Strawberry Pop Tarts (Valentine’s Day Heart Cookies)

Homemade strawberry pop tarts with pie crust are the easiest way to make adorable heart-shaped Valentine cookies filled with fresh jam and topped with a pink glaze.

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If you love the nostalgic taste of strawberry Pop Tarts but want something homemade, flaky, and made with real ingredients, this recipe is going to be your new favorite Valentine tradition. These bake up golden like little hand pies, are sealed perfectly using a heart ravioli mold, and look like they came straight from a bakery case — even though they are secretly made with store-bought pie dough.

Over the past few years, these have quietly become one of the Valentine treats my kids ask to make every single February. There’s something about the heart shapes, the sweet strawberry center, and the pink icing that makes this feel like a true holiday tradition in our kitchen.

What I love most is how much the kids can help with. They press the dough into the mold, carefully pipe the jam into each heart, and watch them turn golden in the oven. It’s simple, a little messy, and full of those sweet kitchen moments that make holiday baking so much fun.

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

These heart pop tarts are one of those recipes that look impressive but are secretly incredibly easy to make.

Not only do they come together with store-bought pie crust, but they also deliver that nostalgic strawberry pop tart flavor in a homemade, flaky, Valentine-worthy version. Because the jam is thickened before baking, the filling stays perfectly inside, and the ravioli mold guarantees beautiful heart shapes every time. They are kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, and holiday-perfect all at once.

• Uses refrigerated pie crust for a shortcut
• Homemade strawberry jam that won’t leak while baking
• No pastry skills required
• Perfect Valentine dessert for kids to help make
• Sealed and shaped perfectly using a ravioli mold

Ingredients to Make Strawberry Pop Tarts

These simple pantry and fridge staples transform into the cutest Valentine pop tarts you’ve ever seen.

Strawberry Jam Filling

• Fresh strawberries – give natural sweetness and real strawberry flavor
• Truvia Sweet Complete Granulated – sweetens without refined sugar
• Cornstarch + water – thickens the jam so it stays in place during baking

Cookies

• Refrigerated pie crust – eliminates the need to make dough from scratch
• Flour – helps roll the crust thinner for a flaky, bakery-style texture

Egg Wash

• Egg + water – helps seal the edges and gives a golden finish

Pink Glaze

• Powdered sugar – creates a smooth, sweet icing base
• Milk – thins the glaze to the perfect drizzle consistency
• Vanilla extract – adds warm flavor and makes the icing taste like bakery glaze
• Pink food coloring – gives the pop tarts their festive Valentine loo

How to Make Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts with Pie Crust

Step 1: Make the Strawberry Jam

1. Dice the strawberries into small pieces.
2. Add them to a small saucepan with the Truvia and place over medium heat.
3. In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and water until smooth.
4. Pour this mixture into the strawberries and stir.
5. Continue stirring for 5–7 minutes. The mixture will thicken and look like jam.
6. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.
   Important: warm jam will make the dough soggy.

Once cooled, spoon the jam into a piping bag (or zip-top bag with the corner snipped).

Step 2: Prepare the Pie Dough

1. Lightly sprinkle flour on your counter.
2. Unroll one pie crust onto the floured surface.
3. Use a rolling pin to gently roll it a little thinner (about 1–2 inches wider than it started).

Step 3: Place Dough on the Ravioli Mold

Using the Ravioli Maker Press Mold:

1. Lay the rolled pie crust directly over the ravioli mold.
2. Use your fingers to gently press the dough down into each heart cavity.
   You should see little heart indents in the dough.

Step 4: Pipe in the Jam

1. Take your piping bag with the cooled jam.
2. Pipe about 1 teaspoon of jam into the center of each heart.
3. Do not overfill. The jam should stay inside the indented area.

Step 5: Add the Top Layer of Dough

1. Roll out a second pie crust slightly thinner, just like the first.
2. Carefully lay it over the top of the filled mold.

Step 6: Seal and Cut the Hearts

1. Use the small roller tool that came with the mold.
2. Firmly roll it across the entire mold, going over each heart.
3. This presses, seals, and cuts the heart pop tarts all at once.

