Description
Celebrate the holidays with these charming Deck The Halls Pop-Tart Ornaments! Made from flaky pie dough filled with sweet cherry preserves or Nutella, these edible ornaments are baked to golden perfection and beautifully decorated with festive icing. Perfect for gifting, hanging on the tree, or enjoying as a holiday treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Dough and Filling
- 1 (14-oz.) box pie dough (for 2 crusts)
- All-purpose flour, for dusting
- 1 large egg
- 8 to 9 Tbsp. cherry or other fruit preserves, or Nutella
Glaze and Decoration
- 1 cup (115 g) confectioners’ sugar (or more as needed)
- 1 tsp. corn syrup (optional)
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Colored gel icing, for decorating
- Ribbon or string, for hanging (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dough: Arrange a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 425°F (220°C). Let the pie dough sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes to make it easier to roll out.
- Roll and Cut Dough: Lightly flour your work surface and roll out one round of pie dough into a rectangle about 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick. Use a cookie cutter, pastry wheel, or sharp knife to cut the dough into six 5″ x 3″ rectangles. Reroll the scraps to cut more rectangles. Repeat with the second round of dough for a total of 12 rectangles. Place them on two parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Assemble Pop-Tarts: In a small bowl, beat the egg with 1 teaspoon of water to make an egg wash. Lightly brush the borders of six dough rectangles with the egg wash. Spoon about 1 heaping tablespoon of fruit preserve into the center of each of these six rectangles—be careful not to overfill. Top each with the remaining six rectangles, pinch edges tightly to seal, and then crimp with a fork. Brush the tops lightly with egg wash.
- Bake: Bake the pastries in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown. If you plan to hang the pop-tarts as ornaments, carefully create a 1/2″ hole near the top edge with the end of a chopstick or skewer before baking. Transfer baked pastries to a wire rack and let them cool completely.
- Prepare Glaze: In a medium bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar, corn syrup (if using), a pinch of kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon of water. Stir well, adding more water in 1/2 teaspoon increments if needed, until the glaze reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency. If it’s too runny, add additional confectioners’ sugar to thicken.
- Decorate: Spread about 2 tablespoons of the glaze over the cooled pastries. Use colored gel icing to add festive decorations such as lights or other holiday motifs. Allow the glaze and icing to set for at least 15 minutes.
- Add Hanging Ribbon (Optional): Once the glaze is set, thread ribbon or string through the pre-made hole to hang the pop-tart ornaments on your holiday tree or around your home.
Notes
- Make sure the edges are sealed tightly to prevent the filling from leaking during baking.
- You can substitute Nutella or any other jam for the cherry preserves based on preference.
- If you don’t have a rectangle cookie cutter, a sharp knife or pizza cutter works well for cutting dough shapes.
- Use a gentle hand when making the hole for hanging to avoid tearing the dough.
- Store unglazed pop-tarts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days; once glazed, they are best eaten the same day.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: holiday treats, pop-tarts, Christmas ornaments, baked desserts, cherry preserves, Nutella, festive snacks
