Transform store-bought puff pastry into an out-of-this-world dessert with this apple turnover recipe! Completely vegan, it features a sweet apple pie-like center wrapped in a flaky crust. Serve warm with a sweet sugar glaze.
What Is an Apple Turnover?
If you’ve never had one (first of all, run to the kitchen, and prepare for your life to be changed), a turnover is a type of baked pastry made with a dough that is folded over, sealed, and stuffed with a soft filling. Similar to hand pies, they are portable and easy to take on the go. As the name suggests, an apple turnover is a type of turnover filled with a sweet apple pie-like filing.
However, turnovers in general exist in seemingly endless variations and can be made sweet or savory. For instance, some variations use puff pastry dough like this recipe. Meanwhile, others use pie dough or crescent roll dough. In addition, you’ll find filling options ranging from peach and cherry to spinach and sloppy joe options. Seriously!
What are Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers Made Of?
If you wanted, you could go all out and make everything from the apple filling to the pastry dough from scratch, but who has time for that? Simplicity is the name of the game around here! All you’ll need for this recipe are 6 basic ingredients plus a couple more if you want to make the glaze. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the Apple Turnover:
- Apple – I highly recommend using a baking apple like Granny Smith, Gala, Honey Crisp, or Fuji. Unlike regular snacking apples, they’ll maintain a more firm texture so your filling doesn’t turn to complete mush.
- Cinnamon – Personally, I love a little spice to balance out the sweet sugar.
- Granulated Sugar – I prefer to use brown sugar for a hint of caramel flavor, but any granulated sugar you have on hand will work.
- Water and Cornstarch – When combined, these two ingredients help create a viscous apple center.
- Puff Pastry – Make sure your puff pastry is vegan. Then, thank me later when you don’t have to spend hours rolling out dough.
For the Glaze:
Powdered Sugar – Any other type of sugar won’t melt down to create a glaze like powdered sugar does.
Plant-Based Milk – Sure, you could use water. However, a dash of milk helps create a creamy, richer glaze.
How to Make the Best Apple Turnover Recipe
Once you see how easy apple turnovers are to make at home, you’ll never buy the subpar storebought options again. Just follow the instructions below!
- Cook the apples, cinnamon, granulated sugar, and 1 tablespoon of water over medium heat until the apples are soft.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and the rest of the water.
- Remove the apples from the heat, and stir in the cornstarch mixture.
- Let the apples cool. Then, preheat your oven.
- Cut the puff pastry into 4 equal-sized rectangles.
- Pour the apple mixture into the center of two of the puff pastry sheets. Create a sandwich, layering the remaining pastry on top.
- Use a fork to crimp the edges and seal the pastries.
- Brush the top of each apple turnover with melted butter or milk.
- Then, bake until the edges turn golden brown, drizzle the glaze on top, and enjoy immediately.
How to Prevent the Filling From Leaking
No matter how well you crimp the edges and seal the dough, you’re going to have at least a little bit of the filling leak out. It’s frustrating, I know. But there are some things you can do to prevent it from happening!
- Be sure to brush your apple turnovers with butter or milk thoroughly. It creates a sort of seal, locking the apple filling in.
- Crimp carefully, making sure that not a single piece of the edges goes untouched.
- Refrigerate your turnovers roughly 20 minutes before baking to solidify the filling and seal the dough a bit more.
How Long Does this Recipe Last?
These puff pastry apple turnovers truly are best when served fresh. However, you can keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Can I Freeze Leftover Apple Turnovers?
Yes! They actually freeze really well. So, I recommend doubling (or tripling) the recipe and keeping them on hand for when a craving strikes. To do so, just bake your apple turnovers as usual. Then, arrange them on a baking sheet, and freeze them for an hour. Once solid, wrap each turnover with plastic wrap or tin foil and transfer them to a sealable bag. They’ll stay fresh for up to 3 months.
How Should I Reheat this Apple Turnover Recipe?
The best way to warm leftovers is to place them back in the oven at roughly 350° Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes or until your desired temperature is reached.
Don’t put them in the microwave! I know what you’re thinking. How much different can it be? WORLDS, my friend. Been there. Done that. They just turn out soggy and sad, and you don’t deserve that.
More Sweet Apple Treats
Love a good apple recipe? Try out some more of my faves!
- Caramel Apple Scones are made with plant-based ingredients for a deliciously spiced comfort food recipe perfect for fall!
- All the flavor of apple pie in the convenience of a cookie, these Flourless Apple Pie Sugar Cookies are one recipe that can never go wrong.
- These Apple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls are soft, sweet, crunchy, and completely addicting!
- Air Fryer Apple Fritters are made with simple plant-based ingredients for a better-for-you treat you’re guaranteed to love.
Vegan Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers
Quick and easy these apple turnovers are made with a sweet apple filling and simple puff pastry for the best vegan dessert for fall!
Ingredients
- 1 large apple diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar I used brown sugar
- 2 tbsp water divided
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 sheet of vegan puff pastry
- optional glaze: 1/4 cup powdered sugar + 1 1/2 tsp plant-based milk
Instructions
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In a small sauce pan over medium high heat, add the apples, cinnamon, granulated sugar and 1 tbsp of water. Stirring occasionally, cook the apples until they start to soft – about 5 minutes.
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Mix together the cornstarch and remaining 1 tbsp of water. Keep the saucepan on the heat while you add the cornstarch mixer to the apples. Continually stir for an additional minute before turning the heat off.
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Let the apples cool completely before working with your puff pastry. *you can speed this up by placing the apples in your fridge.
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Once the apples have cooled, preheat your oven to 425 degrees F.
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Gently unfold your puffed pasty and cut your pastry in half, saving the rest for a different recipe.
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Cut the 1/2 sheet into four equal rectangles. Cut each rectangle on the diagonal to create 8 triangles.
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On four of the triangles, scoop 2 tbsps of the cooled apple mixture into the center of the pastry.
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Lay the remaining pieces of puff pastry on top of each triangle to sandwich in the apples.
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Using a fork, crimp the two pieces of puff pastry together.
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Bake for 17 minutes or until the sides turn golden brown and enjoy immediately.
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If you would like to enjoy them with a glaze, whisk the glaze ingredients together and pour as much of the glaze as you would like.
