Apple Turnovers
About This Apple Turnovers
Apple turnovers are the perfect handheld pastry - flaky, buttery layers of golden puff pastry wrapped around sweet, cinnamon-spiced apples, finished with a simple glaze that adds just the right amount of sweetness. While they look and taste like they came from a fancy bakery, these turnovers are surprisingly easy to make at home, especially when you start with store-bought puff pastry which eliminates hours of work. The filling is made by cooking fresh apples with butter, sugar, and warm spices until they are tender and caramelized, creating an intensely flavorful filling that is miles better than canned pie filling.
What Makes This Apple Turnovers Special
This pre-cooking step is crucial - it ensures the apples are perfectly cooked and prevents the pastry from becoming soggy. The turnovers can be made ahead and frozen unbaked, then baked fresh whenever you want a warm pastry treat.
Key Techniques for Success
They are perfect for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or an afternoon snack with coffee or tea. The combination of crispy, flaky pastry and soft, sweet apple filling is absolutely irresistible, especially when drizzled with vanilla glaze while still warm. While apple is the traditional filling, the same technique works beautifully with other fruit fillings like cherry, blueberry, peach, or even a mixture.
Perfect for Every Occasion
These turnovers are also wonderful for using up apples that are past their prime for eating fresh but still perfect for cooking.
Ingredients
- 1 package (2 sheets) Frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 3 medium (about 450g) Apples, peeled and diced
- 50g (¼ cup) Granulated sugar
- 50g (¼ cup) Brown sugar, packed
- 2 tbsp Unsalted butter
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg
- 2 tsp Cornstarch
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- ½ tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 (for egg wash) Egg
- 120g (1 cup) Powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp Milk
- ½ tsp Vanilla extract (for glaze)
Quick Info
- Total Time:
- 50 min
- Difficulty:
- Easy
- Servings:
- 8
Instructions
- 1
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add diced apples, both sugars, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender.
- 2
Mix cornstarch with lemon juice and vanilla. Stir into apples and cook 1-2 minutes until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and cool completely - this is essential.
- 3
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- 4
Unfold puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Cut each sheet into 4 squares for a total of 8 squares.
- 5
Place about 2-3 tablespoons of cooled apple filling onto one half of each square, leaving a ½-inch border around edges.
- 6
Beat egg with 1 tbsp water. Brush edges of pastry with egg wash.
- 7
Fold pastry over filling to form triangles. Press edges firmly with a fork to seal completely.
- 8
Place turnovers on prepared baking sheets. Brush tops with remaining egg wash and cut 2-3 small slits in each for steam to escape.
- 9
Bake for 22-25 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
- 10
While turnovers bake, make glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
- 11
Let turnovers cool 5-10 minutes, then drizzle with glaze. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Pro Tips
- •Make sure apple filling is completely cool before assembling
- •Seal edges well to prevent filling from leaking
- •Work quickly with puff pastry and keep it cold
- •Freeze assembled unbaked turnovers for up to 3 months
- •Bake from frozen, adding 5 minutes to baking time
- •Use firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp
Variations
Try cherry pie filling for cherry turnovers. Use pears with ginger for pear turnovers. Add chopped pecans to apple filling for extra crunch. Make savory turnovers with spinach and cheese.
