The Perfect Caramel Apple Pie Pop Tarts Recipe for Fall Baking

Caramel apple pie pop tarts spark culinary magic in compact, golden-crusted packages that sing with homemade comfort.

Memories dance through each delicate pastry, weaving together childhood nostalgia and sophisticated flavor profiles.

Warm spices mingle with sweet fruit, creating a sensory experience that transcends ordinary snacking expectations.

Crisp edges and gooey centers invite playful indulgence beyond standard breakfast fare.

The filling bursts with vibrant notes that challenge traditional pastry boundaries.

Carefully crafted layers refine simple ingredients into extraordinary moments of pure delight.

Why These Tartlets Taste Like Autumn in a Bite

• Indulge in Homemade Comfort: These caramel apple pie pop tarts deliver a nostalgic twist on classic pastry, bringing warm bakery memories right to your kitchen with minimal fuss.
• Capture Complex Flavor Layers: The recipe brilliantly combines tender apple filling, rich caramel notes, and buttery crust, creating a multidimensional taste experience that dances between sweet, spicy, and rich.
• Master Bakery-Level Technique at Home: Despite looking professionally crafted, these pop tarts are surprisingly accessible for home bakers, offering a fun weekend project that transforms simple ingredients into impressive handheld desserts perfect for sharing with family and friends.
• Customize Your Culinary Creativity: With easy adaptability, you can experiment by adding nuts, changing spice profiles, or decorating with different glazes, making each batch a unique personal expression of baking joy.

What Fills These Little Pockets With Apple Joy

• All-Purpose Flour: Classic base for creating a tender and flaky pastry crust.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the pie crust.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps create a flaky texture.
• Vegetable Shortening: Ensures a tender and crisp crust structure.
• Ice Water: Helps bind the dough together without developing too much gluten.

• Apples: Sweet and tangy base for the filling, providing natural fruit flavor.
• Lemon Juice: Prevents apple browning and adds a bright, fresh taste.
• Brown Sugar: Offers deep caramel-like sweetness to the apple mixture.
• Ground Cinnamon: Warm spice that complements apple flavors perfectly.
• Ground Nutmeg: Adds subtle, warm depth to the filling.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity of the filling.

• Egg: Creates a golden, shiny surface when brushed on pastry.
• Milk: Helps create a smooth, pourable glaze consistency.
• Brown Sugar: Provides rich, caramel-like sweetness to the glaze.
• Butter: Adds richness and smooth texture to the glaze.
• Optional Sprinkles: Decorative finishing touch for visual appeal.

A Cozy Bake You’ll Want to Repeat Every Fall

Step 1: Prepare Pie Crust Dough

Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter and shortening using a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add 4-of ice water to form dough. Divide dough into 2 equal portions and shape into disks. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate.

Step 2: Create Apple Filling

• Butter
• Apples
• Lemon juice
• Flour
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Salt

Cook for 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and mix in vanilla extract. Let cool completely.

Step 3: Prepare Baking Sheets

Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk egg with water for egg wash.

Step 4: Roll Out Pie Crusts

On a floured surface, roll out each dough disk into 10 x 13 inch rectangles. Cut 9 rectangles (3 x 4 inches) from each dough piece. Reroll scraps if needed.

Step 5: Assemble Pop Tarts

Arrange 6 crust pieces on baking sheet. Place rounded tablespoons of apple filling in center of each, leaving 1/2 inch border. Brush edges with egg wash. Cover with remaining crust pieces. Crimp edges with fork. Brush tops with egg wash.

Step 6: Chill and Preheat

Refrigerate assembled pop tarts for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 7: Bake Pop Tarts

Bake separately for 15-16 minutes until golden brown. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Step 8: Create Caramel Glaze

• Brown sugar
• Butter
• Milk

Heat until boiling, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm.

Step 9: Finish and Decorate

Brush cooled pop tarts generously with caramel glaze. Add sprinkles if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Tips for Crisp Edges and Caramel-Kissed Bites

• Chill Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate pie crust for at least 1 hour to ensure flaky, tender texture and easier handling during rolling.
• Control Apple Moisture: Cook apple filling slowly and reduce liquid completely to prevent soggy pop tart bottoms and maintain crisp pastry edges.
• Perfect Sealing Technique: Use a fork's tines to crimp edges firmly, creating a tight seal that prevents filling from leaking during baking.
• Temperature Precision: Keep pop tarts cold before baking by chilling on the baking sheet, which helps maintain their structured shape and prevents spreading.
• Glaze Application Trick: Wait until pop tarts are completely cooled before adding glaze to prevent it from becoming too runny and ensure a smooth, beautiful coating.

Storing Mini Pies Without Losing the Warmth

• Refrigeration Method: Store cooled caramel apple pie pop tarts in an airtight container lined with parchment paper. Seal tightly and place in the refrigerator where they'll stay fresh for up to 4 days. Keep layers separated to prevent sticking.
• Freezing Method: Wrap each pop tart individually in plastic wrap, then place inside a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Label the container with the date to track freshness.
• Reheating Method: Warm refrigerated pop tarts in a toaster oven or conventional oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes until heated through. For frozen pop tarts, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Avoid microwaving to maintain crispy crust texture.

