A toaster pastry refers to any type of pastry, or food similar to a pastry, created to easily fit into a toaster for heating. This means that such pastries are often flat, since they are meant to go into a standard toaster and not just a toaster oven. Such pastries usually include some type of filling, often fruit similar to a jam or jelly, chocolate, or frosting. A toaster pastry may also have frosting on the outside of it as well, though such frosting is usually made to remain firm during heating or may be added after toasting.
There are a number of companies that produce these pastries. In general, a toaster pastry refers to any type of pastry meant to be heated in a toaster. These pastries are often sold frozen, though they can also be sealed and kept at room temperature. Such pastries typically have preservatives that keep them from spoiling or going stale during long-term storage. The dough used to make a toaster pastry can vary, and some pastries have a texture and flavor similar to a butter or sugar cookie, while others are flaky and resemble puff pastry.
A toaster pastry typically has some type of filling within it, and the filling used can vary a great deal as well. Fruit fillings are quite common, and usually resemble jellies or jams, though some filling can also be similar to the fruit paste used to fill doughnuts. A toaster pastry can also have frosting inside it, which may resemble icing or frosting for a cake. Other pastries may include chocolate, marshmallows, or nuts.
Many pastries come with some type of frosting for the outside of the toaster pastry as well. The exact nature of such frosting varies, usually based on whether the pastries are frozen prior to heating or kept at room temperature. Most room temperature pastries use a type of frosting that is quite firm, similar to royal icing, ensuring the frosting does not melt during heating. A frozen toaster pastry often has separate frosting packets that come with the pastry, which can be warmed slightly and then the frosting spread onto the pastries before being eaten.