Apple Cinnamon Pop Tarts (grain free) |

I love to cook.
Clearly.
BUT, I really, really, really love to bake. Specifically, I get my jollies from inventing healthy versions of traditional goodies. And I'm trying to figure out what this says about me.
People generally seem to fall squarely into the "cooking" camp or the "baking" camp. Cooks, it seems, are free-form artists, rule breakers, people with an innate understanding of how flavors come together. Or, they're just willing to make more mistakes. Bakers, on the other hand, prefer law and order, relish the magic of science that will get you from Point A to Point B if you follow the steps.
My emerging specialty seems to be a hybrid of the two. When experimenting with grain-free, gluten-free, paleo and vegan baking, there are some non-negotiable edicts you must abide by. Coconut flour requires eggs. Maple syrup cannot substitute for white sugar without reducing liquid elsewhere. Chocolate is ALWAYS a good choice.
Aside from these tenets, however, there is ample room for creativity and novelty. Perhaps this combination is what I so adore. I can stay within the comfort of basic scientific law (yes, the chocolate one counts), while exploring a world of baking that has endless depths left to be plumbed.
I guess this all makes sense though...my website, my life, have always been about balance and moderation, never extremes. Interesting.
Thank you all for indulging my personal self discovery, and now I will reward you with these Grain Free Apple Cinnamon Pop Tarts. I wanted to make a healthier version of McDonald's apple pie (a favorite of mine). We now know that these corn-syrup/veg oil nightmares are abhorred, but they were undeniably delicious. This seemed like a perfect opportunity to test a grain-free pastry dough. As I played around, I realized that my dough resembled more of a Pop-Tart crust. Pop-Tarts also come in Apple Cinnamon. Two and two makes...
EIGHT (maybe I am a rule-breaker?!) beautiful, lightly sweetened "Pop Tarts", with a gooey all-natural fruit filling. They're tender, flavorful, and truly healthy enough for breakfast unlike their insidious forebears. I opted to drizzle mine with THIS quick raw caramel, but the choice is yours. I know these require a lot of steps, but what better way to spend a chilly afternoon? It is ALL worth it when you bite into one warm out of the oven.
You can absolutely play around with the size of your Pop-Tarts and double the filling if you want more, just know that you run the risk of your crust breaking. But isn't that the fun?
Tell me, are you a cook or a baker?
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