Sunday, March 25, 2012

Pop Tarts, 3 ways – Rose Hip and Apple, S’mores, and Brown Sugar Spice


So this post is all thanks to my mom, who gave me some random things that, when put together, created a super fun treat!  My mom lives on the opposite side of the country, so she likes sending us packages to stay in touch.  Just recently, she sent me two jars of rose hip fruit spread.  I’ve never even heard of rose hips before this.  And I’m not really the kind of person who puts jelly on toast.  I’m not really sure why.  So I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with this.

Also about 8 years ago, my mom gave me this kitchen gadget, telling me she thought I would use it more than she would.  It was a Cut-N-Seal gadget from Pampered Chef that can make tarts.  At the time, I was an odd choice of recipient for this gadget, since I didn’t cook, and what I did cook consisted of packaged Lipton sides, Easy Mac, and ramen noodles (I was not a sophisticated eater in college).  I always assumed I would never get around to using it.  Over the years, I have moved far away from our once college-style cooking, and it has been bugging me that I have this gadget that has never been used. 

Then there was an epiphany- I could put both of these things together! So I finally unearthed the kitchen gadget from its place in the baking kitchen utensil drawer and put it to use, cutting out pocket sized tarts filled with rose hip jelly.  I also decided to try out some other fillings, like s’mores and brown sugar and spice.  So 8 years later, I can finally say, “Thank you mom!”


Adapted from the King Arthur Flour website.

Ingredients 
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 egg
4 tablespoons whole milk
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into tiny pieces
1 egg for egg wash

Rose Hip and Apple filling:
8.8 ounce container rose hip fruit spread
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
1 apple
1 lemon wedge

Brown Sugar and Spice filling:
½ cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
pinch freshly grated nutmeg
pinch allspice
pinch ground ginger

S’mores filling:
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 graham crackers, chopped
½ cup marshmallow creme

Instructions
Place flours, sugar, and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk together.  In a small bowl, beat the egg and milk and set aside.  Add the pieces of butter into the flour mixture with the paddle attachment of the mixer to make a mixture of coarse crumble.  Add the egg mixture and beat with the paddle attachment until the dough comes together.

This is what I did for the 3 ½ -inch circle-shaped tart maker, and if you don’t have a special gadget, just use a traditional biscuit cutter or really anything circle-shape (like a mason jar lid) and use it to trace circle shapes from the dough.  If you want the traditional rectangle shape for the pop tarts, the King Arthur site has directions for that.  Divide the dough in half and roll each half into an 8-inch circle.   You can either place them in the fridge or continue rolling them out.  If you do choose to chill the dough, let the dough come to room temperature before working with it (takes about 25 minutes).  Lightly flour a work surface, and roll each half of dough to a 1/8 inch thickness.  Use the cut and seal gadget to cut out 18 circles from the dough (to make 9 tarts).  Fill each tart with filling then seal shut, either using the gadget or pressing together the edges of dough by hand.  Beat the egg, then brush on the egg wash and cut a few vents into each tart.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes, until the pastry has turned golden brown.

To make the rose hip and apple filling:
In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water.  Place fruit spread and cornstarch mixture in small saucepan and bring to a boil.  Simmer for two minutes. Let cool.  Peel and dice the apple, then squeeze the lemon juice from the lemon wedge over the apple pieces.  Place 1-2 tablespoons of the thickened fruit spread in each tart, then a tablespoon of the apple pieces. 

To make the brown sugar and spice filling:
Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix together with a fork.  Put 1-2 tablespoons in each tart.

To make the s’mores filling:
Mix the chocolate chips and graham cracker pieces in a bowl.  Place 1-2 tablespoons of the mixture in each tart and top with a tablespoon of the marshmallow crème.

28 comments:

  1. I had to google rose hip! LOL! Apparently, we grow them here...says my wife, who is the one that does our gardening/yardwork. Who knew???

    YUMMY!

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  2. The rose and the chocolate together sound AMAZING. Love this! Now I need to find some rose hip preserves- is there any way to make this it at home?

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    1. you definitely can, though i have no idea how to actually do so :)

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  3. I'll have one of each, please! Your pop tarts look scrumptious! And I'm sure they taste much better than the cardboard box versions that are usually served after Ramen noodles. :D

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  4. I just have to make some pop tarts. I haven't had one for years. They're not sold in Australia other than fancy import candy stores and they're hugely expensive.

    I'm going to give these a try.

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  5. Um, I'll have all three please! These look do good.

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  6. I will never by pop tarts again - yours are too delicious to pass up :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  7. I've been putting off making my own pop-tarts but this is just the push I need! Brown sugar and cinnamon is my fave - these are positively delectable!

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  8. I like the variety of the fillings, one is like a dessert, the other a pie and the brown sugar one is like the most popular pop tart around. Your picture is stunning and pretty cool that you now have a use for that gift from some time ago. This is inspiring, I do need to try making some pop tarts! Well done.

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  9. oh wow these look fab and so sweet of your mum to sent that to you

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  10. What an absolutely mouth watering photo! WOWOZER~

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  11. These look so pretty. I'm sure your mom is so happy that you've finally used the gadget she sent to you not to mention how creative you've become in the kitchen. Your pop tarts looks fantastic. So creative.

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  12. Wow, the rose hip variety sounds stunning! Quite an impressive array of treats - well done!

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  13. Dear Jenn, You have come a long way from your college years. I think that your mom will be very pleased to read this post and see what good use everything has been put too.
    These recipes for the pop-tarts are delicious and healthy. Bravo!!
    Thank you for your visits and your kind comments. I look forward to your visits.
    Blessings my dear, Catherine xoxo

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  14. I LOVE pop tarts - these look soo yummy. I have no clue what a rose hip is but these look delish.

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  15. What fun flavor combos!! I've never had rose hip either but it sounds lovely.

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  16. Yum, I'm loving the rose hip jam tarts. Rose hips are suppose to be really good for you too. So they're shouldn't be any guilt in eating like a whole plate of these,right ;)

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  17. Your epiphany was a wonderful thing and I'm sure your mother is proud of you! These pop tarts are divine! I've heard of rose hip but never had it, so that will change soon after reading this.

    You have a great blog---looking around, I see lots of yummy things! I'm so happy you came to my blog as it led me to yours! I will enjoy following to see what's next! Cheers! Pam

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  18. Homemade pop tarts are totally a major to-do of mine and these fillings sound absolutely amazing! SOme of my favorite classic pop tart flavors...with the rose hip thrown in for delicious measure. :)

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  19. Yum!! These look delicious and I am sure I'd be a huge fan of the smores version. I don't know what rosehips are, so who knows, maybe I'd be a fan of that too! I love that your mom still sends you care packages, that is so sweet!

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  20. Yum is the first thing that springs to mind. I love rose hip jam but can't find it anywhere in the UK! I've got that Pampered Chef Cut n Seal! This is just soo good!

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  21. I love how these could also be seen as a fusion between your old and new culinary life (poptarts=easy junk food homemade poptarts=culinary genius :P). I would die over the s'mores one!! Yum!

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  22. I bet your mom was tickled pink to find out got some use out of the tart maker. I was just with my mom today and we were taking about frittatas, how funny. I'm not sure if I've ever had rose hips, something I'd like to try though.
    -Gina-

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  23. I wish we could have been sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and pop tarts. Hopefully, when you come in this year we could try some together.
    Love, Mom

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  24. Fantastic entry for Food on Friday. thank you. Cheers

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