DISCLAIMER: This post was developed in sponsored partnership with Philips, however, as always, all opinions are genuine.
Healthy Strawberry Lemonade Vegan Pop-tarts that are the perfect good-for-you treat when you need a little pick me up.
My mom was what I call a real-world mom. We weren’t raised on house churned grass-fed butter, or organic free-range ducks from our backyard. Nope. We were a busy family. We were always on the run to some activity, class or job, so most of our meals were usually in the car. I would be lying if I said that pop-tarts weren’t a morning staple and that “blue” was the breakfast flavour of choice.
Today, not a whole lot has changed. Okay, so I am a dietitian and I prefer my pop-tarts from a bakery, not a box, and served at the dining room table (usually) after dinner as dessert, but I still have a serious nostalgic love for the things. I can’t believe I don’t have a pop tart recipe on my blog, so I figured this was the time to do it. 
How to Make Strawberry Lemonade Vegan Pop-tarts
I really don’t know how store-bought pop-tarts are made, but judging by their ingredients and nutritional information, I would say, probably not health-fully. So I decided to lighten up my vegan pop-tarts with extra fibre and air-fry them using my new Philips Airfryer. If you haven’t used this amazing appliance yet, it essentially uses a unique TurboStar technology to get air circulation to each corner of the basket so you get perfectly fried food – without the fat. Seriously, I don’t even add any oil to the basket and they cook 50% more evenly than other Airfryers while getting crispy and golden brown just like the butter-loaded pastries I ate as a kid. It’s also crazy fast (just 10 minutes to cook- you don’t even have to preheat!) and really easy to clean because it’s super non-stick and dishwasher safe. And if you’ve had a Philips Airfryer before, you’ll be happy to know that this model is 20% smaller than last year’s but it has the exact same capacity.
To make the filling for my Strawberry Lemonade Vegan Pop-tarts, I make a super quick low sugar chia jam that has become a fan favourite on my blog. I feel like since we’re DEFINITELY going to have to have icing and sprinkles, we can cut the sugar in the jam, and my chia jam adds loads of nutrition with omega 3s and fibre. This recipe will make a big batch of chia jam because I KNOW you’re going to want to put it on EVERYTHING (yeah… you’re welcome).
The dough is equally as simple. I don’t do pastry often because I usually find it to be such a pain, so if I’m willing to do this- you know it’s easy peasy. I cut into small, cute, mini vegan pop-tarts for those times I just need a little quick fix, but hey, if you want to go for the classic momma-size, you do you. 
OK so don’t hate me, but I skipped the “blue” icing for something a wee-bit more sophisticated. Lemon icing always reminds me of my grandma who ALWAYS made the same lemon iced cake for birthdays and celebrations (and we were all OK with that). Lemon icing is my bae. 
Once you’ve got your dough, your chia jam and your lemon icing ready, you just assemble your vegan pop-tarts, pop them in the Airfryer for just 10 minutes and if you can wait until they’re cool- you get to decorate! Eek! This is legit the reason for making these Strawberry Lemonade Vegan Pop-tarts. My assistant and I were in our own little zen state while decorating these up, and yes, I spent a LOT of time contemplating which sugar to pair with which sprinkle. Hey, these are serious life decisions.
Whatever you pack on there, these Strawberry Lemonade Vegan Pop-tarts are the perfect sweet treat to bring you back to the ease of your childhood without the preservatives or crazy fat. If you want some more airfrying inspiration, you can download the free Philips Airfryer app for amazing recipes with step-by-step instructions.
Now tell me, what are your favourite childhood treats?
What did you have for breakfast as a child that you miss?
Have you tried making these Strawberry Lemonade Vegan Pop-tarts?
Leave me a comment below with your thoughts!
Strawberry Lemonade Vegan Pop-Tarts
Ingredients
Strawberry Chia Jam:
- 1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries fresh or frozen
- 1 1/2 cups pitted dark cherries
- 2 tbsp lemon juice or to taste
- 2 tsp maple syrup or to taste
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
Pop-tarts:
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar
- 2/3 cup very cold coconut oil
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (or so) ice cold water
Lemon Glaze:
- 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp melted coconut oil
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- Colourful sprinkles to decorate
Instructions
Chia Jam:
- In a saucepot, heat the cherries and strawberries until they start to bubble and get syrupy. Once super soft, mash them with a potato masher until the mixture is jammy, loose, and with some visible little bits of fruit in it.
- Add in the lemon juice and maple syrup, and taste. Adjust the lemon and maple syrup depending on the sweetness of your fruit.
