My daughter's bake sale needed something different from the usual brownies and chocolate chip cookies everyone brings. These strawberry pop tart sugar cookies sold out in twelve minutes flat, and three moms cornered me in the parking lot demanding the recipe. They're basically childhood breakfast nostalgia transformed into a cookie that's somehow better than the original Pop Tart and way prettier too.
What is Strawberry Pop Tart Sugar Cookies
Strawberry pop tart sugar cookies are soft, buttery sugar cookie sandwiches filled with sweet strawberry jam and topped with pink vanilla glaze and colorful sprinkles, inspired by the classic frosted strawberry Pop Tart pastry. Unlike actual Pop Tarts that can be dry and overly processed, these cookies stay soft and tender with real strawberry filling that tastes fresh instead of artificial. The result is a nostalgic treat that captures everything you loved about Pop Tarts but with homemade quality that makes them taste like a bakery specialty cookie.
How To Make Strawberry Pop Tart Sugar Cookies
Our strawberry pop tart sugar cookies use a combination of butter and cream cheese in the dough, which creates the softest, most tender cookie texture that stays chewy for days. The secret is chilling the dough properly and not overbaking, which keeps them from turning into hard breakfast pastry imitations. After testing this recipe about twenty-five times to get the filling ratio perfect, I can promise these stay soft and delicious way longer than store bought Pop Tarts ever could.
Strawberry Pop Tart Sugar Cookies Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookie Dough:
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
For the Strawberry Filling:
- ¾ cup strawberry jam or preserves
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
For the Pink Glaze:
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 drops red food coloring (optional)
- Rainbow sprinkles for topping
Step by Step Method
Make the Perfect Cookie Dough
- Beat softened butter and cream cheese together until fluffy and smooth
- Add sugar and beat 2 minutes until light and creamy
- Mix in egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until combined
- Fold in flour, baking powder, and salt until just mixed
- Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate 1 hour minimum
Prepare Thick Strawberry Filling
- Mix strawberry jam with cornstarch and lemon juice in small saucepan
- Cook over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly
- Mixture should thicken enough to stay put on cookies
- Let cool completely before using (this is crucial!)
Roll and Cut Cookie Shapes
- Roll chilled dough between parchment sheets to ¼ inch thickness
- Cut into rectangles about 2x3 inches (or use Pop Tart shaped cutter)
- Place half the rectangles on parchment lined baking sheets
- These bottom cookies will hold the filling
Assemble Your Pop Tart Cookies
- Spoon about 1 tablespoon cooled filling onto center of each bottom cookie
- Leave ¼ inch border around edges for sealing
- Place second cookie rectangle on top and press edges with fork
- Bake at 350°F for 12 to 14 minutes until barely golden at edges
Create the Iconic Frosted Topping
- Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable
- Add tiny drop of red food coloring for that classic pink Pop Tart shade
- Spread or drizzle glaze over cooled cookies generously
- Immediately add rainbow sprinkles before glaze sets
What Pairs Well With Strawberry Pop Tart Sugar Cookies?
These nostalgic strawberry pop tart sugar cookies pair perfectly with cold milk, hot coffee, or vanilla ice cream for dessert indulgence. We love packing them in lunch boxes alongside fresh strawberries and cheese sticks for fun school lunches. For parties, serve them with other retro inspired treats like Rice Krispie treats, sugar cookies, or birthday cake. They're also amazing at bake sales, birthday parties, or as homemade gifts that make people smile.
