Home Made Pop Tarts!

Ok, so maybe they aren't EXACTLY like a pop tart, but they are WAY more healthier.  My niece spent the day with me so I made these for breakfast.  She really seemed to enjoy them...

 

Nom Nom Nom

So this isn't so much of a recipie as it is a tutorial becase really all these are is toasted BP & J sandwiches... with a fancy tiwst.  I heard that the chef at the White House did something similar for the the Easter brunch they do each year, and this was inspired from that.  

 

Indredients:

• Bread - sans the crust
• Peanut Butter
• Berries (I used Raspberries and sliced Strawberries)
• Butter/Butter Spray

 

Directsion:

 

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. 

 

Spread Peanut butter around the middle of a crustless slice of bread, leaving about a half inch margine on all sides around this.  Place a couple berries in the middle.  Cover with a 2nd slice of crustless bread and use a fork to press the sides down so they stick together.  Repeat for as many tarts as you are wanting to make. 

 

Place these on a pan and spray each side with the butter spray (I can't beleive it's not butter) or melt some butter and use a pastry brush to spread butter on each side.  Place the pan in the over and cook each side about 10 minutes, or until browned.  Total of around 20 minutes.  You can do this faster at a higher temperature, however the lower temperature/longer time is better for really cooking the berries and getting them nicely warm and soft. 

 

Notes: 

• Peanut Butter- I suggest using an organic dark roast peanut butter, with only peanuts and salt listed in the ingredients.  Not only is it healthier, but you'll get a lot more flavor out of a small amount vs. using Jiff or Skippy, etc etc... My personal favorite is Santa Cruz brand creamy dark roast. 
• Berries vs Jelly- You can use jelly instead for a PB&J if you don't have berries.  I prefer the berries as there is less sugar and more berry flavor.  When the berries cook they melt into the PB so it comes out really nice in my opinion. 
• Frozen vs. Fresh- If you have frozen berries, defrost them first!  Get out all the excess water that happens in the defrosting period prior to using them so that you don't wind up with soggy tarts. 

 

 

Nutrition: This will really depend on the bread you use and if you use real butter vs the spray substitue.  If you do as I suggested with the Sarah Lee Delightful, 2 tsp of peanut butter per tart, real fruit, and the spray, each one will have a value of 4 WW 2012 PointsPlus.