- Take the mixture off of the heat, transfer it to a container and add in the chia seeds. Allow the mixture to set for at least 20 minutes, or until it thickens up. You’ll have lots of extra jam so you can use it on toast or on oatmeal throughout the week.
Pop-tarts:
- In a large bowl, mix flours, salt and sugar. Cut in the cold coconut oil with a pastry cutter or fork until you see tiny pea-shaped pieces in the dough.
- Drizzle in the vanilla and one tablespoon at a table, add in the ice cold water. It should be moist enough that you can form it into a ball without it flaking away, but not sticky.
- Cut the dough in half and lightly flour your surface and rolling pin. Roll out the dough to just a few millimeters thick then cut into 5 cm by 7 cm rectangles. Place the rectangles on a baking sheet lined with a silpat or parchment paper.
- Place one heaping teaspoon of jam onto half of the dough rectangles in the centre. Then wet your finger and moisten all around the perimeter (around the jam). Top with another rectangle, and using your fork, crimp the edges to seal. Poke three sets of three holes into the top of the pop tart with your fork. Continue with remaining pop-tarts. Place the baking sheet in the fridge to set for 20 minutes.
- Heat the Philips Airfryer to 400 F. Add four pop-tarts to the fryer basket and set the timer for 10 minutes. Remove and repeat with the remaining pop-tarts until they’re all cooked. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes.
Lemon Glaze:
- In a bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, coconut oil and vanilla extract.
- Spread about a teaspoon of the icing on each of the pop-tarts and decorate with your favourite sprinkles and sugars. Allow the icing to set and enjoy!
Disclaimer: This recipe was developed in paid partnership with Philips, however, all opinions are genuine.
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian, an avid food writer and blogger, a cookbook author and the founder of Abbey’s Kitchen Inc.
Leslie says
June 25, 2019 at 11:24 pmThis might be your best recipe yet! Super fun, creative, and a must try for all!
Abbey Sharp says
June 28, 2019 at 12:24 pmAw thanks love
Amy Gorin says
June 25, 2019 at 3:25 pmWow, these look great! love the color!
Abbey Sharp says
June 28, 2019 at 12:25 pmThanks Amy!
Vegan Lover says
March 5, 2019 at 11:59 pmHi, your recipe calls for cherries but they are not listed in the ingredients. How many and what kind of cherries? Thanks, can’t wait to try this!
Abbey Sharp says
March 7, 2019 at 8:33 amSo sorry! Fixed the recipe. 1 1/2 cups of pitted dark cherries and 1 1/2 cups of strawberries. Enjoy!
Beverly Saffmond says
June 30, 2018 at 5:59 pmYes,
Had this for eight months now so its time to give a review of it. Its far more useful than I ever thought. It took me a bit to adjust to it and learn how to make some things with it. Looking back I hesitated too much. This thing is just great for many things. I have quit using my deep fryer. I use far less oil in cooking than I did. I find as I adjust to how it works I find new things to do with it. It is a breeze to set up and clean up. It saves us time in the kitchen while making very tasty meals. I love doing chicken and pork in it. They are simple to use. Just select the temperature you want, set the time allowing a couple of minutes for warm up. When its heated up and ready put in the basket of food and go about your business. During the cooking cycle you will want to check it, stir stuff up a bit to make it cook evenly and may want to check your items with a thermometer depending on what you are cooking. You will soon adapt to it and learn what works best. I like that the outside of the unit does not get “hot” when running. Warm a bit, sure, but certainly not hot. I can put my hand on it while cooking. The hot air circulates with the internal fan and does a great job of cooking the food without burning it. It does not spew oil and odors all over the kitchen either, a real plus! I like to take chicken or pork, cut it into bite sized cubes, marinate it in my favorite sauce than toss it in. You can make some wonderful stir fried meals like this quickly and easily. I will cube up some pork loin, add some mushrooms, onion, garlic, whatever, toss it around in my favorite Asian sauce then put it all in the basket together for 15 minutes or so. Serve it over some rice and what a lovely meal. Clean up is a snap . I put some detergent in the basket, add some water, splash it around for a minute and let it sit while I clean up the dishes. By the time I am done with those its ready for a quick brush and rinse in the sink. The non-stick surface come spotlessly clean with very little effort. Others have written its praises and I have to agree with them, this thing is worth every penny it costs. Its cuts down on work load and adds to the quality of your dishes. Its inspired me to try some new items as it cooks so well. Its easy to use and clean and cooks quickly. Love it…
Thank you very much
Abbey Sharp says
July 3, 2018 at 8:46 amThanks so much for sharing your review! I loved using it as well
Beverly K. Saffmond says
June 30, 2018 at 5:58 pmLOVE this! We have used this everyday since it came in! Wings, zucchini chips, low carb wraps brushed with olive oil and cut for homemade tortilla chips, I could go on!! I highly recommend this!
