The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (2024)

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Homemade sourdough pop tarts might just be the best thing you ever make with your sourdough starter, apart from delicious sourdough bread of course! If pop tarts were a part of your childhood that you didn't think you could eat an adult, think again! These are just oh so good, the will loved by people of any age! I am in love with the brown sugar filling, laced with cinnamon and topped with the best cinnamon frosting you've ever tasted ... it's even better the next day when it gets a little hard. So good!!

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (1)

Using a whopping 200g of sourdough discard or sourdough starter, they are a great way to empty your sourdough discard jar! This recipe uses my easy sourdough pie crust recipe as a base. If you've never made sourdough pie crust before, I highly recommend having a read of that post to get a better feel for working with pastry.

Now if you absolutely love sourdough comfort food (because let's face it, pop tarts just have to be comfort food with all those memories), then make sure you check out this sourdough mac and cheese recipe and this classic sourdough pumpkin pie, which uses the same pie crust.

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (2)

Why You'll Love This Recipe?

Make The Pop Tarts How You Like Them- Extra frosting? You got it! Strawberry rather than brown sugar cinnamon? Done! Add pecans to your brown sugar cinnamon ... they're yours! This is the joy of homemade pop tarts ... you get to control everything!

You Know What's In Them- These sourdough pop tarts are made with real ingredients, nothing artificial and no nasties! There's no high fructose corn syrup and no colors! For this reason, I let my kids eat more homemade sourdough pop tarts than they probably should!

Flaky Layers- if you've ever worked with sourdough short crust pastry, you'll know about the flaky layers, but if it's your first time, oh you're in for a real treat!!! Pop tarts are not made with puff pastry, but rather a delicious buttery pastry that creates layer upon layer of goodness!

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (3)

What Are Sourdough Pop Tarts?

Pop-Tarts, those iconic toaster pastries that have become a beloved breakfast and snack staple, originated in the United States in the early 1960s. Pop-Tarts were introduced to the market in 1964 by the Kellogg Company and quickly gained popularity for their convenience and versatility. These rectangular pastries consist of a thin, flaky crust with a sweet filling, encased in a sugary glaze. Pop tarts are not made with puff pastry, but rather a short crust pastry.

Available in an array of flavors ranging from classic fruit options like strawberry and blueberry to indulgent varieties like s'mores and brown sugar cinnamon, Pop Tarts have become synonymous with quick and easy comfort food. They're like little hand pies, wrapped in a foil wrapper.

Originally marketed as a breakfast treat that could be enjoyed straight from the toaster, the appeal of Pop Tarts extended beyond the morning routine. Today, they are cherished as a versatile snack that can be enjoyed toasted, microwaved, or even straight from the package, making them a nostalgic and enduring part of American culinary culture.

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (4)

Should I Use Sourdough Starter or Sourdough Starter Discard?

The great thing about making sourdough pop tarts (and in fact any recipe with a sourdough pie crust) is that you can choose to use active sourdough starter or sourdough discard. Because the pie crust component doesn't actually need any leavening, it makes no difference which one you use. In fact many sourdough discard recipes are like this, and you can use active sourdough starter instead of sourdough discard if you prefer.

If you are curious as to the difference between the two, you might like to check out this post about sourdough discard vs sourdough starter.

How To Make Sourdough Pop Tarts

Making sourdough pop tarts is not difficult, but it is a little time consuming. Your time will be very well rewarded, however, once you bite into the homemade pop tart goodness!

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (5)

Sourdough Pop Tart Crust

​You can easily make the sourdough pop tart pastry by hand, but you can also use a food processor or Themomix if you prefer.

Add all purpose flour, salt and sugar to a large mixing bowl and stir together until well combined. Set aside for now.

Grate the cold butter into a bowl (I've just used a cheese grater). If the butter starts to melt or is very soft once grated, place the bowl into the freezer. This will help to firm the butter up and make the next step much easier. I cannot stress enough how important it is for the butter to be COLD.

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (6)

Place the cold, grated butter into the bowl with the flour, salt and sugar and use a spatula, pastry cutter or simply your finger tips to coat the butter in the flour. You want the butter to stay cold, so try to touch it as little as you can.

