![Cherry Turnovers](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.southernliving.com/thmb/xVke3shoNRXMjkUDWzyrAcxtNbs=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Cherry-Turnovers-2000-a96e80c782cb442fb225501c8e7b6c4b.jpg)
The bright and sweet filling of a cherry turnover is the ideal flavor companion to crisp and buttery puff pastry. A wonderful treat for enjoying at breakfast, brunch, or dessert. At first bite, the exterior crisps and flakes before yielding to a gelled filling with chunks of soft dark cherries. The filling comes together in a pot before baking, ensuring that it is the right consistency before going into the pastry. Over the heat, the sugar quickly dissolves into the natural juices of the cherries, and the addition of lemon juice brightens the flavor of the cherries making it just a little tart. Lastly, a small amount of almond extract is stirred into the filling to compliment and accentuate the fruitiness of the cherries in a way that only this secret ingredient can. After the cherries have broken down slightly, some of the juice from the cherries is removed to dissolve the cornstarch before being added back into the pot. This trick prevents any lumps of cornstarch in your filling. Once the cornstarch slurry is incorporated into the warm cherry mixture, the pot goes back over the heat to boil again so the filling can thicken and make a velvety texture for the liquid the cherries are suspended in. After the filling has cooled, it's scooped into squares cut from store-bought puff pastry dough before the dough is folded into triangular pouches. The edges of the pastry are sealed, the pastries are brushed with egg wash, and in 20 minutes the turnovers are golden brown and waiting to be drizzled with a simple powdered sugar glaze.
Ingredients
Filling
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1 (15-oz) can dark sweet cherries, drained
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1 tablespoon lemon juice
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⅓ cup sugar
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⅛ teaspoon almond extract
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pinch kosher salt
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1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
Assembly
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1 (17.3-oz.) package frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package instructions
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1 egg, for brushing
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Turbinado sugar for sprinkling (optional)
Glaze
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1 cup powdered sugar
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1 tablespoon powdered sugar
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1 Tbsp. milk
Directions
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Make Filling: Combine cherries, lemon juice, sugar, almond extract, and salt in a medium saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes until cherries are partially broken down. Carefully remove ¼ cup of the syrup from saucepan to a small bowl. Add cornstarch to reserved syrup and stir until no clumps remain. Add cornstarch slurry back to saucepan and return to heat. Bring to a boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat, transfer cherries to a heatproof bowl and refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour.
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Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut both sheets of puff pastry into 4 equal squares. Whisk egg with 1 teaspoon water to make eggwash. Brush the edges of a square with eggwash. Scoop 1 tablespoon of chilled cherry Filling into center of square. Fold one corner diagonally to the opposite corner to make a triangular pocket. Press edges together to seal and transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pastry squares and Filling.
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Brush surface of the assembled turnovers with remaining eggwash and sprinkle with turbinado sugar, if desired. Bake until pastry has puffed and the surface is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.
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Make Glaze by stirring together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Drizzle glaze over cooled turnovers and serve.