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Pop Tarts. They are the colorful pastries we stick in the toaster, and then have to be super careful getting out of the toaster, before enjoying. I think we all know that Pop Tarts aren’t a low sugar breakfast option. But exactly how much sugar is in a Pop Tart? And are the brand equivalents of Pop Tarts higher or lower in sugar? Most importantly, does a sugar free Pop Tart exist (spoiler alert – IT DOES)? In order to answer all of these questions I have selected 9 strawberry Pop Tarts and equivalents and collated the total sugar content data for a single pastry. I thought it best to stick to one flavor to keep the comparison fair. I have then put the results together in descending order of total sugar content. So, make sure to read right to the end to find out about the lowest sugar strawberry Pop Tart alternative out there! So, let’s dig in – how much sugar is in Pop Tarts and which Pop Tart brand is sugar free?
As a general rule there are 12.5g-20g of total sugar in a single Pop Tart or Pop Tarts alternative. Branded alternatives to Pop Tarts tend to be higher in sugar than Pop Tarts themselves. There is currently one sugar free alternative to Pop Tarts currently available.
How Much Sugar is in Pop Tarts?
1. Millville Frosted Strawberry Toaster Tarts – 20g of Total Sugar
First up in this experiment is ALDI’s own brand Millville’s equivalent of strawberry Pop Tarts – otherwise known as Toaster Tarts! Now if you have read any of my recent posts here at Low Sugar Snax you will have seen that I have talked about Millville a fair few times recently in all the posts I have written looking at the sugar content of different cereals. If there is one thing that ALDI does really well it is great breakfast cereal dupes. So, it’s not a huge surprise they also make a great Pop Tart dupe. But what is the sugar content? Well, pretty high actually. 20g of sugar in a pastry to be precise. As you will discover Pop Tarts themselves are lower in sugar than this
2. Kroger Frosted Strawberry Toaster Treats – 20g of Total Sugar
Kroger’s Frosted Strawberry Toaster Treats are also a higher sugar strawberry Pop Tarts equivalent as they also contain 20g of total sugar per tart.
3. Great Value Frosted Strawberry Toaster Pastries – 19.5g of Total Sugar
Walmart’s own brand of strawberry Pop Tarts, known as Great Value Frosted Strawberry Toaster Pastries are a touch lower in sugar but to be honest there is hardly anything in it. There are 19.5g of total sugar per strawberry toaster pastry.
4. Nature’s Path Organic Strawberry Toaster Pastries – 19g of Total Sugar
It is virtually the same sugar content situation with Nature’s Path Toaster Pastries. Now Nature’s Path Toaster Pastries may be organic but that doesn’t mean they are low sugar. There are 19g of sugar per Strawberry Toaster Pastry which is still on the high end and higher in sugar than Pop Tarts themselves.
5. Katz Gluten Free Vegan Strawberry Toaster Pastries – 16g of Total Sugar
The next strawberry Pop Tart equivalent in this experiment is a vegan one! Yes vegan as well as gluten free! This vegan and gluten free Pop Tart alternative comes from Katz! So, does the fact that this toaster pastry is vegan and gluten free also mean it is low in sugar? Well, not really. There is still 16g of total sugar per toaster pastry, which is still a little higher than strawberry Pop Tarts themselves.
6. Pop Tarts Frosted Strawberry Toaster Pastries – 15g of Total Sugar
Next up in this experiment is the OG of strawberry toaster pastries. Yup, that is right – Pop Tarts themselves! So how much sugar exactly is in an OG frosted strawberry Pop Tart then? Well, the answer is 15g. So, it turns out that a lot of Pop Tart’s equivalents are actually higher in sugar, even if they are a more natural alternative. But fear not, if 15g of sugar is still too much for you (I get you!) then keep reading for lower sugar alternatives.
7. Simply Pop-Tarts Harvest Strawberry Toaster Pastries – 14g of Total Sugar
Next up in this experiment is Pop Tart’s take on a more natural Pop Tart. Simply Pop Tarts are a more natural version of Pop Tarts as they do not contain artificial flavors or colors nor do they contain high fructose corn syrup. But what’s the total sugar content? Well, a tad lower than regular Pop Tarts but nothing significant – 14g of total sugar per toaster pastry.
8. Unfrosted Strawberry Pop Tarts – 12.5g of Total Sugar
Now did you know that you can buy unfrosted Pop Tarts? Yup, that’s right – Pop Tarts without the frosting. So if you aren’t so fussed about the frosting and want to cut down on your sugar intake a tad then those could work for you. Just bear in mind that the sugar saving isn’t huge – you basically save 2.5g of sugar per strawberry Pop Tart as there are 12.5g of total sugar per unfrosted Strawberry Pop Tart vs 15g of total sugar per strawberry Pop Tart.
9. Legendary Foods Strawberry Protein Pastry – <1g of Total Sugar
Okay, so I have a confession. I have definitely left the best for last in this article. So now for the lowest sugar strawberry Pop Tart equivalent out there. It is from, drum roll please, Legendary Foods. Now Legendary Food’s strawberry protein pastry contains 20g of, no not sugar, but protein per pastry (that’s more like it!). Instead, these protein pastries are sweetened with erythritol and sucralose and contain a mere <1g of total sugar and 0g of added sugar per pastry. You can try them for yourself and see what you think on Amazon here.
How Much Sugar is in Pop Tarts – The Final Bite
How much sugar is in Pop Tarts and which brand is sugar free? What have we learned from the above? Well, Pop Tarts and equivalent brands tend to contain 12.5g-20g of sugar per tart. However, there is currently one sugar free alternative to Pop Tarts and that comes from Legendary Foods making this your best option if you are looking for a low-sugar option. If you know, you know.
And remember…
Ingredients and/or manufacturing processes may change. Always double-check ingredient lists and nutritional information before purchasing any food items.
WANT TO FIND MORE LOW SUGAR OPTIONS?
Do you want to learn about some other low-sugar options at your favorite coffee chains, fast food, or restaurant joints, or just while you are shopping for groceries? If you do, then check out some of my other articles below: