Queen of Hearts Tarts With Homemade Strawberry Jam

Store-bought toaster pastries are such a nostalgic treat. Many of us have fond memories of sampling the latest flavors, splitting packs with friends or enjoying them as sweet breakfast treats. Want to enjoy a bit of nostalgia and add a fun twist to the tart-eating experience? Allow us to present...homemade toaster tarts! Making your own tarts leaves plenty of room for innovation with creative flavors, fillings and designs—such as our adorable playing card–themed recipe. Or, as we like to call them, Queen of Hearts Tarts! These are perfect for an ‌Alice in Wonderland‌ party, ‌Alice's Wonderland Bakery‌ birthday party or Queen of Hearts party—and, of course, a game night or card-playing party!

Intimidated by the idea of making homemade tarts? You'll be glad to learn that they're relatively easy to whip up, especially if you work with premade puff pastry or pie crust dough from the grocery store. For this tutorial, we opted for puff pastry to create buttery tarts. As for the filling, you can add chocolate chips, Nutella or any fruity flavor you'd like, such as blueberry or raspberry jam. For our DIY tarts, we made homemade strawberry jam that called for just three ingredients: strawberries, lemons and sugar.

If you're craving toaster pastries, take a peek at this delicious how-to. We've outlined everything you need to whip up a beloved breakfast (or card game night!) treat at home. Have fun, get creative and let those flavors pop.

In a saucepan on medium heat, stir chopped strawberries and sugar. Within a few minutes, the sugar should melt and the mixture should begin to boil.

Mix in lemon juice and zest. Continue boiling mixture for about 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes. The jam should darken in color and thicken slightly. It will thicken more once cooled.

Pour jam into a heat-safe container and let cool. Cover and refrigerate.

Preheat oven to 400°F/204°C. Lightly dust work surface with all-purpose flour. Place thawed sheet puff pastry on the floured surface, then add a bit of flour atop dough. Using rolling pin, roll out the sheet to about 10.5 by 10 in.

Using a knife, pastry cutter or pizza cutter, cut out twelve 2.5 by 3.5-in. rectangles. Pair pieces in rows on lined baking tray.

With your pastry brush, apply the beaten egg (aka egg wash) on one rectangle's edges.

Add 1 or 2 Tbsp. (depending on how much filling you prefer) homemade strawberry jam to middle of rectangle.

Slightly stretch top piece of dough so it will fully fit over jam, then place on top of jam and base dough. Seal bottom and top dough edges by pressing down with your finger, ensuring there are no gaps.

Use a fork to crimp edges.

Use a fork to poke a few holes atop each filled pastry.

Apply thin layer of egg wash to top of each tart. Bake at 400°F/204°C for 20 minutes or until tarts are golden brown.

In a small bowl, add powdered sugar. Stir in milk, 1/2 Tbsp. at a time, until you get a thick but pipable icing consistency. Transfer to a piping bag and cut a small-medium tip.

Pipe a thin white rectangular border on each tart.

Flood rectangles with white icing. Let dry for a few minutes.

Transfer remaining white icing back into small bowl. Stir in red food coloring, then place icing in new piping bag. Cut a small tip off piping bag.

Use red icing to pipe on playing card designs—the specific cards are up to you!

Store tarts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or in the fridge for up to a week. You can reheat them in a toaster oven or bake in the oven at 400°F/204°C for 5 minutes.

When you serve these homemade tarts, you'll be setting a royal flush on the table. After all, nothing beats nostalgia—especially when it's served with plenty of fruity, flaky, sugary sweetness.