Strawberry Pop Tart Sugar Cookies Variations
Blueberry Pop Tart Version
- Swap strawberry jam for blueberry preserves in filling
- Use purple food coloring instead of pink in glaze
- Add lemon zest to cookie dough for bright flavor
- Tastes just like those blue frosted Pop Tarts from childhood
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookies
- Replace strawberry filling with cinnamon sugar butter mixture
- Use brown sugar glaze instead of pink frosting
- Add extra cinnamon to cookie dough for warmth
- Classic brown sugar Pop Tart flavor in cookie form
S'mores Pop Tart Cookies
- Fill with chocolate hazelnut spread and marshmallow fluff
- Use chocolate glaze instead of pink icing
- Add crushed graham crackers to cookie dough
- Campfire nostalgia meets breakfast pastry
Raspberry Cream Cheese Filled
- Mix cream cheese with raspberry jam for filling
- Use white glaze with pink drizzle on top
- Add freeze dried raspberries to dough for extra berry flavor
- Fancier, more sophisticated Pop Tart cookie
Equipment
- Stand mixer or electric hand mixer for creaming butter
- Rolling pin for even dough thickness
- Rectangle cookie cutters or knife for cutting shapes
- Parchment paper lined baking sheets
- Small saucepan for cooking jam filling
- Fork for sealing cookie edges
- Wire cooling racks
Storage Tips That Keep It Fresh
Best Fresh
- Serve within 2 days of baking for softest texture
- Cookies are most tender when glaze is freshly set
- The filling stays perfectly gooey when fresh
- Store at room temperature in airtight container
Make Ahead Strategy
- Bake unfilled cookies up to 3 days ahead and freeze
- Prepare filling and glaze separately, store in refrigerator
- Assemble and frost cookies day of serving for best results
- Cookie dough can be frozen up to 3 months wrapped tightly
Reheating Instructions
- Warm unfrosted cookies in 300°F oven for 5 minutes
- Don't reheat frosted cookies or glaze will melt everywhere
- Let come to room temperature naturally for best texture
- Microwave 10 seconds if you want slightly warm cookies
Strawberry Pop Tart Sugar Cookies Top Tips
The first time I made these, every single cookie leaked strawberry filling all over my baking sheets because I didn't cook the jam filling with cornstarch first. Raw jam is too thin and seeps out during baking, creating a mess and leaving your cookies hollow. My friend Katie (who worked at a fancy bakery in college) watched me struggle through batch three and finally told me the professional secret. You have to cook the jam with cornstarch until it thickens like pie filling. It seems like an annoying extra step, but it's the difference between Pinterest fail cookies and bakery perfect ones. Take the five minutes to thicken that filling properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use store bought jam instead of making my own filling?
Yes, but you still need to cook it with cornstarch to thicken it. Straight from the jar, jam is too runny and will leak everywhere during baking.
Do I have to use cake flour?
No, all purpose flour works perfectly for these cookies. Cake flour would make them too delicate and they might fall apart when you fill them.
Can I use a different flavor of Pop Tart or jam?
Absolutely! Any flavor jam or preserves works. Just stick with the same measurements and thickening technique for whatever filling you choose.
How can I tell when the cookies are done baking?
They should be barely golden at the edges but still pale on top. They'll look slightly underbaked but will firm up as they cool.
Childhood Nostalgia Perfected
Twenty-five batches later, these strawberry pop tart sugar cookies finally taste exactly like I remember Pop Tarts tasting in my childhood, which means they're probably way better than actual Pop Tarts ever were. Funny how nostalgia works like that.
Craving more fun cookie recipes? Our Peppermint Swirl Cookies bring holiday magic to sugar cookies, while Raspberry Filled Almond Snowball Cookies offer elegant fruit filled perfection. Want instant gratification? Try our Edible Sugar Cookie Dough when you need cookie flavor without turning on the oven.
Tag your strawberry pop tart sugar cookies creations @HannahAndSproutKitchen with #StrawberryPopTartCookies! Every time someone posts their batch, I get this ridiculous urge to bake another dozen immediately.
Star ⭐️ Rate this strawberry pop tart sugar cookies recipe and share your favorite Pop Tart flavor memory!
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Strawberry Pop Tart Sugar Cookies
Equipment
- 1 Stand mixer or hand mixer (For creaming butter and cream cheese)
- 1 Rolling Pin (To roll out chilled dough evenly)
- 1 Rectangle cookie cutter or knife (For cutting Pop Tart shapes)
- 2 Baking sheets (Line with parchment paper)
- 1 Saucepan (For cooking strawberry jam filling)
- 1 Fork (To seal cookie edges)
- 1 Wire cooling rack (For cooling before glazing)
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 2 ½ cups All-purpose flour - Spoon and level for accuracy
- ½ teaspoon Baking powder - Adds light texture
- ¼ teaspoon Salt - Balances sweetness
- 1 cup Unsalted butter - Softened to room temperature
- 2 oz Cream cheese - Softened for tenderness
- ¾ cup Granulated sugar - For sweetness and structure
- 1 large Egg - Room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract - Adds warm flavor
- ½ teaspoon Almond extract - Enhances cookie flavor
Strawberry Filling
- ¾ cup Strawberry jam - Cooked with cornstarch for thick filling
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch - Thickens jam
- 2 teaspoon Lemon juice - Balances sweetness
Pink Glaze & Toppings
- 1 ½ cups Powdered sugar - For glaze
- 2 tablespoon Milk - Adjust for glaze consistency
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract - For glaze flavor
- 2 drops Red food coloring - Optional for pink glaze
- Rainbow sprinkles - For topping
Instructions
- Beat butter, cream cheese, and sugar until light.
- Mix in egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
- Fold in flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Heat jam, cornstarch, and lemon juice until thick.
- Flatten to ¼ inch thickness between parchment.
- Slice into 2x3 inch rectangles.
- Add jam to center and seal with fork.
- 350°F for 12–14 minutes, until edges turn light gold.
- Drizzle pink icing and add sprinkles before it sets.
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