Step 7: Egg Wash (Don’t Skip This)

1. Whisk together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water.
2. Use a brush to lightly coat the tops of each heart.

Step 8: Bake

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Place the hearts onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Bake for 12–15 minutes until lightly golden.
4. Let them cool completely before glazing.

Step 9: Make the Pink Glaze

• Whisk powdered sugar with milk until smooth.
• Add one drop of pink food coloring.
• Spoon the glaze over the cooled pop tarts.

Expert Tips for Perfect Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

These expert tips will help ensure your homemade strawberry pop tarts with pie crust turn out flaky, golden, and perfectly sealed every single time — even if you are a beginner baker.

• Cool the strawberry jam completely before filling the dough – Letting the jam cool allows it to thicken properly and stay in place inside the heart shapes.
• Do not overfill the hearts with jam – It can be tempting to add extra filling, but too much jam will push out the sides when you seal the dough.
• Roll the pie crust slightly thinner before placing it on the mold – Thinner dough creates flakier, more bakery-style pop tarts instead of thick, doughy ones.
• Use a piping bag (or zip-top bag) to add the jam – Piping the filling keeps it centered in the heart cavity and prevents messy overflow, which helps the edges seal properly.
• Roll the ravioli cutter firmly across the top to fully seal the edges – If the edges are not sealed well, the jam can escape during baking. Go over each heart more than once if needed.
• Do not skip the egg wash – The egg wash helps the homemade pop tarts turn golden brown and also reinforces the seal around the edges while baking.
• If any edges look loose, pinch them gently before baking – This extra step guarantees the filling stays inside and the hearts keep their shape.
• Let the pop tarts cool completely before adding the glaze – Adding glaze too early will cause it to melt and run off instead of setting into that pretty pink topping.

Watch the Tutorial

Make Ahead, Storage, and Reheating Tips

These homemade strawberry pop tarts with pie crust are perfect for making ahead, which makes them ideal for Valentine parties, classroom treats, or dessert trays. Because the filling is thick and the crust is sturdy, these hold their shape beautifully for days without getting soggy.

• Make Ahead: You can make the strawberry jam up to 2 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator. This actually makes assembly faster the day you bake.
• Storage: Store the finished pop tarts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They stay flaky and delicious.
• Reheating: If you want that warm, fresh-baked pop tart texture, microwave for 5–8 seconds before serving.
• Freezing: These freeze very well before glazing. Simply thaw and add the pink glaze before serving.

FAQ About Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts with Pie Crust

Can I use store-bought strawberry jam instead of homemade?
Yes, you can. However, homemade jam is thicker and less runny, which helps prevent leaking while baking. If using store-bought jam, choose a thick variety.

What if I don’t have a ravioli mold?
You can cut heart shapes with a cookie cutter, add jam to the center, top with another heart, and press the edges with a fork to seal.

Why did my pop tarts open while baking?
This usually happens from overfilling, warm jam, or not sealing the edges firmly enough with the roller.

Can I make these with other fillings?
Absolutely. Raspberry jam, Nutella, or even cream cheese and fruit filling all work well.

You’ll Also Love These Valentine’s Treats

If you’re making these heart-shaped strawberry pop tarts for Valentine’s Day, you’ll definitely want to check out these other fun, festive, and totally adorable treats from the blog:

• Heart Pizza Roses – Cheesy, savory pizza roses shaped like hearts — perfect for a Valentine’s dinner party or snack board.
• Cupcake Bouquet – A whimsical and giftable dessert bouquet made with cupcakes — ideal for gifting to teachers, friends, or classmates.
• Candy Heart Chocolate Bark – Quick, colorful chocolate bark studded with candy hearts — a fun and festive treat that’s as easy as it is delicious.
• Sweet and Simple Valentine’s Day S’mores Board – A gorgeous, crowd-pleasing dessert s’mores board filled with sweet bites and cute Valentine treats — perfect for parties or gatherings.