Healthy Cherry "Pop-Tarts" (Vegan, GF, Fruit-Sweetened, Natural)

Finally, the long-awaited recipe has come! WHOLE fruit-sweetened pop-tarts -with homemade jam- that also happen to be vegan and gluten-free! No fruit juice concentrate in sight! They are bursting with sweet cherry & almond flavor, with a soft, buttery pink crust and a gooey jammy center. The cherry chia preserves are packed with bright cherry flavor and hints of lemon, almond, dates, and a chia crunch (and tbh are so much better than store-bought). Topping it off is a pink cherry glaze colored naturally with beets (or dragon fruit) and healthy DIY "sprinkles" (AKA crushed freeze-dried berries). And PSA: this new Dimpled Date healthy pop-tart flavor might just be my new favorite. These "pop-tarts" are great at room temp, warmed in the toaster, or even straight from the fridge or freezer, so enjoy them however you wish!

Jump to Recipe

Ok... so I've been gone for like.. a REALLY long time. I'm sorry. I've just been so busy with the baking leg of the business, and a new job, etc., and have had like zero time to devote to the blog. But I'm back because I love posting recipes, and that's what I'm here to do.

This next recipe is for Healthy Cherry "Pop-Tarts" that are vegan, gluten-free, and fruit-sweetened. And they are also 100% naturally colored using superfoods + fruit.

And the JAM. IS. TO. DIE. FOR. It is so sweet, fruity, and flavorful, and texturally it is the perfect balance between gooey and crunchy (oh HEY, chia seeds). Also, this homemade cherry chia jam is healthier than store-bought jams because it has extra fiber, omega-3 healthy fats, vitamin C, and antioxidants, thanks to fresh cherries, dates, lemon, and chia! And there are NO nasties in the jam: no refined sugar (or fruit juice concentrate), no artificial flavors or colors, no pectin, no gelatin, no preservatives. Plus, the jam is surprisingly easy to make. It makes for the perfect filling for these pop-tarts, and it holds up well- it doesn't leak out of the pastries when you bite into them. If the pop-tarts recipe overwhelms you, and you just want to make the jam itself, you can do that too!

The pastry crust is tender, soft-baked, buttery, and sweet with a pink color and light cherry flavor. And drizzled on top is an almond milk-based glaze sweetened with whole dates, colored with beet powder or dragon fruit powder, and flavored with natural cherry extract. As for the "sprinkles," they are simple yet pretty: crushed unsweetened freeze-dried berries. So truly, these pop-tarts can be sweetened 100% with whole fruit between the jam, glaze, sprinkles, and crust (if you use date paste in the crust instead of date sugar).

And I'm not joking when I say this is the best pop-tart flavor I've made to date. Regardless of your favorite brand-name Pop-Tart flavor, I think you're going to want to try this one. Dare I suggest it's even better than... the OG Pink Frosted Cherry? (*gasp*)

What recipes do you all want to see me do next? Something seasonal? A cake? Breakfast-y/brunch-y recipes? A drink? Something savory? Drop your suggestion in the comments and give this post a like if you feel like it!

As for cakes I've been making recently, here's a cake order from earlier this month (yes I hopped right on that trend of a cake covered fully in berries :)) ):

It's a berries & cream cake with a vanilla sponge, vanilla frosting (made with fresh coconut meat), wildberry jam filling, and of course those beautiful fresh berries for decoration (accented with basil leaves).

And remember- you can order a cake from The Dimpled Date for local delivery. Just send me an email or use the contact form on this website, and I can make your cake vision come to life! FYI: I can do birthday/celebration cakes, wedding cakes, event cakes, small dessert orders, and just about anything you can imagine! Even if you want me to deliver half a dozen of my bestseller tahini cookies- I can do it.

Back to these cherry pop-tarts, here's an inside look (pure jammy heaven):

Healthy Cherry Pop-Tarts Recipe ---> more recipes, next markets/pop-ups, and re-booting the newsletter!

More new recipes are on the way, all things summer, fall, and everything in between, so stay tuned for new posts and more delicious seasonal-transition recipes! P.S. you'll be seeing a lot of figs, citrus, peaches, berries, dates, squash, and apples here!

And don't forget: The Dimpled Date will still be at the local farmers markets after a short and much-needed mental health break. You can find me at the Pennington Farmers Market and Hopewell Farmers Market from 9 am-1 pm every Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Both markets run through October/November, so be sure to stop by to get your local goodies, fresh produce, and Dimpled Date favorites! Check the Menu page of the website for an updated schedule and menu, which I'll work on updating as soon as this recipe is posted 🫠

And don't forget, you can always place a personal cake or dessert order for local delivery!

Lastly, I'm going to attempt to reboot The Dimpled Date's bi-weekly "Fruity Newsletter," which only ran for a few months last year. But I really want to bring it back (so you can all keep updated on the latest markets, recipes, specials, culinary tips, and happenings!). Maybe I'll make it a monthly newsletter so I don't get overwhelmed ☺️

Until then, I'll 'see' you in the next recipe post and/or at the next market!

As always,

Enjoy <3

-K. 🌻