How to make Brown Sugar Pop-Tarts

Who doesn’t love a Pop-Tart? Growing up, they were a breakfast staple in my house. Now, as an adult, they are so much reminiscent of my childhood that I love to still snack on them. However, they can get really expensive with having four kids. Buy one pack and they are gone, literally, those kids eat so much food. So, my new favorite thing to bake are homemade Brown Sugar Pop-Tarts, especially with the help of Levi and Elliana. Levi was so happy to be my cameraman today! Additionally, making small changes like baking your own Pop-Tarts from scratch can help to save a small fortune.

Levi took a selfie

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Published March 29, 2022
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Pie Crust Recipe

Homemade pie dough is super delicious, and yet additionally tricky to make if you have not mastered this recipe. Pie crust was one of the very first recipes that I blogged back in 2015, actually, it was the second post but my very first blogged recipe. As I had always bought pie crust already made, I made a goal to learn to make the best pie crust and then never need to buy it again. As a result, I now use homemade pie crust for quiche, chicken pot pie, pies, pop-tarts and more. Click the link below for my recipe for the perfect pie crust.

Additionally, this pie crust recipe makes two-to-three pie doughs.

Cost comparison

Buying a 12 count Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tart from the grocery store costs $4.09 with each costing $0.34.
Making 11 Brown Sugar Pop-Tarts from scratch cost me $1.42 making each Pop-Tart cost $0.12.
Making Brown Sugar Pop-Tarts from scratch saved $0.22 per piece.

That may not seem like a lot, but if you buy 1 12-Pack of Pop-Tarts weekly costing $212.68 a year compared to making them from scratch costing $73.84, you save $138.84. Adding up all of the other foods you make from scratch, you literally can save a small fortune. As a result, cooking and baking meals from scratch is one way that has helped our family pay off all of our debt, except the house.

Below is the cost for each ingredient used to make these Brown Sugar Pop-Tarts from scratch, with the pie crust recipe in thirds as I then used two-thirds of that recipe to make quiche.

1/2 tsp salt $0.01
2 2/3 cups flour $0.15
1 cup cold butter $0.48
Brown Sugar $0.30
4 Tbsp butter $0.36
1 tsp cinnamon $0.01
1 egg $0.11

Pop-Tarts Ingredients

Pie dough
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 egg
4 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp cinnamon

ingredients to make brown sugar pop-tarts on countertop

Brown Sugar Pop-Tarts Directions

1. Make a pastry crust and then roll it out with a rolling pin to 1/8-inch thick.

2. Use a pastry cutter to then cut the pastry dough into rectangles 3 inches by 4 inches.

3. Melt 4 Tbsp butter in a Pyrex microwave safe bowl. Special thanks to Levi for this picture of me cutting the butter.

cutting butter stick in half on countertop

4. To the melted butter, add 1 cup brown sugar and cinnamon, then mix well.

5. Measure and add 1 Tbsp brown sugar mixture to the tops of half of the pastry pieces, spreading the mixture out. Make sure to keep the mixture 1/2-inch away from the edge of the dough for the pastry to seal.

brown sugar cinnamon filling mixture on pastry rectangles on countertop

6. Then pick up one plain piece of pastry dough and place it on the tops of each brown sugar topped pastry dough.

7. Use your fingers to pinch the two edges together well so the edges create a firm seal.

edges of brown sugar pop-tarts sealed

8. Then pick up each pop-tart and place on a baking stone making sure to leave a 1-inch space between each Pop-Tart.

brown sugar pop-tarts placed on baking stone

9. Crack an egg in a small bowl, use a fork and whisk it well, then use a pastry brush and brush the tops of each pop-tart with the egg.
Everyone needs a good pastry brush. Not only is it good to brush an egg wash over crust, but you can also use it to brush melted butter and many other things.
I am old-school, and I like the natural fiber brushes, the silicone ones just fly the egg everywhere. Then you have to clean the wall and stovetop.