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (7)

Now, add the sourdough starter or discard and vinegar and bring the mixture into a dry, shaggy dough. It's best just to use your hands to squeeze the pastry dough together. It will be a rough, dry dough.

If the dough really isn't coming together at all, add a little iced water until you are able to bring it together.

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (8)

Tip the rough dough out onto the counter, divide the dough into two pieces and bring each piece into a rough ball. Wrap each ball of pastry dough in parchment paper and squash it down into a disc shape. Wrap each disc in cling wrap and place both discs into the fridge.

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (9)

If you prefer to just refrigerate as one ball, that's fine too. You can just divide the pastry into two pieces when you want to roll it out.

Leave the dough a minimum of one hour to fully hydrate and become cold. You can leave the dough in the fridge for up to 48 hours before you use it.

Making the Sourdough Pop Tarts

Before you start, mix the ingredients for the fillings together:

Brown Sugar Cinnamon- combine the ingredients together and mix until well combined. It will be a sandy texture when ready.

Strawberry- mix the corn starch and strawberry jam until you can't see the corn starch (the jam will be a little cloudy).

Using a rolling pin, roll out one disc of pastry until it's around 3mm or ⅛" thick. You want to create 12 rectangles from this dough (I've made my rectangles around 8cm x 12cm (3" x 5") - you can make your bigger or smaller if you prefer). To cut the rectangles, I used a ruler to measure them out (so they're all uniform) and a metal dough scraper to cut the dough. A pizza cutter is also a really handy tool to cut the pastry if you have one.

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (10)

Once you've cut the 12 rectangles out, lay them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (it's ok to use a few trays, this is especially good if you are making 2 different fillings). Now if you don't want a rectangular shape, you can of course make your sourdough pop tarts round or whatever shape you prefer.

Egg wash each of the rectangles (you want egg wash on the whole rectangle, not just the edges.

Add your filling, ensuring you keep it in the middle. You'll want around a tablespoon of filling for each pop tart. You don't want to overfill them as the filling will leak out.

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (11)
The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (12)

Now roll out the other disc of dough and cut another 12 rectangles, exactly the same size as the bases. Lay a rectangle of dough onto each base, gently sealing them together with your fingers.

Now use a fork to crimp the edges and seal the pastry edges. Pop a few holes in the top of each pop tart using your fork to ensure the topping doesn't burst out.

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (13)

Egg wash the top of each pop tart.

Bake the sourdough pop tarts at 200C (390F) for around 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.

When the pop tarts are done, remove from the oven and allow to cool on the tray for around 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (14)

Pop Tart Frosting

While the pop tarts are cooling, mix together the ingredients for the frosting. Whether you're making both types of frosting or just one, all you need to do is combine the ingredients listed until the frosting is smooth. Make sure there are no lumps of powdered sugar in the mixture.

Once the pop tarts have cooled, spread each one with as much frosting as you like. Leave them for around an hour to allow the frosting to set and enjoy!

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (15)

Flavor Variations for Sourdough Pop Tarts

There's really no limit to the flavors you can create with sourdough pop tarts. I can honestly say that brown cinnamon sugar is my absolute favorite! But these ideas might also take your fancy!

Lemon Curd - Use lemon curd inside your pop tarts and then top with a zesty frosting infused with lemon zest. These are absolutely delicious and make a zesty, fruity homemade sourdough pop tart that you'll love!

Spiced Pumpkin Bliss - Embrace the fall vibes with a spiced pumpkin filling. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of cloves to the pumpkin puree for a warm and comforting flavor profile that pairs beautifully with the sourdough crust. Use the cinnamon frosting from the brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts for a delicious fall inspired sourdough pop tart treat.

Nutella Pop Tarts - Fill your homemade sourdough pie crust with nutella and top them with chopped hazelnuts or chocolate frosting.

Apple Pie Pop Tarts - use apple sauce mixed with a little brown sugar and cinnamon to fill your sourdough pop tart crust. Top with cinnamon frosting from the brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts.

Blueberry Pop Tarts - fill the pop tart crusts with blueberry jam mixed with corn starch (prepared in the same way as the strawberry jam filling). Prepare the frosting in the same way as the strawberry frosting, but use blueberry jam instead.

Savory Spinach and Feta Surprise - Challenge the sweet norm by experimenting with a savory filling. Sautéed spinach and crumbled feta make for a sophisticated, palate-pleasing option that transforms the concept of a Pop Tart into a savory delight.

