Last Updated on September 23, 2021 by Chenée Lewis
With this sweet potato pop tarts recipe, I’m participating in the 2021 Black History Virtual Potluck, a collaborative menu of recipes contributed by nearly 40 Black bloggers from around the globe in honor of Black History Month. Follow along with #BHMVP2021, and see a sampling of some of the amazing participant recipes down below.
If you're like me, you grew up eating Pop Tarts, and they bring back lots of great childhood memories! They're such a great grab-and-go treat and so yummy, so it just makes sense that a homemade version would be fantastic! This sweet potato homemade pop tarts recipe bakes up such a perfect fall treat! They're full of amazing sweet potato flavor and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Then they're wrapped up in a flaky crust and frosted with a rich brown butter icing. They're SO good, and this pop tarts recipe is definitely a must-bake this holiday season.
Best of all, these homemade pop tarts recipe is so easy! We're using store-bought pie crust and frozen sweet potato chunks, so they're a super simple way to enjoy a delicious breakfast on the go, afternoon snack, or easy dessert. They'd be fantastic for a quick and easy Thanksgiving morning breakfast or brunch, or a surefire hit for Friendsgiving! Here's what you'll need to put together this sweet potato pop tarts recipe:
Ingredients
- pie crust - I used store-bought Pillsbury pie crust for this pop tarts recipe to make it even easier, but you can definitely use your favorite homemade pie dough too!
- frozen cubed sweet potato - this was a fantastic shortcut to make this pop tarts recipe! I just picked up some frozen sweet potato chunks from Aldi (I've also seen it in several other supermarkets too, near the other frozen veggies!). You can also use leftover sweet potato casserole or sweet potato soufflé, or just bake a large sweet potato for about an hour and scrape out the flesh. But definitely the frozen sweet potatoes were the easiest. It took just 5 minutes to microwave them (in the bag!) and they were ready to go!
- brown sugar - to give a nice rich sweetness to our sweet potato filling.
- cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger - the same spices I use in my sweet potato pie recipe. I find this is the perfect combination to complement that delicious sweet potato flavor!
- vanilla extract - make sure you use a good pure vanilla extract! I like this one.
- egg wash - just an egg beaten with a little water! An egg wash helps to bind the pie dough to itself, and helps these pop tarts to get nice and flaky and golden brown.
Then, once your pop tarts are done baking, you'll whip up a super-easy brown butter icing for this pop tarts recipe! If you haven't made brown butter before, I definitely recommend checking out my How to Brown Butter post for step-by-step instructions. But actually it's super easy! Once you've browned your butter you'll just whisk together your icing ingredients:
- brown butter
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
- whole milk
Equipment
This is a pretty straightforward recipe, so none of the tools are that specialized. But you will need a few tools to make it easier! I use a rolling pin to roll out the dough, a pizza cutter to cut the pie dough into the rectangles, and a pastry brush to brush on the egg wash. You'll also need a light-colored sauté pan to brown your butter and a lined baking sheet. For this pop tarts recipe, my Nordicware Baker's Big Sheet and Silpat ¾-sheet liner are the perfect size!
Related Recipes
If you like this pop tarts recipe, I've got so much more for you to try! This easy sweet potato pop tarts recipe is based on my Brown Butter Black-Bottom Sweet Potato Pie recipe! I make this pie many times every holiday season, and it's always a showstopper. It uses roasted sweet potatoes, brown butter, and a black-bottom blind bake à la Patti Labelle!
You should also check out my Peach Turnovers recipe for another easy handheld treat, this time made with store-bought puff pastry!
Equipment you may need
- potato masher
Ingredients
- 1 10-oz package frozen sweet potato chunks - or two medium sweet potatoes, baked skin on (see note)
- ¼ cup light brown sugar - packed
- ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch ground nutmeg
- pinch ground ginger
- 2 pie crusts - store-bought or homemade (see note)
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour - for dusting
- 1 large egg - beaten with 1 teaspoon water
Cinnamon Brown Butter Icing
- 3 tablespoon brown butter - (see note)
- 1¼ cup powdered sugar - sifted (180g)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoon whole milk - plus more if needed
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking liner.
- Microwave frozen sweet potatoes (in steamable bag) according to package directions, or until very soft.
- Transfer cooked sweet potatoes to a large bowl and purée with an immersion blender or mash with a potato masher.
- Add brown sugar, vanilla, and spices and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
- On a lightly-floured work surface, roll out pie crust to ⅛th-inch thick. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut edges to form a rectangle.
- Cut dough in half end-to-end, then into fourths across to make 8 rectangles.
- Repeat with second pie crust, using previously formed rectangles as a guide, to form 16 rectangles of the same size and shape. Set 8 of the rectangles aside.
