Strawberry Pop Tart Cookies (Printable view)
Buttery sugar cookie rounds filled with strawberry jam, topped with pink glaze and rainbow sprinkles.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cookie Dough
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
→ Filling
09 - 1/2 cup strawberry jam
→ Glaze and Decoration
10 - 1 cup powdered sugar
11 - 2 tablespoons milk
12 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - Red or pink food coloring (optional)
14 - Rainbow sprinkles, for decorating
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar using an electric mixer until light and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough comes together. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough and flatten it slightly in your palm. Place 1/2 teaspoon of strawberry jam in the center and cover with another tablespoon of dough. Seal the edges completely and gently roll into a smooth ball. Repeat with all remaining dough and jam.
06 - Place the assembled cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
07 - Bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and a drop of food coloring if desired, until smooth and slightly thickened. Spread the glaze over the cooled cookies and decorate with rainbow sprinkles. Allow the glaze to set before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The nostalgia factor is off the charts, but they taste exponentially better than anything from a foil wrapper.
- Kids lose their minds over the sprinkles and glaze, yet adults secretly reach for seconds when nobody is watching.
- They look impressive but the process is surprisingly forgiving for newer bakers.
02 -
- Seal those edges like your reputation depends on it because jam will find any gap and leak onto your baking sheet.
- Cool the cookies completely before glazing or the glaze will melt right off into a puddle of sadness.
- A pinch of cinnamon in the dough adds a subtle warmth that echoes the real Pop Tart flavor in an unexpected way.
03 -
- Chill the dough for twenty minutes before assembling if your kitchen is warm because cold dough is far easier to seal around jam.
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform portions so every cookie bakes evenly and looks consistent on the plate.