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Something about the month of September makes me think of Pop-Tarts.

Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Really, I don’t know why that is. Maybe it’s the whole back to school thing, or maybe it’s because September to me means back to baking decadent things?? I don’t know, but either way I always think about Pop-Tarts in September. Do you remember way back, like two years ago when I made the chocolate fudge version of these pop-tarts? That recipe is one of the most popular on this site and… with good sticking reason…they are simply the best! I mean, the fudge filling is everything.

With all that said, I have been wanting to try out a peanut butter fudge version for a while now, and when September rolled around, my brain said “ok, Tieghan, it’s time!”. So happy about this, because the peanut butter fudge situation is one for the books. Meaning, it’s equally awesome to the chocolate fudge version.

One version isn’t any better than the other, you’re just either in a chocolate, chocolate mood or chocolate peanut butter mood. Make sense??

Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestHomemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Here’s the deal, don’t be afraid of making homemade Pop-Tarts, it’s actually a lot easier than you may think. Yes, you do have to make pie dough and roll it out, but I promise, you can do it!!

And just remember, the Pop-Tarts do not have to look perfect. Perfection is so overrated anyway. I am quickly learning this the hard way, but I am learning!!

The other day, I totally failed miserably at a bread recipe I was trying out. Like I burnt the top, almost to the point of blackness, but everything underneath was still totally doughy. This was my second try on this loaf of bread. Basically when I realized what I did I almost broke down in tears. BUT, I pulled myself together and bingo! I had the best idea. I just pulled off the top piece and put it back in the oven (covered with foil this time) and baked it till it smelled amazing. It wasn’t all that pretty, but it tasted amazing and was a total hit. AND, I didn’t end up wasting all those ingredients. So see, perfection is not always the best thing, you know?

Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestHomemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

WAIT… MAJOR RANDOM TALK: My brother Kai and Blake (I hope you all know who Blake is by now…) just walked in with pictures of cats. Like they really want me to get this cat. They keep bugging me to come to the shelter and look at the cats and I keep turning them down. I am still on the fence about whether or not I REALLY want a cat. I mean, I know they are easy, but I don’t know. I am WAY over thinking this thing. I should probably just get that cute all black cat before he is gone from the shelter. I’m sure getting a cat would take care of my mice problem, and let’s be honest, you know I would fall in love with it. I’m thinking his name will be either Killer (because that is what the boys keep calling him) or Crookshanks (…like Hermione Granger’s cat…because I am Harry Potter obsessed). I am leaning towards Killer, since the cat I want is black and looks nothing like Hermione’s fluffy tan cat…but oh my gosh, I would really love to have a cat named Crookshanks, so I don’t know. The decision struggle is REAL.

I guess I better actually get the cat before I start stressing about the name. Guys. I just don’t know what to do here. I want the cat, I don’t want the cat? UGH. My mind.

It is CRAZY. Like I am a full on crazy person and I know it. What do you think? Cat? No cat?

Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestHomemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestHomemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Do you think cats like peanut butter? Like I know that dogs do, but I have never heard of cats being into human food. Is that a thing?

If it is, I need to know because if this new Killer cat is going to be getting into my Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts, we are going to have issues. No one messes with my chocolate, peanut butter goodness. It sounds a little serious, but I think you guys know by now, I am pretty serious about my chocolate.

This cat needs to have a diet of mice. But um, I am totally freaking that he will leave the mouse by my pillow or something. Eew.

Ok, stopping with the cat talk now. But really, I think I kind of want this cat now. After seeing the picture I really want to cuddle with it. See, I knew they should have never showed me the picture. Once you see an animal, you just have to HAVE it. Puppies are the worst though. Like how do you walk away from a fluffy puppy? You just can’t.

Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestHomemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Ok, I am done. I swear. No more from me.

Or well, after this…

Make some homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts, feel like a kid again and be all happy inside. Yes, DO IT.

Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts.

Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 12 Pop tarts
Calories Per Serving: 368 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Fuge Filling

Dough

  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sticks cold butter cut into 1/2 inch pieces, 12
  • 1/2 cup ice cold water

Frosting

Instructions

  • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • To make the peanut butter fudge filling, beat together the peanut butter, 2 tablespoons butter, powdered sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar and salt. Add chunks of the butter and mix with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture is crumbly. Gradually add the water until the mixture is moistened and a dough forms. Place the dough in between two large sheets of parchment paper or onto a lightly floured surface. Then roll out into a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut the dough into rectangles, about 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches. Place a heaping tablespoon of the peanut butter filling on one half of the rectangle. Lay the other half of the dough over the filling and seal the edges by crimping with the back of a fork. Repeat until all the dough has been used, saving the scraps and re-rolling to make more rectangles. Cover the baking sheets and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Bake the pop-tarts for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.
  • While the pop-tarts cool make the frosting. In the bowl of stand mixer, mix the powdered sugar, meringue powder, vanilla, cocoa powder and 3 tablespoons water for about 7-10 minutes on medium speed, until peaks begin to form. Stir in the melted chocolate. If your frosting seems too thick, add water to thin. I found 5 tablespoons of water was good.
  • Spoon a thin layer of the frosting on top of the cooled pop-tarts. Allow frosting to harden 10 minutes and then if desired drizzle with warmed peanut butter and sprinkle with course salt or course sugar. Place on a baking sheet and allow the tart to harden uncovered, about 2 hours. Store in a sealed container for up to 1 week.

Notes

*I do not recommend placing frosted pop-tarts in the toaster as the frosting will melt. If you want to toast, leave the frosting off the pop-tarts, toast and then add the frosting just before eating. *Recipe adapted from my [Homemade Chocolate Fudge Pop-Tarts | https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-chocolate-fudge-poptarts/].
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Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Oh, and enjoy these with a big glass of cold milk. Yes. DO THIS too.

Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pop-Tarts | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

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Comments

  1. Please get the cat and name him Crookshanks!!! Like that would literally make me soooo happy!! I love Harry Potter too, plus it doesn’t matter if he’s not ginger, any cat will do!! Love the look of these Pop Tarts, I’m definitely gonna have to make them before school starts!:)

  2. Adding unneeded information Рmy fianc̩ wants a cat (a fat one with a squished face along with a turtle and big dog). But every time I think of cats I think of having hair everywhere ahhh.

  3. These poptarts look delicious. I am afraid to try making poptarts but I do have a couple recipes saved so I will try them..eventually.

    On the cat thing. You could try fostering a cat and see if you like it. Our humane society here have people who foster the cats and dogs so your shelter might too.

  4. These are so cute/beautiful! They look like the gourmet, infinitely more delicious version of what I grew up eating sometimes before school. Bravo!
    Best of luck deciding on adopting a cat (and the name of said cat!)
    xx Sydney

  5. I love the things your brain thinks of – these look fantastic – want one now!

    Get a cat cause you want a cat – not all cats are mousers – many will ignore them – I’m all for getting a cat – but not just for the mice 🙂

  6. Tieghan, these look soooooo good!! I think you should get the cat! My boyfriend and I are talking about getting a cat when we get our own place. And by talk, I mean I want a cat and he’s generously putting up with the idea of it. Crookshanks is an awesome kitty name, just sayin’.

  7. Whoa these pop tarts are so cool!! And they look deliciously chocolatey and fudgey 😉 Also I vote to get the cat!! It’s a lot of work having a pet, especially if you live alone, but I’ve found it to be so worth it!! 🙂

  8. Oh wow. Those are seriously gorgeous.. These would last all of 1 second at my house. We had a cat that went nuts for red licorice. Nuts! If it were up to me I’d be a crazy cat lady. Thankfully my loved ones made sure I had an early intervention. 😉

  9. I just had to stop by. These photos were calling me from Twitter and Google+. These are incredible with the perfect combo of flavors. I’ve got to try them for the kids. I’d probably win ‘Mom of the Year’ then. 🙂

    Hope all is well with you Tieghan!

  10. Get the cat! I rescued two a couple years ago from the shelter and they are the little loves of my life. Fair warning, you will probably get the dead mice as a “present” when you wake up. We have these toy mice and they always end up around our bed in the morning. Twice, we even woke up to the kitchen sponge in the bed (gross!!!).

  11. Can’t wait to try these. I know all the boys in my house will devour them in a heartbeat! Get the cat, no mice on the pillow but maybe on your doorstep. We have 2 and they are great. However, with any pet there are pluses and minuses….. just like people 🙂
    I don’t think you will regret it.

  12. Get the cat but name him Cruller…starts with cr like crookshanks, sounds like killer, but with a baker girl vibe 🙂
    And also…these look amazing! Will be making as soon as it isn’t 97 degrees.

  13. Get the cat! We have two. I always thought people with cats were slightly crazy about their pets, but now I understand. Our cats have enriched our lives. These pop tarts look amazing, btw!

  14. Oh I could eat these right now especially spoonfuls of the peanut butter.
    I will have to have peanut butter today.