- Spread filling in center of remaining pastry rectangles by heaping tablespoons, leaving ½-inch of pastry exposed all around.
- Brush exposed pastry with egg wash. Top with reserved pastry rectangles and crimp edges with a fork. Brush tops of pastry with more egg wash and poke with a toothpick to create vent holes.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until golden. Allow pastries to cool before icing.
- To make cinnamon brown butter icing, whisk together all icing ingredients until smooth. Add more milk if needed to achieve thinner consistency. Spread over cooled pastries.
Video
Notes
Black History Month Virtual Potluck 2021
I'm so excited to join with 40+ other Black food bloggers to share recipes and traditions in celebration of Black History Month this year. Below is the full list of participant recipes -- take a look and try them out, and if you make them be sure to share using the hashtag #BHMVP2021!
Passionfruit Coconut Layer Cake | A Classic Twist
Shrimp and Cauliflower Grits | A Girl Called Adri
Malawah (Somali Sweet Pancake) | A Sweet Point Of View
Spicy Okra & Corn Salsa | Beautiful Eats & Things
Peanut Curry Braised Ribs | Britney Breaks Bread
Buttermilk Fried Chicken | Butter Be Ready
Sweet Potato Pop Tarts with Brown Butter Icing | Chenée Today
Homemade Cajun Andouille Sausage with Shrimp and Grits | Cooks with Soul
Suya-Spiced Brussels Sprouts | Dash of Jazz
Stewed Okra & Tomatoes with Chicken Sausage | Dude That Cookz
Buttermilk Cornbread With Southern “Sprinkles” | Erique Berry Co.
Yam and Plantain Curry | Ethically Living
Sourdough Discard Honey Rosemary Cornbread | Feed The Malik
Smoked Jamaica Jerk Chicken | Food Fidelity
Sweet & Tangy Collards | FoodLoveTog
Jerk Shrimp Cakes and Grits | Geo's Table
Gluten-Free Chicken and Waffles with Maple Bourbon Glaze | Good Food Baddie
Tropical Candied Yams | Handy Chef
Trinidadian Beef Stew | Heal Me Delicious
Cornmeal Coo Coo Recipe | HomeMadeZagat
Caribbean Oxtail | Just Add Hot Sauce
Creole Oxtails Stew | Kenneth Temple
Sweet Potato Bundt Cake | Lenox Bakery
Brown Sugar Cornmeal Waffles w/ Sweet Tea Maple Syrup | Margaritas On The Rocks
Southern Potato Salad | Meiko And The Dish
Sugar Coated Vanilla Peanuts | Murielle Banackissa
Hoppin' John Fritters | Nik Snacks
Blackened Catfish and Smoked Gouda Grits | Pink Owl Kitchen
Lemon Pepper Honey Chicken Wings | Razzle Dazzle Life
BBQ Lentils over Grits | Rosalynn Daniels
Shito Pepper | Savory Thoughts
Cast Iron Buttermilk Biscuits | Seasoned To Taste
Black Eyed Peas: A Savory Southern Favorite | Sense & Edibility
Smoky Sweet Potato and Tahini Stew | Supper With Michelle
Authentic Misir Wot | Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew | That Green Lyfe
The Lamin Rice (Afro-Fusion Jollof Rice) | The Food Disciple
Sweet Potato & Coconut Cinnamon Rolls | Vee the Baker
Oven-Baked BBQ Ribs | Whisper of Yum
Don't lose this pop tarts recipe! PIN it for later!
Jennifer
Can’t wait to try these! Thinking of making these a little smaller (like half the size) for a breakfast party. Do I need to cut the baking time down any?
Chenée Lewis
I'd say that if they're the same thickness then it would be pretty much the same baking time, but maybe start checking them after 20 minutes just to be safe! Enjoy 🙂
Caroline
Oh my goodness, these look so fun and love the idea of that sweet potato filling.
Chenée Lewis
Thank you! I wanted a pop tart version of sweet potato pie! 🙂
Anita
Such a yummy treat! These homemade pop-tarts taste so much better than any store-bought version. 🙂
Chenée Lewis
Thank you! And they're almost as easy! 🙂
Beth
Yum! These look so delicious and I can't wait to give these a try! My husband is going to love this!
Chenée Lewis
I hope so! Let me know how it works out for you!
Deanne Frieders
Why have I never thought of making them with sweet potato?? Genius idea!!
Chenée Lewis
Thanks! They came from my love of sweet potato pie!
Sally Humeniuk
I can't believe these only take 40 minutes to make and they're absolutely adorable! Just what I'm looking for to add a fun pie option for the kids at Thanksgiving that isn't exactly "pie". Great pictures, too!
Chenée Lewis
Oh yeah I'm sure the kids'll love these!!