A Simple Twist That Makes Your Pop-Tarts Way More Decadent

Everyone has their favorite flavor of Pop-Tart, from the classic frosted brown sugar cinnamon to gooey, melty frosted strawberry to whimsical creations that can only be thought of in the Pop-Tarts universe, like hot fudge sundae and Boston creme donut. While you may think of changing up your routine once in a while by foregoing your usual flavor for something more unique, you may have never thought to elevate this timeless breakfast treat by cooking it differently. 

Obviously, these are toaster pastries — meaning they're usually prepared in said appliance, or, on busy mornings, in the microwave. But if you truly want to give your Pop-Tart an upgraded feel and have the time to do so, consider pan-frying it. Cooking the pastries with butter in a pan will cause the edges to crisp up and allow that butter flavor to soak through into every crevice. You could also use other types of oil, like avocado or some other neutral-flavored variety, but butter will add to the flavor of the Pop-Tart rather than making it taste greasy.

People who have tried this hack on social media report favorable results with all types of Pop-Tarts, including both frosted and unfrosted varieties. However, the sugar glaze on the frosted Pop-Tarts could burn faster than it cooks, leading to an acrid and unpleasant flavor. As such, you may want to stick to the unfrosted varieties and add your own coating of homemade frosting or powdered sugar to finish it instead. Neutral flavors, like brown sugar cinnamon, would also work best, as a fruit-filled Pop-Tart, like a strawberry-, blueberry-, or raspberry-flavored one, may compete too much with the butteriness. 

You can eat your pan-fried Pop-Tarts as is, or consider using their newfound flavor and crispiness to your advantage in some other dessert. For example, crispy Pop-Tarts can hold their own as the base of an ice cream sandwich; just make sure to cool them down before spooning on your ice cream.