Apple Pi(e) Tarts

Pop tarts are great. They are a quick and easy solution to breakfast, or for a snack. But the one problem with them is that they lack that substance in the filling. Pies are great because they have that substance, whether it be fruit or something of the nature, in their filling. But the problem with pies is that they are not portable. You can't just take a pie with you on the go, can you? So I decided to make pie tarts, pop tarts with pie filling. May I present to you, Apple Pi Tarts.

Step 1: Materials

If you have ever baked a pie before, or baked something, you know you really don't need much. For this project I used: two medium-large bowls, a small bowl, measuring cups, maesuring table and tea spoons, a fork, a butter knife, a cutting knife, a spoon, cookie sheet, wax paper, rolling pin, and that's it!

Step 2: Making the Dough

The first step is to make the dough for the pie tarts. Start by combining two and one fourth cups of flour and three fourths of a teaspoon of salt. Then add two thirds of a cup of shortening. An easy way to combine the shortening with the flour-salt mixture is to take the butter knife and cut away at the shortening in the bowl. Keep the bowl at an angle, and continue to cut the shortening into pea sized pieces. Next, add about one or two tablespoons of cold water at a time to the mixture. Between each tablespoon, stir the mixture until you get a dough that stays together when you pack it, but isn't extremely goey.

Step 3: Cut Out the Dough

Next, pack the dough into two balls. Take out a piece of waxpaper, and slightly flour it. Put a dough ball on the paper, and then put another piece of waxpaper on top of it. Then take a rolling pin and rool out the dough until you get the dough thin. Then, cut rectangles the size of a poptart. It really depends on how big or small you want the poptarts, but you don't want it too small. I made mine roughly 3 by 5 inches. I was able to make six rectangles (which makes 3 poptarts) with a little extra dough. I also made my poptarts a little thick, because I wanted an even balance of dough and filling. Prepare a cookie sheet by slightly greasing it so the pie dough doesn't stick. Then, place the cut out rectangles of dough about half an inch away from each other.

Step 4: Making the Filling

The next step is to make a filling. I choose an apple pie filling, because apple pie is an iconic pie that everyone likes. To start out, combine one fourth of a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, a little more than one fourth cup of sugar, and one sixteenth of a teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Then cut one apple into about two cups full of very small chunks. Mix the apple chunks with the mixture, and then you have your easy, yet good apple pie filling. 

Step 5: Filling the Pop Tarts

The next step is to fill the pop tarts. I tried to pick which of the six pieces of dough matched up evenly. Then, I chose the smaller piece and filled it with about two to three spoonfuls of apple pie filling. If you like a lot filling, or if you don't, you can moderate how much you put in. That's why you put the larger piece of dough on last. After putting on the filling, dip a brush (or your finger) in water and slightly wet the edges of the dough rectangles. Then, put the larger piece of dough on the smaller piece with the filling on it. Take a fork and press down around the edges of where the two pieces of dough meet. Next, poke some holes on the top of the pop tarts. When you are done, throw them in the oven at 375 degrees for around a half an hour or so.

Step 6: Making the Glaze

I chose to make a vanilla glaze. You don't have to, but I thought since vanilla ice-cream and apple pie go so well together, why not a vanilla glaze? To make the glaze, combine a tablespoon of milk, half a cup of powdered sugar, and a splash of vinalla. I wanted my glaze a little thicker, but if you don't, have more milk and less powdered sugar.

Step 7: Putting on the Final Touches

Wait until the pie tarts are completely cooled before you glaze them. A little glaze goes a long way, so make sure you don't just drench them in glaze. Once the glaze is halfway cooled on the pop tarts, take a bowl of red sprinkles and carefully push them in to make the pi symbol. You can decorate the pop tarts with whatever you want though, so be creative!

Step 8: Finish and Enjoy

You are finished! Put the pi tarts on a plate to cool off for a little, and then enjoy! They taste delicious, so make sure to share. Mmmmm... What's better than pie and math?

Make sure to vote for me in the contest if you like it, and I would love it if you left a comment and rated my instructable. Thanks!