Easy Apple Turnovers (VIDEO)

Homemade Apple Turnovers are puff pastry desserts stuffed with a gooey, cinnamony apple filling that tastes like apple pie. The apple turnover looks intricate but takes only a few steps and ingredients to make. Watch the video tutorial and I’ll prove just how easy these are.

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Apple Turnover Recipe

If you’ve been around my blog for a while, you’ll know how much I love apple recipes like Baked Apples and Sharlotka Apple Cake. This apple turnover recipe is another of my favorites since it’s so simple and the filling tastes just like my Apple Pie. This is one of the easiest apple desserts and can even be made ahead and frozen using store-bought puff pastry.

This Apple Turnover doesn’t get any easier, but they are perfect for whenever you want something sweet, but not too much mess since they are single-serve. We usually serve them for dessert, but I’ve also been known to serve apple turnovers with breakfast and also as a snack during the day!

Watch How to Make Apple Turnovers

Homemade apple turnovers are easier than you think. Watch the video and you will be a pro in no time! We always keep a package of frozen puff pastry on hand for when the craving strikes.

What is an Apple Turnover?

Turnovers are made by filling pastry dough (usually puff pastry) with a sweet or savory filling, sealing the edges, and baking. It becomes a portable dessert (like hand pies), or a type of baked sandwich with a savory filling. Biting into an apple-filled pastry on the go is a real treat.

Ingredients for Apple Turnovers

You’ll need apples, butter, eggs, and a few pantry staples for the filling, and then it’s simple to stuff, fold, and bake the desserts since we make these apple turnovers with puff pastry from the grocery store. The pastry itself isn’t sweet, so we drizzle a sweet glaze over the top that makes these bakery-quality apple turnovers irresistibly good.

• Apples – peeled and diced. We use Granny Smith apples for the crisp texture and flavor, but you can use nearly any apple variety. Try mixing and matching, but be sure to adjust the sugar for sweeter apples (Pink Lady or Honeycrisp)
• Filling ingredients – flour (for dusting the prep surface), butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and eggs (and 1 Tbsp of water for eggs wash)
• Puff Pastry – you can find these in the frozen section of the grocery store near the pie crusts. Thaw according to the package directions.
• Glaze ingredients – confectioners (powdered) sugar, heavy whipping cream

How to Make Apple Turnovers

This apple turnover recipe is so simple to make and creates such a fancy take on apple pie. Watch the video tutorial above for the full tutorial and you will be making apple turnovers like a pro in no time!

1. Thaw the puff pastry according to the directions on the box. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400˚F.
2. Heat the butter and diced apple in a pot until soft, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt, stirring to combine. Remove from heat once thickened, about 3 minutes.
4. Roll the puff pastry sheet out to about 11″ with a rolling pin, and cut into 4 squares with a knife or pizza cutter. Then place a spoonful of the apple filling onto one-half of the square, leaving a 1/2″ border.
5. Beat the egg and 1 Tbsp of water in a small dish. Brush just enough egg wash over the 1/2″ border to keep the dough sealed. Then fold the dough over the filling to touch the opposite corner to create a triangle and crimp along the edges with a fork to seal.
6. Transfer the folded pockets one inch apart onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Cut 2 or 3 small slits in the top of the dough for steam to escape. Optionally, you can refrigerate the turnovers now uncovered for 20 minutes to reduce the chance of leaking. When ready to bake, brush the top of the pockets with egg wash and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes.
7. Whisk the powdered sugar and cream together, and then when the turnovers are still warm, drizzle glaze over the top.

How to Keep Apple Turnover Filling from Leaking?

No matter how well you crimp the edges, there will always be at least one turnover that leaks juices out of the edge and that is normal. A few things that help reduce leaks:

• Use Egg Wash to help keep the dry pastry together
• Crimp Tightly all along the edge where the two sheets come together
• Refrigerate turnovers for 20 minutes before baking

Can you Freeze Apple Turnovers Before Baking?

After the pies are fully assembled but not baked (before brushing the tops with eggwash), freeze them flat on a lined baking sheet then transfer them to a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. When ready to bake, arrange them frozen on a baking sheet (do not thaw), brush with some egg wash, and bake at 400˚F for 23-25 minutes.

Try this simple and delicious recipe for apple turnovers and you’ll be amazed how easily they come together, but how gourmet they look and taste! The flakey puff pastry perfectly compliments the gooey apple pie filling. You’ll be hooked!

What Can You Do with Lots of Apples?

If you have tons of apples in Autumn, try these delicious apple turnovers, and then you can put them to great use by making our easy homemade Applesauce or baking up these memorable apple desserts:

• Sauteed Cinnamon Apples
• Apple Crisp
• Apple Bread
• Dutch Apple Pie
• Caramel Apples
• Apple Rice Pudding
• Apple Cider
• Apple Pancakes