How To Freeze and Store Sourdough Pop Tarts

Just like my homemade pie crust with sourdough starter, these sourdough pop tarts freeze really well. It's up to you whether you frost them or not before freezing. I've tested both frosted and un frosted and have found both versions freeze and store equally as well. I wrap individual pop tarts in aluminum foil and then put all of them together in a zip loc bag. This makes for easy snacking.

Allow them to thaw at room temperature if you have time. If you don't, you can zap them in the microwave or warm them gently in the oven.

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (16)

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (17)

Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe

Embark on a delightful journey of homemade goodness with these sourdough Pop-Tarts. Encased in a golden, flaky sourdough crust, these handcrafted pastries are generously filled with either brown sugar cinnamon or strawberry jam and topped with your favorite frosting.

5 from 7 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Fermentation Time 1 day d

Course Dessert, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 12 Pop Tarts

Calories 2801 kcal

Ingredients

Sourdough Pop Tart Crust

  • 250 g All Purpose Flour
  • 5 g Salt (or to taste)
  • 10 g Sugar (optional - see notes)
  • 230 g Unsalted Butter must be COLD
  • 200 g Sourdough Starter or Sourdough Discard
  • 10 g White Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 50 g Iced Water just in case
  • 1 Egg (for egg wash)
  • 20 g Milk (for egg wash)

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Filling

  • 100 g Brown Sugar
  • 5 g Ground Cinnamon (2 tsp)
  • 10 g All Purpose Flour

Cinnamon Frosting

  • 100 g Powdered Sugar
  • 15 g Milk
  • ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 5 g Vanilla Extract

Strawberry Filling

  • 125 g Strawberry Jam
  • 6 g Corn Starch

Strawberry Frosting

  • 100 g Powdered Sugar
  • 30 g Strawberry Jam
  • 15 g Milk

Instructions

Sourdough Pop Tart Crust

  • Add all purpose flour, salt and sugar to a large mixing bowl and stir together until well combined. Set aside for now.

  • Grate the cold butter into a bowl. If the butter starts to melt or is very soft once grated, place the bowl into the freezer. This will help to firm the butter up and make the next step much easier. I cannot stress enough how important it is for the butter to be COLD.

  • Place the cold, grated butter into the bowl with the flour, salt and sugar and use a spatula, pastry cutter or simply your finger tips to coat the butter in the flour. You want the butter to stay cold, so try to touch it as little as you can.

  • Now, add the sourdough starter or discard and vinegar and bring the mixture into a dry, shaggy dough. It's best just to use your hands to squeeze the pastry dough together. It will be a rough, dry dough.

    If the dough really isn't coming together at all, add a little iced water until you are able to bring it together.

  • Tip the rough dough out onto the counter, divide the dough into two pieces and bring each piece into a rough ball. Wrap each ball of pastry dough in parchment paper and squash it down into a disc shape. Wrap each disc in cling wrap and place both discs into the fridge.

    If you prefer to just refrigerate as one ball, that's fine too. You can just divide the pastry into two pieces when you want to roll it out.

  • Leave the dough a minimum of one hour to fully hydrate and become cold. You can leave the dough in the fridge for up to 48 hours before you use it.

Making the Sourdough Pop Tarts

  • Before you start, mix the ingredients for the fillings together:

    Brown Sugar Cinnamon - combine the ingredients together and mix until well combined. It will be a sandy texture when ready.

    Strawberry - mix the corn starch and strawberry jam until you can't see the corn starch (the jam will be a little cloudy).

  • Roll out one disc of pastry until it's around 3mm or ⅛" thick. You want to create 12 rectangles from this dough (I've made my rectangles around 8cm x 12cm (3" x 5") - you can make your bigger or smaller if you prefer).

  • Once you've cut the 12 rectangles out, lay them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (it's ok to use a few trays, this is especially good if you are making 2 different fillings).

  • Egg wash each of the rectangles (you want egg wash on the whole rectangle, not just the edges.

  • Add your filling, ensuring you keep it in the middle. You'll want around a tablespoon of filling for each pop tart. You don't want to overfill them as the filling will leak out.