10. Sprinkle the tops of the pop-tarts with 1 tsp of the brown sugar mixture and then spread it out using your fingertips.

adding more brown sugar mixture to top of pop-tarts

11. Using a knife, cut two-to-three holes in the top of the pop-tarts, these holes act as vents so the pastry dough does not puff up like a balloon.

knife poking vent holes in brown sugar pop-tarts

12. Place the Brown Sugar Pop-Tarts on the baking stone into the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the pie dough is fully baked.
Finally, remove the brown sugar pop-tarts from the oven and let rest to completely cooled before serving.
~Monica

fully baked brown sugar pop-tarts on baking stone

Brown Sugar Pop-Tarts Recipe

Ingredients for Brown Sugar Pop-Tarts

Pie dough
Brown Sugar
1 egg
4 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp cinnamon

Brown Sugar Pop-Tarts Directions

1. Make a pie dough and roll it out with a rolling pin to 1/8-inch thick.
2. Use a pastry cutter to then cut the pastry dough into rectangles 3 inches by 4 inches.
3. Melt 4 Tbsp butter in a medium bowl.
4. To the melted butter, add brown sugar and cinnamon, then mix well.
5. Measure and then add 1 Tbsp brown sugar mixture to the tops of half of the pastry pieces, spreading the mixture out. Make sure to keep the mixture 1/2-inch away from the edge of the dough.
6. Then pick up one plain piece of pastry dough and place it on the tops of each brown sugar topped pastry dough.
7. Use your fingers to pinch the two edges together well, doing so will help the filling stay inside.
8. Pick up each pop-tart and place on a baking stone.
9. Crack an egg in a small bowl, use a fork and whisk it well, then use a pastry brush and brush the tops of each pop-tart with the egg.
10. Sprinkle the tops of the pop-tarts with 1 tsp of the brown sugar mixture and then spread it out with your fingertips.
11. Using a knife, cut two-to-three holes in the top of the pop-tarts, these holes act as vents so the pastry dough does not puff up like a balloon.
12. Place the baking stone into the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the pie dough is fully baked.
Finally, remove the brown sugar pop-tarts from the oven and let rest to completely cooled before serving.
~Monica

Copyright: All content and photos on Monica’s Scratch Kitchen are copyright protected. Please do not use them without written permission. Thank you.

Published by Monica's Scratch Kitchen

I have not always had the skills to cook and bake from scratch. As a young wife, I bought every meal frozen or boxed and presented it to my husband with a flourish, believing myself a decadent cook. As our budget shrunk, and our family grew, I looked for ways to stretch our money to nourish our kids with the best for their hungry appetites. Hoping to find recipes and meals that they would love to eat. Through the last 5 years, I have learned so many cooking and baking lessons, and experienced many wins and failures. Come along with me on this journey as I share my recipes that work, how to make them on the cheap, and my tips and tricks to get my kids to eat homemade deliciousness! I will also share updates to our house that we have done in the last year since our move. With one income, we do most of the work ourselves and with amazing family and friends to help out, cutting costs but keeping style and money in the bank! I am a wife and mother of 3 boys and 1 princess. When I was a kid, I remember being asked what I wanted to be or do when I grew up. My response was, "a mom", and I am proud to grow up and be a mom to 4 amazing kids! Samuel is 11, Matthew is 8, Levi is 4, and Elliana is almost 2. We have been blessed to have kids who love to explore foods, to try new recipes, and enjoy helping us around the house. With 4 kids, you better believe they help clean! My husband Tyler and I have been married almost 13 years. We love our kids, we love outdoors, camping, canoeing, grilling, watching movies, and just hanging out making memories. A few years ago I gifted Tyler with his own "menu" book, where we write meals and foods we have loved to eat. Weekly our family decides what our meals will be and I make up a grocery list with what we need. It literally is my favorite chore! I love to shop, so shopping for food on a budget is my biggest win! Thank you for taking the time and visiting my site, Subscribe so you do not miss a post! Keep coming back to hear about new recipes, updates on our home, fun times with our kids, and how to make homemade deliciousness! ~Monica

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