These brown sugar cinnamon pop-tart bars take that classic flavor to a whole new level. If you’re a fan of those iconic pop-tarts, you’re going to love these bars! They have everything you want: buttery, soft layers, a sweet cinnamon filling, and a glaze that makes every bite downright irresistible. And the best part? They’re even better homemade.
Why You’ll Love Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tart Bars
Even better than the store-bought pop-tarts you remember, these bars bring that comforting cinnamon-sugar flavor in a fresh, homemade way that’s super easy to make!
Quick prep: Just mix, layer, and bake—your bars are ready in under an hour!
Simple ingredients: Most of what you need is probably already in your pantry.
Customizable: Adjust the cinnamon sweetness to your liking, or add a dash of nutmeg for extra warmth.
Perfectly gooey: These bars come out soft and just slightly crisp on the edges, with a gooey cinnamon center.
Ingredients & Substitutions
To make these brown sugar cinnamon pop-tart bars, you’ll need butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, an egg, flour, salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a little more butter and vanilla for the icing.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is best for balancing the flavors, but if you only have salted butter, skip the added salt.
- Brown Sugar: This gives the filling its rich, caramel-like flavor; dark or light brown sugar both work well.
- Cinnamon: Adds the warm spice that makes these bars sing—feel free to add more if you like an extra kick.
- Powdered Sugar: Essential for the icing, but if you prefer a thinner glaze, mix in a bit of milk or water.
How to make the best brown sugar cinnamon pop-tart bars
Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on each side for easy removal after baking.
In a large mixing bowl, beat 2 sticks of room-temperature butter with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar, and mix until smooth.
Add the egg and mix again. Gradually add 2 ½ cups of flour and ½ teaspoon of salt, blending just until a dough forms. Set aside.
In a separate medium bowl, combine 2 cups of brown sugar, 2 tablespoon of cinnamon, 4 tablespoon of flour, 4 tablespoon of melted butter, and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract. Stir until fully mixed and set aside.
Divide the dough in half. Press half of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish (it may be sticky, so you can oil your hands or use a piece of parchment to press it flat).
Spread the cinnamon-sugar filling evenly over the dough layer. Top with the remaining half of the dough, pressing gently to cover the filling layer.
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the bars are set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with only a few crumbs. Allow the bars to cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 40 minutes.
While they cool, prepare the icing by mixing 1 cup of powdered sugar, 2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 3 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth. Once the bars have cooled, pour the icing over the top and spread evenly.
Let the icing set for about 15 minutes on the counter. Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment overhang, slice into 8 or 4 larger bars, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
Line the pan well: Use parchment paper to line your baking dish, with extra hanging over the sides for easy lifting and cutting. This keeps the bars from sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
Avoid over-mixing the dough: Once your ingredients come together, stop mixing! Over-beating can make the bars dense rather than soft.
Oil your hands for easy spreading: The dough can be sticky, so lightly oil your hands or use the back of a spoon to press it evenly into the pan.
Let the bars cool completely before icing: If you’re eager to dig in, go for it, but icing the bars while they’re still warm will give you a gooey (but deliciously messy) experience. Waiting lets the icing set for cleaner cuts and easier handling.
Serving Suggestions
These bars are delicious on their own, but if you’re looking to add a little extra, try these ideas:
- With a scoop of vanilla ice cream: Perfect for a warm dessert that melts into the cinnamon layers.
- Drizzled with caramel sauce: Adds a rich sweetness that’s just right with the warm spices.
- Served with fresh apple slices: For a simple fall-inspired pairing that’s light and refreshing.
- Paired with coffee or chai tea: These bars go great with a hot drink that complements the cinnamon flavor.
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-tart Bars
Ingredients
- 2 sticks unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 ½ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons flour
For the filling
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
For the icing
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on each side for easy removal after baking.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat 2 sticks of room-temperature butter with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar, and mix until smooth. Add the egg and mix again. Gradually add 2 ½ cups of flour and ½ teaspoon of salt, blending just until a dough forms. Set aside.
- In a separate medium bowl, combine 2 cups of brown sugar, 2 tablespoon of cinnamon, 4 tablespoon of flour, 4 tablespoon of melted butter, and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract. Stir until fully mixed and set aside.
- Divide the dough in half. Press half of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish (it may be sticky, so you can oil your hands or use a piece of parchment to press it flat). Spread the cinnamon-sugar filling evenly over the dough layer. Top with the remaining half of the dough, pressing gently to cover the filling layer.
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the bars are set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with only a few crumbs.
- Allow the bars to cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 40 minutes. While they cool, prepare the icing by mixing 1 cup of powdered sugar, 2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 3 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth. Once the bars have cooled, pour the icing over the top and spread evenly.
- Let the icing set for about 15 minutes on the counter. Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment overhang, slice into 8 or 4 larger bars, and enjoy!
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