Apple Turnovers Recipe

Southern Living Apple Turnovers ready to serve — Photo:
Jessica Furniss

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 15 mins

Servings:

By using frozen puff pastry and a stovetop filling that takes less than 10 minutes to make, these simple apple turnovers will have you feeling like a professional baker in the comfort of your own cozy kitchen. Apple desserts are always a hit in the cool weather, and these baked apple turnovers with an easy glaze will surprise and delight your loved ones all season.

Learn how to make apple turnovers, and find out the best way to reheat them so they're as fresh as the day the were made.

What Is a Turnover?

A turnover is a handheld, triangle-shaped pastry that is filled with either a sweet or savory mixture. The edges of the pastry are sealed, usually with an egg wash, and crimped. This helps prevent the filling from bubbling out during baking.

Sweet turnovers, like these apple turnovers, are often finished with a drizzle of glaze or a sprinkle of powdered sugar. But some turnovers are savory; these meat pies are similar.

Ingredients for Apple Turnovers

There are three components to this recipe: the turnover itself, the egg wash, and the glaze. Here's what you'll need for each:

For the turnover, ingredients include:

Frozen puff pastry: To keep these apple turnovers fast and easy, we elected to use frozen puff pastry. You could also make your own piecrust.
Granny Smith apples: You'll need 3 to 4 apples for the filling.
Light brown sugar: The hints of molasses and caramel in the brown sugar are a great partner with the apples and spices.
Butter: Adds richness and body to the apple filling.
Cornstarch: Helps to thicken up the filling so it's not watery.
Lemon juice: Adds a bit of brightness to the filling but also keeps the apples from browning quickly.
Ground cinnamon: The perfect spice for apple turnovers.

For the egg wash, keep it simple with just an egg and water. Whisk until well combined and thin enough to brush easily.

Lastly, for the glaze, you'll need powdered sugar, whole milk, and vanilla extract.

Variation

If you want to take things up a notch, substitute apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon called for in the recipe.

How To Make Apple Turnovers

Full instructions for making these apple turnovers are further below, but here's a brief recap. It's a six-step process:

Step 1. Prepare the filling by cooking apples, sugar, butter, cornstarch, lemon juice, water, and ground cinnamon together until the apples are tender and the filling is thickened.
Step 2. Cut the sheets of puff pastry into squares.
Step 3. Make the egg wash, and keep it nearby so you can more quickly make and seal the turnovers when you begin filling them.
Step 4. Place some of the filling in the center of each puff pastry square. Fold the pastry into a triangle, and brush the edges with egg wash. Press and crimp the edges to seal. Cut a few slits in each turnover, and brush the top with remaining egg wash.
Step 5. Bake the apple turnovers until golden brown.
Step 6. Make the glaze with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract, and drizzle over the turnovers.

How To Store Apple Turnovers

Apple turnovers are best the day they're made. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days, or in the fridge up to 5 days. To enjoy them again, warm them in the oven or an air fryer to heat the turnover and get crispy pastry again.

Southern Living Apple Turnovers ready to serve on plates — Jessica Furniss

Can You Freeze Apple Turnovers?

Yes, you can freeze apple turnovers, but you should freeze them before they're baked. Make each turnover, through Step 6. Then, place the turnovers on a baking sheet, and freeze for several hours or overnight. Move the frozen turnovers to a ziptop bag, then wrap in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.

When you're ready to bake and enjoy a turnover, bake from frozen (do not thaw). You may need to bake longer to get them heated through and golden brown. If the outside is browning before the insides of the turnovers are warm at the center, cover with aluminum foil to continue baking and protect the pastry.

Best Apples for Apple Turnovers

We recommend firm, crisp Granny Smith apples be used because they’ll keep their shape and texture throughout the cooking process.

What To Serve With Apple Turnovers

These apple turnovers are delicious with the simple vanilla glaze we call for in this recipe, but you could change things up. Skip the glaze, and drizzle caramel sauce. Or for a faster presentation, skip the glaze and give the turnovers a quick sprinkle of powdered sugar.

Ingredients

Turnovers:

1 (17.3-oz.) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed but cold
3 large or 4 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced into 1/2-in. pieces
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 Tbsp. butter
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Egg Wash:

1 large egg
1 tsp. water

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. whole milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Prepare oven and baking sheets:

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Prepare filling:

In a medium saucepan, stir together apples, brown sugar, butter, cornstarch, lemon juice, water and cinnamon.

Jessica Furniss

Cook on medium-low, stirring frequently until butter has melted. Increase heat to medium, and simmer the mixture for about 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until it has thickened. Set aside to cool slightly.

Jessica Furniss
Cut puff pastry squares:

On top of a large piece of parchment paper or on a lightly floured surface, unfold the thawed pastry dough. Roll each sheet of puff pastry (2 sheets total) into a 12-inch square. Cut each sheet into 4 (6-inch) squares (you will have 8 squares total).

Jessica Furniss

Transfer the squares to the 2 prepared baking sheets.
Prepare egg wash:

Whisk together the egg and water until smooth.
Shape the turnovers:

Divide the apple filling evenly among the puff pastry squares, placing it in the center of each square.

Jessica Furniss

Brush edges of filled dough with egg wash. Fold dough in half over filling to form triangles.

Jessica Furniss

Press edges to seal, and crimp with a fork.

Jessica Furniss

Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
Cut slits for steam:

Cut 3 (3/4-inch) slits into the top of each pastry.

Jessica Furniss

Brush top of each chilled pastry with some of the egg wash.

Jessica Furniss
Bake turnovers:

Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, 23 to 28 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool slightly on baking sheet, about 10 minutes.

Jessica Furniss
Prepare glaze:

Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle glaze over slightly cooled turnovers.

Jessica Furniss

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between apple turnovers and an apple pie?

The biggest difference between apple turnovers and an apple pie is in how you eat them. An apple turnover is a handheld dessert, and an apple pie must be sliced and is usually eaten with a fork. They are both made with a flaky crust or pastry, and their apple fillings tend to be spiced with cinnamon.
What pastry is an apple turnover made from?

You can use a standard pie dough to make apple turnovers, but we like using frozen puff pastry. The pastry bakes up light and crispy, with dozens of buttery layers.
Can I use pie dough?

Yes, you can roll out and cut pie dough the same way you'd handle the puff pastry. Homemade or store-bought is fine.