These easy apple turnovers with puff pastry are stuffed with fresh apple slices and warm spices, baked until golden brown, and finished with a sweet vanilla glaze.
Table of Contents
If you’re looking for even more apple recipes, be sure to try this skillet chicken with apples and onions, a loaf of cozy one-bowl apple bread, an easy apple crisp, and this homemade applesauce, too!
Apple turnovers with puff pastry are quick to make, and delicious alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a cup of coffee. These little handheld pastries are a classic dessert or special breakfast that’s sure to impress!
A Few Notes Before You Get Started
- This easy apple turnover recipe takes advantage of frozen puff pastry for a simple shortcut. While you can make puff pastry from scratch, the Pepperidge Farm store-bought puff pastry is almost just as good — and way easier.
- Thaw the puff pastry sheets according to the package directions before assembling the turnovers.
- Keep the puff pastry nice and cold so that it stays flaky and puffy (rather than dense) when baked.
- For the filling, pick a firm-flesh apple that won’t turn to mush when baked. We like a combination of Honey Crisp apples and Granny Smith apples for the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavor. Other good options include Braeburn, Pink Lady, Winesap, and Jonagold apples.
- Since this is a no-cook filling (making it very easy!), it’s important to slice the apples very thin so that they soften by the time the turnovers come out of the oven.
Directions
An easy apple turnover recipe is such a great option to keep in your back pocket for those occasions when you need a simple-yet-elegant dessert to share with friends and family. You’ll find detailed instructions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- Stir together the apple filling in a large bowl.
- Cut each puff pastry dough sheet into 4 squares, so that you end up with a total of 8 squares (about 5 inches each).
- Spoon the apple mixture onto the center of each pastry square. You will probably have some apple filling leftover if it doesn’t all fit into the turnovers. That’s fine! You can sauté the extra apples in a skillet with butter for an easy side dish with dinner or a nice topping on yogurt or vanilla ice cream.
- Brush the edges of the pastry with milk, and then fold the pastry over the filling to make a triangle.
- Seal and crimp the edges of each pastry with a fork. It’s not necessary to cut small slits in the top of each turnover with a knife for steam to release.
- Bake the turnovers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a 375°F oven for 20-25 minutes, until puffy and golden brown.
- If you plan to serve the turnovers warm, you can glaze them while they’re still hot. Just be aware that some of the icing might melt off or look messy (but they’ll still taste good)! Otherwise, allow the turnovers to cool before drizzling with glaze.
- Whisk together the vanilla glaze, and then drizzle it over each cooled turnover.
Serving Suggestions
Glazed turnovers are delicious with a cup of hot coffee or tea for breakfast, brunch, or a morning snack. The delicate hand pies are also a lovely dessert — especially when paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, or freshly whipped cream! Serve them warm or at room temperature.
Preparation and Storage Tips
- How to Store: leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. If you plan to reheat the turnovers, just know that the icing may drip off or look messy when warmed.
- How to Reheat: place the turnovers on a baking sheet in a 375°F oven for about 5-7 minutes. If you’re just reheating one or two turnovers, you can microwave them for a few seconds or until warm.
- How to Freeze: to freeze turnovers, bake them first, let them cool, but don’t add the icing. Package the baked turnovers in an airtight freezer-safe container or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw the frozen turnovers on the counter at room temperature, and then bake the thawed turnovers in a 375°F oven until warmed through, about 7 minutes.
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Apple Turnovers with Puff Pastry
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 45 minutes
These easy apple turnovers with puff pastry make the perfect fall dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 (17.3 ounce) box frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and cut into ¼-inch slices (I use a combination of Granny Smith and Honey Crisp)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, cut into small pieces
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Milk, for brushing
For the Vanilla Glaze
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Place the apple slices in a medium bowl; toss with lemon juice. Scatter the butter pieces over the apples. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Stir the sugar mixture into the apples.
- Unwrap each of the puff pastry sheets. Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 4 squares, about 5 inches each. Spoon the apple filling onto the center of each square. You probably will not use all of the apple filling, so you can sauté any leftovers in a skillet of butter!
- Brush the edges with milk and fold over to make a triangle. Seal and crimp with the tines of a fork. Arrange the turnovers on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack.
To Make the Vanilla Glaze
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Transfer the glaze to a piping bag or Ziploc bag, snip off the corner, and drizzle over the cooled turnovers.
Notes
Keep the puff pastry nice and cold so that it stays flaky and puffy (rather than dense) when baked.
Since this is a no-cook filling (making it very easy!), it’s important to slice the apples very thin so that they soften by the time the turnovers come out of the oven.
Nutrition
Serving: 1turnoverCalories: 484kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 5gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 166mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 2gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 75IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 2mg
Apple Turnover Recipe Variations
- Instead of thin slices, dice the apples into small pieces. Either way will work, so it’s just a matter of personal preference. The diced apples will obviously have a slightly different texture than the slices.
- To make just 4 turnovers, cut all of the ingredients in half, using one sheet of puff pastry.
- Add a dash of cinnamon to the glaze, or season the filling with extra warm spices like cardamom, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, or allspice.
- For a darker, shiny finish, brush the top of the turnovers with an egg wash (a large egg whisked together with about 1 tablespoon water) and sprinkle with coarse sugar and cinnamon before baking.
- Swap out half of the sugar for brown sugar for a slightly different flavor.
This recipe was originally published in August, 2022. It was updated in August, 2024.
I made these today and they were delicious! Have you ever made a cherry one? Those would be delicious, too!
Thank you for all of your wonderful recipes!
Thanks, Carol! I haven’t used this recipe to make cherry turnovers, but I’m sure they would be delicious. You could even use canned cherry pie filling for a really quick shortcut. 🙂