  • Now roll out the other disc of dough and cut another 12 rectangles, exactly the same size as the bases. Lay a rectangle of dough onto each base, gently sealing them together with your fingers.

  • Now use a fork to crimp the edges and seal the pastry edges. Pop a few holes in the top of each pop tart using your fork to ensure the topping doesn't burst out.

  • Egg wash the top of each pop tart.

  • Bake the sourdough pop tarts at 200C (390F) for around 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.

  • When the pop tarts are done, remove from the oven and allow to cool on the tray for around 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Pop Tart Frosting

  • While the pop tarts are cooling, mix together the ingredients for the frosting. Whether you're making both types of frosting or just one, all you need to do is combine the ingredients listed until the frosting is smooth.

  • Once the pop tarts have cooled, spread each one with as much frosting as you like. Leave them for around an hour to allow the frosting to set and enjoy!

Notes

SOURDOUGH POP TART PIE CRUST

BUTTER

The butter MUST BE COLD. Frozen, grated butter is best. If you have time, grate the butter and place it into the freezer 30 minutes before you want to make the dough.

SUGAR

You can leave the sugar out if you prefer but I think you'll get a better colored crust if you leave it in.

FERMENTATION TIME

You don't have to ferment this pie crust. You can use it after it has been in the fridge for just one hour, but you will get a flakier, more flavorsome pie crust if you leave the dough in the fridge for at least 4 hours and up to 48 hours.

SOURDOUGH STARTER OR SOURDOUGH DISCARD

You can use either active, bubbly starter or sourdough discard (unfed) in this recipe. Make sure whatever you use is 100% hydration. You'll get the best results using sourdough starter that has been fed within the last 24 hours, but you can use discard that's up to a week old.

SOURDOUGH POP TART FILLING IDEAS

There's really no limit to the flavors you can create with sourdough pop tarts. I can honestly say that brown cinnamon sugar is my absolute favorite! But these ideas might also take your fancy!

Lemon Curd - Use lemon curd inside your pop tarts and then top with a zesty frosting infused with lemon zest. These are absolutely delicious and make a zesty, fruity homemade sourdough pop tart that you'll love!

Spiced Pumpkin Bliss - Embrace the fall vibes with a spiced pumpkin filling. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of cloves to the pumpkin puree for a warm and comforting flavor profile that pairs beautifully with the sourdough crust. Use the cinnamon frosting from the brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts for a delicious fall inspired sourdough pop tart treat.

Nutella Pop Tarts - Fill your homemade sourdough pie crust with nutella and top them with chopped hazelnuts or chocolate frosting.

Apple Pie Pop Tarts - use apple sauce mixed with a little brown sugar and cinnamon to fill your sourdough pop tart crust. Top with cinnamon frosting from the brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts.

Blueberry Pop Tarts - fill the pop tart crusts with blueberry jam mixed with corn starch (prepared in the same way as the strawberry jam filling). Prepare the frosting in the same way as the strawberry frosting, but use blueberry jam instead.

Savory Spinach and Feta Surprise - Challenge the sweet norm by experimenting with a savory filling. Sautéed spinach and crumbled feta make for a sophisticated, palate-pleasing option that transforms the concept of a Pop-Tart into a savory delight.

Nutrition

Calories: 2801kcalCarbohydrates: 244gProtein: 33gFat: 190gSaturated Fat: 119gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 49gTrans Fat: 8gCholesterol: 495mgSodium: 1972mgPotassium: 327mgFiber: 8gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 5748IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 95mgIron: 12mg

Keyword Sourdough Discard

Tried this recipe?Share your creation with us @ThePantryMama or tag #thepantrymama!

The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (18)
The BEST Sourdough Pop Tarts Recipe [with 2 flavor options] (2024)

FAQs

Why doesn't my sourdough taste sour? ›

The longer your dough bulk ferments, the more sour it can be. Use Starter Earlier: Use starter right before its peak. It will have risen but use it right when it doubles in size instead of waiting for it to fall just a bit. A smaller amount of bacteria will develop resulting in more mild flavored bread.

How do you make sourdough more sour? ›

Small Amounts of Sourdough Starter - using less sourdough starter in your dough produces a more sour flavor because it takes much longer for the dough to rise, giving the bacteria more time to produce the natural acids that give sourdough its distinct flavor.

