​Homemade Frosted Ghost Pop Tarts with Strawberry Filling

These Homemade Frosted Ghost Pop Tarts with Strawberry Filling are a spooky and delicious treat perfect for Halloween!

Made with a flaky pastry crust and filled with strawberry jam, these pop tarts are shaped into adorable ghostly figures. They are easy to make, delightfully festive, and perfect for adding a touch of spooky charm to breakfast or dessert.

Why I love Homemade Frosted Ghost Pop Tarts with Strawberry Filling

• Creative and Fun to Make: Shaping your homemade strawberry pop tarts into cute ghostly figures and decorating them with frosting and spooky faces is just fun and perfect for Halloween.

• Homemade is Always Better: These homemade pop-tarts (or toaster pastries) are not only cute but also delicious! If you love pop tarts, you're going to love the homemade version even more!

• Tasty Filling: I love the combination of the strawberry jam and the buttery pie crust.

• Fresh, Homemade Taste: Unlike store-bought pop tarts, homemade pop tarts have a flaky, buttery crust and fresh, flavorful fillings that elevate the taste and texture.

• Festive and Perfect for Halloween: These ghost-shaped pop tarts are an adorable, spooky treat so skip buying that box of pop-tarts at the store this Halloween.

• Fun for All Ages: Kids and adults alike will enjoy making and eating these treats. They add a playful and nostalgic element to your kitchen.

• Healthier Option: Since they are homemade, you have control over the ingredients, meaning you can opt for better quality, less processed ingredients for a healthier version of a favorite snack.

• Impressive but Easy to Make: They look impressive with their ghostly designs but are surprisingly easy to whip up, making them a great go-to for festive baking without the fuss.

Ingredient notes

• Flour - Use all purpose flour for the pastry dough. I used King Arthur unbleached.Choose your favorite brand.

• Sugar - You will need granulated sugar for the pop tart dough and powdered sugar or confectioners’ sugar for the glaze.

• Butter - Always go for unsalted butter when baking. This allows you to control the salt content more accurately. It needs to be cold and cubed for this recipe.

• Milk - Both regular dairy milk and dairy-free options (like almond, soy, or oat milk) work in this recipe. If you’re going for dairy-free, make sure it’s unsweetened to avoid altering the sweetness of the dough.

• Vanilla - Pure vanilla extract is recommended for the best flavor. Avoid using artificial vanilla extract, as it can have a chemical aftertaste.

• Jam - We used strawberry jam, but you can choose your favorite flavor of pop-tarts. Note: Strawberry preserves work as well.

• Black Food Coloring Gel - Gel-based food coloring is preferred over liquid because it provides a more intense color with less product. Available online or in the cake decorating section of craft stores. Look for brands that are labeled as food-safe and suitable for baking applications.

How to make Homemade Frosted Ghost Pop Tart with Strawberry Filling

For the pop tarts:

• Using a rolling pin, roll out the pie dough (see below for dough recipe made in the food processor) on a lightly floured surface. Use a ghost cookie cutter to cut out ghost shapes then place on a parchment paper lined baking sheets.

• Spoon strawberry jam on to half of the ghost cutouts and gently spread it out. Brush the edges with some milk.

• Place another ghost shape over the jam filled ghost. Press together with a fork to seal edges.

• Brush the tops of the pop tarts with some egg wash.  Bake in the middle of the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the pop tarts are golden brown.

• Once baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool on a cooling rack before glazing.

For the glaze:

• In a small bowl, sift in the powdered sugar and add in the vanilla and milk. Mix until smooth and its a thick, toothpaste like consistency. If its too runny, simply add in more powdered sugar until it’s the correct consistency.

• Remove a few teaspoons of icing into a separate bowl and color this with black food gel (this will be for the eyes and mouth).

• Dip tops of your pop tarts into glaze and allow any excess to drip back into the bowl. Allow the glaze to dry for about 10-12 minutes, then pipe 2 small dots for the eyes and a circle for the mouth. Allow to set then serve. The icing will dry at room temperature.

Quick tips

• Butter Tip: If your butter is soft, pop it into the freezer for a few minutes before cutting it into cubes.

• Don’t Overfill: Use just a teaspoonful or two of filling in each pop tart to avoid leakage. Too much filling can cause the sides to burst open during baking.

• Cool Before Frosting: Make sure the pop tarts are completely cool before adding the frosting, or it will melt and become runny.

• Get Creative with Ghost Faces: Use melted chocolate, candy eyes, or colored icing to make spooky faces on your ghost pop tarts. It’s a fun step for personalizing them!

• Try Different Fillings: If you prefer chocolate pop tarts, spread a little bit of melted chocolate chips on your ghost pastry instead of jam. Cinnamon pop tarts are also delicious. To make brown sugar cinnamon filling, mix ½ cup softened butter, ¼ cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon together, then spread onto ghost shaped pie dough instead of the jam. Or use your favorite pop tart flavor.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I use store-bought dough to make ghost pop tarts? Yes! Store-bought pie crust works perfectly for pop tarts. It's a convenient way to save time while still getting a flaky and delicious result.

• Can I use puff pastry for the crust part of this recipe? No, I would not recommend using puff pastry for this recipe.

• How do I prevent the filling from leaking out? To prevent leaks, don’t overfill the pop tarts. Use a small spoonful of filling and leave enough space around the edges. Press the edges tightly with a fork to seal them well.

• Can I use jelly instead of jam? Yes, but if using jelly, be aware that it's more liquidy than jam or preserves, so the filling may spread more during baking.

• Can I make these gluten-free or vegan? Yes! For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free pie crust or dough. For vegan pop tarts, opt for a vegan pie crust and use dairy-free butter and milk in the frosting.

• How do I store homemade ghost pop tarts? Store unfrosted pop tarts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Frosted pop tarts should be kept in the fridge. You can also freeze them (before or after baking) for longer storage.

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