Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers
There’s something magical about biting into a golden, flaky puff pastry turnover filled with warm, spiced apples. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a weekend kitchen experimenter, puff pastry apple turnovers are a delightful treat that always impresses. They’re simple enough for a quick family dessert but elegant enough to serve at a dinner party.
This post will guide you through everything you need to know—from making the perfect apple filling to assembling and baking the turnovers. Plus, we’ll share some handy tips, substitutions, and even a freezing method so you can always have delicious turnovers on hand.
Why You’ll Love These Caramel Apple Turnovers
- Quick & Easy: Store-bought puff pastry cuts the effort in half, so you can enjoy delicious, homemade apple turnovers without making dough from scratch.
- Irresistible Texture: The combination of buttery, flaky pastry with tender, cinnamon-spiced apples is sheer perfection.
- Customizable: You can adapt these turnovers to your taste by switching up the filling, adding glaze, or trying different spices.
- Family-Friendly Fun: This is a recipe everyone can get involved in—kids will love assembling their own turnovers!
Ingredients for Perfect Apple Turnovers
Puff Pastry: Start with high-quality puff pastry sheets like Pepperidge Farm. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also use homemade puff pastry dough for extra crispiness. Thaw the sheets as per package directions for easy handling.
Apples: A mix of honeycrisp apples and granny smith apples ensures the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. This combination enhances the filling’s flavor profile and texture.
Sugars: Both granulated sugar and brown sugar add the right amount of sweetness and create a caramelized texture in the filling.
Spices: A blend of cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and allspice adds warmth and depth, making each bite irresistibly fragrant.
Butter & Thickeners: Use unsalted butter for a rich flavor. Add cornstarch to thicken the apple filling and ensure it holds its shape inside the pastry.
Lemon Touch: Fresh lemon juice prevents the apples from browning and provides a tangy contrast, while lemon zest adds a touch of brightness and freshness.
Egg Wash: A mix of one egg and heavy cream creates a beautiful golden-brown sheen on the turnovers after baking.
Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Prepare the Apple Filling
Making the perfect apple turnovers starts with a flavorful apple filling. Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a medium saucepan, melt unsalted butter over medium heat, then add diced apples, a combination of honeycrisp and granny smith for their balance of sweetness and tartness. Sprinkle in brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and a pinch of salt to build depth of flavor.
Add lemon juice and lemon zest for freshness, stirring occasionally as the apples cook down and soften. Dissolve cornstarch in water and stir it in to thicken the mixture. Let it simmer until the filling becomes rich and glossy, adjusting seasoning and sweetness to taste. Once done, allow it to cool down before using it in your puff pastry turnovers.
Step 2 | Assemble the turnovers
To begin, unfold the puff pastry sheets that have been properly thawed. Each box typically contains two sheets. Gently roll out the dough to even it out, creating a uniform size of about 10-11 inches on each side for consistency.
Lightly brush the borders with egg wash to help seal the edges securely. Carefully fold over each square from one corner to another, shaping it into a triangle. Finally, press along the edges using a fork, ensuring the edges are sealed tightly and the filling remains intact during baking.
Next, use a pastry cutter wheel, knife, or pizza cutter to cut the dough into equal-sized squares, resulting in eight squares. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling onto the center of each square, while leaving a ½ inch border around the edges.
Step 3 | Brush and cut vents
Once the turnovers are assembled, transfer them to a large sheet pan lined with parchment paper. This step prevents sticking and ensures even baking. Gently brush the tops and edges with egg wash to give the pastries their signature golden brown color.
Using a paring knife, carefully cut small vents on the top of each pastry. These vents allow the interior to stay vented, letting excess steam escape during baking. This ensures the dough will puff up evenly and avoids soggy turnovers.
Step 4 | Bake
Preheat your oven and bake the turnovers at 400 degrees F for about 20 to 22 minutes. Keep an eye on them as they turn beautifully golden brown and puffed up, a sign they’re perfectly cooked.
Once baked, transfer them to a cooling rack and allow them to cool slightly before serving. The warm, flaky layers of puff pastry paired with the delicious filling make these the best apple turnovers you’ll ever taste.
Whisk the Glaze
To finish your turnovers, whisk together powdered sugar and cream to create a smooth glaze. While the turnovers are still warm, drizzle the glaze generously over the top. This simple step adds a sweet, creamy touch that perfectly complements the flaky pastry.
Substitutions and Variations
Sugar-Free Option: Use a sugar-free alternative like stevia or monk fruit sweetener.
Alternative Fillings: Substitute apples with pears, peaches, or berries for a summery twist.
Add Glaze: Drizzle a simple powdered sugar glaze over the turnovers after baking for extra sweetness.
Make Ahead and Freezing
These turnovers are perfect for prepping in advance! Assemble the turnovers and freeze them on a baking sheet for 1–2 hours. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding an extra 2–3 minutes to the baking time.
Tips for Success
Work quickly with puff pastry to keep the butter cold, ensuring those perfect layers.
Don’t overfill the turnovers, as the filling may leak out during baking.
Chill the pastry briefly before baking to maintain its structure and flakiness.
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FAQs
How do I make the glaze for my turnovers?
Combine ¾ cup of confectioners sugar and 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk to create a smooth, simple sugar glaze to drizzle on the turnovers.
What kind of apples are best for turnovers?
Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples are great for turnovers because they hold their shape and balance sweetness with tartness.
How can I make these turnovers more flavorful?
Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the apple filling for extra flavor, or top with a sprinkle of sugar before baking for a sweet crust.
How long does it take to bake puff pastry apple turnovers?
It takes about 20 to 22 minutes at 400°F to bake the turnovers until golden brown and puffed up.
Do I need to use egg wash?
Yes, brushing the turnovers with egg wash helps them achieve a golden, glossy finish.
Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 2 Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and diced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 sheets puff pastry thawed
- 1 egg beaten (for egg wash)
For the Glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F and remove the puff pastry from the freezer to thaw while preparing the apple filling.
- In a medium pot, melt butter and add diced apples, cooking and stirring occasionally until softened.
- Reduce heat and stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt, allowing the mixture to simmer and become caramelized.
- Remove from heat and set aside to cool before proceeding.
- Use a rolling pin to roll out the thawed pastry and cut into squares with a pizza cutter.
- Place the cooled apple mixture on each square, ensuring at least a ½” border. Then beat together egg and water, brushing the eggwash on the edges before crimping with a fork to seal.
- Arrange the turnovers on a parchment-lined baking sheet, make small slits with a paring knife, brush with more eggwash, and bake until golden and puffed.