Abbey Sharp says
July 3, 2018 at 8:46 amSo much you can do with it! Thanks love
Emma says
June 30, 2018 at 3:45 pmWhat temp and time would you recommend baking them in a regular oven for?
Abbey Sharp says
July 3, 2018 at 8:47 amHmm I would guess 350F and 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on it and it should be done when the edges are golden brown. We didn’t test them in an oven, so just be sure to watch them carefully.
Tiffany says
August 9, 2017 at 3:23 pmThese pop tarts look amazing! Can they be baked instead?
Abbey Sharp says
August 10, 2017 at 8:02 amYes! They totally can! Enjoy 🙂
Samantha says
August 3, 2017 at 6:59 amIs there a listing of your recipes with the nutritional information? Everything looks wonderful but I like to know how much carb and protein specifically before I commit to making a recipe. Thanks so muchamuch!
Abbey Sharp says
August 3, 2017 at 8:07 amHey Samantha, I try to avoid listing specific calorie information. I focus more on the quality of the ingredients rather than its calorie content. I do list the overall calorie information, but not a complete breakdown. If you’d like you can use specific apps to analyze my recipes. Thanks 🙂
Kelly @ TastingPage says
June 26, 2017 at 8:15 pmI love to see a healthy unicorn treat 🙂 There’s so much crap in the other one’s, but yours looks spot on!
Annmarie says
June 24, 2017 at 5:45 amI haven’t had a pop tart in decades – yours look way more delicious than the store bought kind!
Abbey Sharp says
June 26, 2017 at 8:56 amhah thanks Annmarie 🙂
Emily | EmPowered Nutrition says
June 23, 2017 at 11:49 amAbbey! You have made all my dreams come true! These look amazing!
Abbey Sharp says
June 26, 2017 at 8:57 amhaha yay!! Thanks Emily 🙂
Danielle Cushing says
June 23, 2017 at 10:52 amThis is amazing, you are a total badass with this cake!
Abbey Sharp says
June 23, 2017 at 11:15 amaw thanks girl!!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
June 23, 2017 at 8:52 amWoah the air fryer sounds awesome! I’ve never used one before! And these pop tarts look so yummy 🙂
Kelly Jones says
June 23, 2017 at 8:38 amThis is so cute! I bet I can make something similar for the 4th of July here in the US!
Abbey Sharp says
June 23, 2017 at 8:52 amYes totally! Good luck 🙂
Ilka says
June 22, 2017 at 7:46 pmWhat a creative dessert idea and so perfect for Summer! Happy Canada Day!
Carmy @ carmyy.com says
June 22, 2017 at 6:04 pmTHIS IS SO CUTE! I love it!
Mandy Enright says
June 22, 2017 at 4:55 pmBeautiful ice cream!!!!
Abbey Sharp says
June 22, 2017 at 5:20 pmThanks Mandy!
Kelly Jones says
June 22, 2017 at 10:56 amYum! So many fun bean burger options!
Abbey Sharp says
June 22, 2017 at 5:20 pmYes! Totally 🙂
Christina Bauer says
June 21, 2017 at 11:19 pmOMG SO CUTE!! I love the flag look you gave these – totally clever. And the simplicity! I’m not Canadian, but I’d celebrate with you and this spread!!
Abbey Sharp says
June 22, 2017 at 5:22 pmhaha yay! Thanks Christina 🙂
dixya @food, pleasure, and health says
June 21, 2017 at 11:14 pmnever tried making semifreddo at home but i will celebrate any holiday if it involves delicious dessert like this one.
Abbey Sharp says
June 22, 2017 at 5:22 pmhaha that’s what I’m saying!
Anna says
June 21, 2017 at 8:09 pmI’m always so impressed with the research and literature you incorporate into your blog posts! I actually asked my neurologist about going keto when I was diagnosed with a mild seizure disorder, but she thought the costs would outweigh the benefits at my age.
I know this is a diet my health club/gym promotes (because obviously carbs make you fat, right?), but I agree with you – any diet that completely removes a food group or macronutrient is unsustainable and potentially dangerous. Thanks for a another great article!