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!
- Thaw the puff pastry according to the directions on the box. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400˚F.
- Heat the butter and diced apple in a pot until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt, stirring to combine. Remove from heat once thickened, about 3 minutes.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Storing Leftovers
Store each cooled apple turnover on the counter overnight, but then store refrigerated for longer. If you want to freeze the baked pastry, it’s best to do it before adding the icing.
- To Refrigerate: cool and place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: cool and freeze on a baking sheet. Then transfer to an airtight container.
- To Reheat: thaw in the fridge or on the counter.
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
Apple Turnover Recipe
Ingredients
Apple Turnover Ingredients:
- 1 lb puff pastry, (2 sheets) thawed according to package instructions
- 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour, for dusting
- 1 1/4 lb Granny Smith apples, (3 medium) peeled, cored, and diced into 1/3" thick pieces
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 egg+ 1 Tbsp water for egg wash
For the Glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 400˚F. Remove puff pastry from the freezer and thaw according to instructions while making and cooling the apple filling.
- In a medium pot, melt 1 Tbsp butter over medium heat. Add diced apples and cook, stirring occasionally until softened (5 min).
- Reduce heat to low and stir in 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and salt. Continue to simmer 3 minutes until apples are soft and caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Use a rolling pin to roll the first sheet of thawed pastry to an 11" square. With a pizza cutter, cut into 4 equal-sized squares. Place cooled apple mixture over half of each square, leaving at least a 1/2" border.
- Thoroughly Beat together 1 egg and 1 Tbsp water. Brush eggwash lightly on edges of the pastry (just enough to seal), bring the edges together and crimp tightly along the edges with a fork to seal. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with the second sheet of puff pastry to make 8 turnovers.
- Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, keeping them at least 1" apart. With a paring knife, cut 2-3 small slits in the top of each turnover.* Brush the tops with egg wash and bake 20-23 minutes or until golden and puffed.
- While turnovers are still warm, stir together powdered sugar and heavy whipping cream (adding to your desired consistency) and drizzle glaze over turnovers.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Those apple turnovers are amazing!!! Followed recipe and was easy as pie!! Thanks!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that David! Thank you for that wonderful review!
I’m making these now – in the oven. so easy! thank you for all your videos – I’ve made several of your recipes (including the babka) and everything always delicious
I hope you love it, Lisa!
Delicious and so easy ty
When looking for a recipe these days I always go first to Natasha as your recipes are realistic ingredients, easy to follow and delicious! Also Natasha you are so upbeat!
Congratulations!
PS What is the chopper box you used for the apples in the apple turnovers, I’d like to get one. Thanks Elizabeth R
That is so nice, thank you for sharing that with us. You can check out the chopper and other kitchen tools that I use here in our Shop.
Thank you so much for this simple yet amazing recipe! Huge hit here tonight!
You’re welcome, Stacy! I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
This recipe is so good. I am so glad I’ve found your site, I can’t wait to try many more of your recipes.
Thank you! I hope you love every recipe that you will try, Natalie.
Well it’s Memorial Day and there’s nothing more Patriotic than Apple pie and in the easy to enjoy form of a turnover, why YES indeed!! In the process of making these! Thank you always, Natasha 🇺🇸❤️👍🏻
Awesome, I hope you love it and enjoy!
Made these this morning an oh my delicious goodness. They were amazing an soooo simple. Thank you for such a great easy recipe. I will be making these often. I just have one question. When you store the leftovers do you have to refrigerate them? Thanks again Natasha.
Hi Denise, you can cover the leftovers loosely with foil or plastic wrap. Apple turnovers will keep for an additional 2-3 days in the refrigerator, loosely covered with foil or plastic wrap.
Thanks Natasha. Love all your videos they’re so easy to make and made a few of them already. Getting ready to try the cheesecake. Keep them coming you’re amazing
Thank you for that wonderful compliment! You’re so nice! Thank you!
Opps, the directions don’t say to put in frig prior to baking. But you say so in the video. Mine are already in the oven, we will see…..
I hope you love this recipe Robin!
I made these over the weekend as a mother’s day treat and my family loved them. The recipe and steps were easy to follow and I look forward to making them again.
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me! I’m all smiles
Awesome recipe, Natasha, and incredibly easy! Thank you, everyone loved it!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that Foulla! Thank you for sharing that with me!
This is not homemade this is just how to make filling your not even making your own dough if I wanted to go out and buy something I would just buy the turnover baked already
Hi Amber, many people appreciate the option of buying a pre-made puff pastry because it is time-consuming to make it, but you can use homemade if you prefer.
Hi Natasha, if given the choice between store bought or homemade puff pastry, I can’t think of any of my friends who would prefer to make their own. And we’re well seasoned bakers. The thing that’s so great about your tried-and-true recipes is that the preparation speaks to all levels of cooks and they always get two thumbs up for deliciousness! Win-Win!
Thank you so much for sharing that Sharon!
They are in the oven now and I was today year’s old when I found out there is only 1 sheet per pkg. they smell wonderful! But look nothing like yours thanks for the recipe!!
I hope you love this recipe Shirley!
Would you have an idea how to make chocolate turnovers? Or other fruit like raspberry? I will be trying this in the future, thank you for showing this recipe
This should work great with another fruit. I believe chocolate can work also! I’ll add it to my to-do list thank you for those suggestions.
Fantastic recipe.. Absolutely the best one yet.. Even with the cinnamon, that no-one would have even tried before, & they loved them!! Thanks so much for your recipe.. 👍
You’re welcome, thank you for trying this recipe and for giving it a wonderful review!
So easy to make and absolutely delicious. Went on to make cinnamon rolls as well.
Thanks for giving this recipe a great review!
hello Natasha, ingredients are on the grocery list. Cant wait to make them. do you also have a receipe for Cherry turnovers?
Hello Betty, sounds like a great plan! I don’t have a recipe for cherry turnovers yet but I’ll take that as a suggestion. Enjoy making this recipe!
Can you freeze the rest if you dont wanna cook it all?
Hello Vangie, I have this stated in the recipe Can you Freeze Apple Turnovers? “After the pies are fully assembled (before brushing tops with eggwash), freeze them flat on a lined baking sheet then transfer 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.”
Made there this morning, had to use Phyllo dough as pastry dough couldn’t be found
They turned out amazing though was a little challenging using Phyllo dough
Hi Mary, I would love to hear details on how you used the phyllo dough. I haven’t tried anything but puff pastry but I am intrigued. I have heard from other readers that puff pastry is difficult to come by during these times.
Hi Natasha,
With everything happening globally, we are eating all the time, i came across this recipe and I’m gonna attempt to make these turnovers like right now… lol
I don’t have Granny Smith apples only gala apples
Will it make a difference?
Thanks in advance
BTW
We love your recipes, keep them coming:)
Hello L! I think that’s what we have all been doing lately lol. We highly recommend Granny Smith apples but you can basically use any type of apples available to make an apple pie. Granny smith just gives the right amount of sweetness that’s why that’s the one that we use.
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly!
To my surprise, i found Granny Smith apples in my fridge!!
Yay!!
Anywho I made the turnovers, i did not refrigerate them because I added a tbsp of flour in the mixture and so it absorbed the liquid.
I did add an extra tap of cinnamon because who doesn’t love cinnamon:)
They were perfect and delish!!
Oh and I did add an extra apple.
They will be on rotation in this household.
Oh btw… did you use butter puff pastry?
I can’t seem to find it anywhere these days, I think it has been discontinued.
No problem, we use Pepperidge Farm brand Puff Pastry and it is usually found in the freezer section of the grocery store next to the frozen desserts.