Pre Run Heart Tarts

PRE RUN IS FOR LOVERS

I’ve been making these for my husband since our first Valentine’s Day when we were dating. This recipe will give you some loving, extra quick energy so you can go on your favorite adventure with your favorite somebody!

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE TARTS:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour ( can use gluten free sub.)

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ cup applesauce

• ¼ cup oil

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 egg

• 1 tbs cornstarch

• 1/2 cup strawberry jam or preserves

• Pink and red sprinkles, for topping (optional)

FOR THE ICING:

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 2 tablespoons milk

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

• optional: can add leftover preserves for red/pink colored icing

INSTRUCTIONS:

For the crust (note you can also purchase remade pie crusts and skip through step 6

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit / 170 C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, add flour and baking powder and whisk together. Set aside.

3. In a small mixing bowl mix together the apple sauce, oil and vanilla extract until smooth.

4. Add the apple sauce mixture to the dry ingredients, mix to form a dough. If the dough is a little dry add 1-2 teaspoons of ice cold water. Shape into a ball, cover in plastic wrap and allow to rest in the fridge for 15 minutes.

5. After resting, cut the dough in half. Place one half of the dough onto a sheet of baking paper, cover with another sheet of baking paper, and roll the dough out to ⅛-inch thick.

6. With a pizza cutter, cut the pastry into four equal rectangles or heart shapes. Repeat with the remaining pastry. You can shape into hearts, etc.

7. Arrange the cut pastry rectangles onto a prepared tray lined with parchment paper.

Make them into tarts!

1. Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of jam on one end of each strip. Brush a rectangle of egg around the jam, to glue the sides together. Fold the dry end over the end with jam.

2. Use a fork to crimp the edges together on all sides. Repeat with remaining pie crust strips.

3. Bake the pop tarts in the oven for ten to 15 minutes until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow the pop tarts to cool on a cooling rack.

1. To make icing, mix powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon milk and vanilla. Add remaining tablespoon milk if needed to make smooth but thick icing. If desired, color them with leftover preserves in place of food coloring. Spread icing over fully cooled hearts, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges. Top with red and pink sprinkles, if desired. Let icing set at room temperature.