How do I make my sourdough starter thicker? ›

The ratio you feed your sourdough starter can affect the consistency. Generally, it's best to feed your starter 1:1:1 - which means if you had 50g of starter (after discarding), you'd feed it 50g of flour and 50g of water. With this ratio, you can use any amount of starter.

Why does my sourdough taste bland? ›

Using flours with more ash, or mineral, content, will yield more sour taste. If you can't get enough ash, adding a bit of whole wheat flour to your recipe, which is what is done with the 20% Bran Flour, will boost the sour of a bread. Conversely, using a lower ash flour will tend to produce a milder bread.

What flour makes sourdough sour? ›

Adding whole grain flour: Whole grain flour, particularly whole rye flour (pumpernickel), tends to promote more sour flavor in bread for two reasons. First, the type of sugars available in whole rye (or whole wheat) flour encourage a shift toward acetic acid production.

Why does my sourdough taste funny? ›

The issue lies within a neglected sourdough starter, which can develop an overpowering level of acidic tang when left to ferment too long.

What makes sourdough taste better? ›

The sourdough starter is the real secret to getting a good fermentation going. Essentially your sourdough starter is old dough, which has already pre-fermented and contains Lactobacillus culture. Lactobacillus culture has a sour taste and is an active culture that lives off natural yeast spores from the air.

What gives sourdough bread its sour flavor? ›

Sourdough bread's signature taste comes from friendly bacteria and yeast, which produce flavorful lactic and acetic acids in rising bread dough.

Does baking soda make sourdough less sour? ›

(The amount of starter may need to be adjusted by season: more starter in the winter and less in summer.) Add baking soda. Baking soda is an alkaline substance. Adding it to sourdough neutralizes some of the acidity and gives the dough a little extra leavening boost.

How do you make sourdough bread lighter and fluffier? ›

There are several ways to make sourdough bread lighter and less dense, such as:
  1. Increasing the hydration level of your dough, which means adding more water or using less flour. ...
  2. Switching up the type of flour you use, or using a mixture of different flours.
Nov 15, 2015

Can you add too much starter to sourdough recipe? ›

If you have too much starter compared to the additional flour and water you're adding, your hungry starter consumes all the nutrients and then it's not as bubbly.

What happens if you put too much sourdough starter in your dough? ›

The more starter you use, the faster your dough will ferment - resulting in a less sour loaf. Of course the amount of starter is actually a ratio in relation to the flour - so 50g of starter to 500g of flour will ferment at a much slower rate than 200g of starter to 500g of flour.

What is the best flour for sourdough starter? ›

All-purpose Flour

It strikes a perfect balance of softness and structure, making it an ideal choice for various recipes. Due to its wide availability and affordability, all-purpose flour is often my top recommendation for creating and maintaining a sourdough starter.

What does over fermented sourdough taste like? ›

A very sour taste (not a pleasantly sour tang like properly fermented sourdough) A sour/fermented smell.

Why does sourdough upset my stomach? ›

The most common reaction to fermented foods is a temporary increase in gas and bloating. This is the result of excess gas being produced after probiotics kill harmful gut bacteria and fungi. Probiotics secrete antiomicrobial peptides that kill harmful pathogenic organisms like Salmonella and E. Coli.

Why is sourdough bread light in texture and tastes slightly sour? ›

(b) Sourdough bread is light in texture and tastes slightly sour. The bread is made using two types of microorganism, a yeast and a bacterium. The bacterium can make acids such as lactic acid. The acid makes the bread taste sour.

What should a good sourdough taste like? ›

The sourness can vary, with some loaves having a more pronounced tang, while others may lean towards a milder, well-balanced flavor. The fermentation process contributes depth, and the crust often offers a delightful contrast, providing a slightly bitter note.

Can you eat over fermented sourdough? ›

Over-fermented sourdough starter can get a layer of “hooch” on top (Google it), which has a small amount of alcohol in it. But when you BAKE the bread the alcohol will burn off much the way it does when you add wine, beer, sherry or brandy to recipes. So I would say don't worry about it.

How do you fix an acidic sourdough starter? ›

My starter is very acidic. How can I de-acidify it? Try feeding your starter a high feeding ratio (e.g., 1:5:5) and discard and refeed right after the starter rises and peaks. This is known as the “peak-to-peak” method.

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