Pop Tarts for Valentine's Day

When I was in college, I began to love throwing parties... the invitations and decorations are all fun but the best thing about entertaining for me is planning the food that will be served. One of my favorite parties I ever remember throwing was a Valentine's Day party in my Junior year. We watched Lady and the Tramp, played ping pong (sounds like a real rager, I know) and I made lots of treats including one of my absolute favorites: Homemade Pop Tarts. The thing is, they are so easy to make but just a friendly warning, they don't usually last very long.

Why is it so much more tempting to eat something because it looks cute? Well let me assure you that they don't just look pretty, they are also better than any pop tart you will find at the store!

I made these the other day and sent them off to a few friends and then kept a few for Tim and myself. These are a really fun breakfast to make for your friend, spouse, kids or parents. And of course, they are the perfect dessert for your upcoming Valentine's Day party.

Here is how you make them:

Ingredients:

Crust:

2 Cups + 2 Tbsp All Purpose Flour
2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
1 Tsp Salt
1 Cup Butter (I actually always use salted butter even though any good pastry chef would tell you to use unsalted... but you know what? I didn't go to pastry chef school!)
4 Tbsp Ice cold water
Filling: I use "Freeserves" Raspberry Jam (IT IS THE BEST freezer jam) (use about 1 tsp each or if you make the regular size ones, about a tablespoon)

Icing:

1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Tbsp Whole Milk (add more if it isn't thin enough, but it has to be thick enough to spread and then harden!)
1 Tsp Vanilla

How:

First, in a food processor or stand mixer (or whatever you have) mix the dry ingredients until blended and then add the butter diced into small squares. Make sure that the butter is nice and cold and cut it into the dry mix. Once its all combined and comes together, pull it out and divide into two sections. Wrap into clear wrap and then flatten into a round flat disc and put it in the fridge for about a half an hour (honestly, sometimes I just skip this step. I get so annoyed when the dough gets too hard and I can barely work with it)
Go ahead and turn your oven to 375 and line your baking sheet with tin foil.
Once the 30 minutes is up, pull the dough out and roll it flat, I would say, roll it flatter than your average sugar cookie thickness. Then either cut into squares or do what I did and make them into hearts with a cookie cutter. It is so fun. Then spoon about a teaspoon (or if bigger pop tart, go big baby) into the middle, leave some room on the edges and top it with a matching piece of crust dough. I like to seal the edges with a knife to make it look pretty.
Then pop them into the oven for 20-25 minutes. Or until golden brown (if you want them really golden, brush some egg wash on them before you put them in.
While they cool for at least 20 minutes, I would make the icing!
Spread the icing and top with sprinkles right away if you are doing sprinkles!

They will hopefully look something like this: