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow the pop tarts to cool on a cooling rack.

For the Glaze

Mix: In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar and coconut yogurt to form a smooth glaze. Add more powdered sugar to the glaze until desired thickness is met. For best results, make sure the pop tarts cool before adding the icing (so the icing doesn’t melt off!)

❓Recipe FAQs

🧊 How to Store

Room Temperature: Store these pop tarts in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to four days.

Freeze: Unglazed pop tarts can definitely be frozen! Wrap the pop tarts in plastic wrap and freeze in an air tight container for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the oven or air fryer before serving.

👨‍👩‍👧 Serving Suggestions

You are going to love serving these pop tarts with your favorite meals and snacks!

• With eggs, veggie sausage, and tofu bacon
• With fresh fruit such as pineapple, banana, apples, oranges, etc.
• Serve these pop tarts with vegan protein balls for a quick pick-me-up throughout the day or during camping and hiking trips
• With finger foods in childrens’ lunchboxes
• Serve these pop tarts with a glass of your favorite non-dairy milk!

💭 Expert Tips

• To reheat the pop tarts, heat them in the microwave for 30 seconds, or in the air fryer for 3 minutes at 350 degrees, or in the toaster oven or regular oven for a few minutes until warmed through.
• Cooking times may vary based on different ovens.
• Make sure not to overmix the dough has this will create a tough dough rather than a flaky pastry.
• Pastry can be made up to 24 hours before being used. Ensure the dough is covered and stored in the refrigerator.
• Make sure the dough is no thicker than 1/8 inch thick – otherwise your pastry will be too tough.
• Do not overfill your pop tarts otherwise they will overflow out of the sides of the pastry when baked. 1 tablespoon is plenty!

🥧 More Vegan Breakfast Ideas!

• Healthy Carrot Muffins
• Mini Bundt Cakes
• Strawberry Donuts
• Healthy Pancakes Recipe
• Vegan Breakfast Cookies
• Banana Bread Without Butter

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