Sweet Companions That Love These Pastry Pops

• Pair with Warm Cinnamon Tea: Brew a steaming cup of cinnamon tea to complement the spicy notes in the caramel apple filling, enhancing the pastry's rich flavors and providing a cozy drinking experience.
• Match with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Serve a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream alongside the warm pop tarts, creating a delightful temperature contrast and adding a smooth, sweet counterpoint to the crispy pastry.
• Enjoy with Salted Caramel Latte: Sip on a salted caramel latte that echoes the dessert's caramel undertones, bringing out the deeper, more complex sweetness of the apple pie pop tarts while offering a warm, comforting beverage.
• Complement with Aged Cheddar Cheese: Offer a small slice of sharp aged cheddar cheese on the side, which provides a tangy, savory balance to the sweet caramel apple filling and adds an unexpected gourmet twist to the dessert experience.

Tasty Twists on the Classic Pop-Tart You Know

• Caramel Pecan Paradise: Enhance the apple filling by mixing in chopped pecans and drizzling extra caramel sauce over the finished pop tarts for a nutty, rich flavor profile.
• Maple Spice Sensation: Replace brown sugar with pure maple syrup and add ground ginger alongside cinnamon to create a warming, autumnal taste that complements the apple filling perfectly.
• Berry Caramel Fusion: Swap half the apple filling with mixed berries like raspberries and blackberries, maintaining the caramel base for a tangy-sweet combination that bursts with fruity complexity.
• Salted Caramel Crunch: Sprinkle sea salt over the caramel glaze and incorporate crushed graham crackers into the dough for an added textural element that elevates the traditional pop tart experience.

Caramel Apple Pie Pop Tarts Recipe

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4.7 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 10 1x

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Description

Caramel Apple Pie Pop Tarts blend classic American dessert charm with portable pastry perfection. Flaky homemade pastry cradles warm spiced apples and rich caramel, offering a delightful handheld treat that brings comfort and nostalgia in each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 cups apples (peeled and cubed)
• 4 ounces (113 grams) chilled butter (cut into small pieces)
• ¼ cup (57 grams) chilled shortening
• 2 tablespoons butter

Filling and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon flour
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• ¼ cup (57 grams) brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Pinch of salt
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon milk

Binding and Finishing Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
• 1 egg

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Instructions

1. Craft the pie crust by blending flour and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Incorporate cold butter and shortening using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse, uneven crumbs. Gradually introduce 4 to of ice water (59 to 74 milliliters) until the dough coheres.
2. Divide the dough into two equal portions, gently shape each into a flat disk, and encase with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the gluten to relax and butter to firm.
3. Prepare the caramel apple filling by melting butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add diced apples, fresh lemon juice, flour, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Simmer and stir frequently for approximately 20 minutes until apples soften and caramelize.
4. Remove the filling from heat, fold in vanilla extract, and allow to cool completely to room temperature. The mixture should thicken and develop a rich, glossy appearance.
5. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk one large egg with of water to create an egg wash for sealing and glossing the pop-tarts.
6. On a generously floured surface, roll out each dough disk into a rectangular shape measuring 10 x 13 inches (25 x 33 centimeters). Use a pastry wheel or pizza cutter to slice nine precise rectangles, each measuring 3 x 4 inches (7.5 x 10 centimeters).
7. Arrange six dough rectangles on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly. Spoon approximately 1 rounded tablespoon (15 milliliters) of cooled apple filling into the center of each rectangle, maintaining a half-inch border.
8. Brush the edges with egg wash, then carefully place the remaining dough rectangles on top. Seal the edges by pressing with a fork, creating decorative crimped borders. Apply an additional layer of egg wash across the surface.
9. Chill the assembled pop-tarts in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
10. Bake the pop-tarts for 15 to 16 minutes, rotating the baking sheet midway to ensure even browning. Look for a golden-brown color indicating perfect doneness.
11. Transfer the baked pop-tarts to a wire rack and let them cool completely. For the glaze, combine brown sugar, butter, and milk in a small saucepan. Heat until boiling, stirring constantly.
12. Once the glaze reaches a smooth consistency, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Generously brush over the cooled pop-tarts. Optional: Sprinkle with decorative toppings for added visual appeal.

Notes

• Capture the essence of fall with these delightful homemade pop-tarts bursting with caramel apple goodness.
• Chilling the dough ensures flaky, tender pastry that melts in your mouth with every bite.
• Cooking the apple filling slowly develops deep, rich flavors that transform simple ingredients into a spectacular treat.
• Crimping edges with a fork creates a classic, rustic look while sealing in all the delicious caramel apple filling.
• Drizzling warm brown sugar glaze over cooled pop-tarts adds a final touch of sweetness that elevates these handheld pies to dessert perfection.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 10
• Calories: 330 kcal
• Sugar: 15g
• Sodium: 180mg
• Fat: 16g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7g
• Trans Fat: 0.5g
• Carbohydrates: 43g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 35mg