Puff pastry apple turnovers are an easy (and portable!) version of your favorite apple pie dessert. Made with flaky puff pastry and a comforting apple pie filling, these turnovers are surprisingly easy to prepare.
I love making puff pastry turnovers. They're easy to customize with your favorite pie fillings to make flavors like blueberry turnovers and cherry turnovers. My absolute favorite? Apple.
All you need are six ingredients to get started, including a pack of frozen puff pastry, apples, cinnamon, sugar, and an egg. Puff pastry makes assembly a breeze! You can have a warm batch of apple turnovers ready in about 30 minutes.
Serve apple turnovers as a less sweet dessert or on-the-go treat any time of year. They're especially popular in the fall when apples are in season.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Apples - For this recipe, you'll need two small apples or one large apple. I recommend granny smith apples because they hold up well to baking and their tartness pairs well with the added brown sugar.
- Cinnamon - Adds warm, cozy flavor to the apple filling. Cinnamon could be substituted with apple pie spice blend if desired.
- Brown sugar - Adds sweetness to the filling. Could be substituted with granulated sugar if needed but I prefer the caramelized flavor that brown sugar adds.
- Puff pastry - Refrigerated or frozen puff pastry from any brand works well in this recipe. Homemade puff pastry also works well. Puff pastry could be substituted with a traditional pie crust rolled into a square shape.
- Egg - We're adding an egg wash to the tops of our turnovers, which creates a lovely golden crust when baked. Egg wash could be substituted with heavy cream if you don't have any eggs on hand.
- Turbinado sugar - I like to sprinkle my turnovers with turbinado sugar before baking. Turbinado sugar is a larger granule natural brown sugar that adds a nice crunch to the crust when baked. If you don't have turbinado sugar on hand, it can be substituted with some granulated sugar for a similar effect.
Tips and tricks
Thawing puff pastry - To thaw your puff pastry, you can do one of two things. Transfer your box of puff pastry to the refrigerator the night beforehand to allow it to thaw. If you didn't thaw your puff pastry the night before, let the box sit on the counter for about 30 minutes. Luckily, puff pastry doesn't take long to come to a workable temperature.
Rolling out puff pastry - Place your puff pastry on a flour-dusted or parchment lined countertop and use a rolling pin to roll it out to about a 12 inch square.
Preparing your apples - Optionally, peel your apples before cubing. This is up to personal preference. When cubing your apples, think about making even, bite-size pieces, about 1 inch or less in size. This ensures that your apples cook at the same rate in the oven.
Don't overfill your pastries - While you may be tempted to add more filling, this can turn into disaster in the oven. Overfilled turnovers pop open and leak while baking in the oven. I suggest only adding the amount of filling suggested in the recipe card for best results.
Egg wash benefits - Adding an egg wash creates a golden brown crust on top of your turnovers and also helps seal the edges while baking. I don't recommend skipping this step! If you don't have an egg on hand, there are a few alternatives.
Egg wash alternatives - Heavy cream or whole milk works great as an egg wash substitute. Melted butter can also work okay as a substitute.
Sprinkle with turbinado sugar - I like to sprinkle the egg wash with turbinado sugar. This adds a crunchy sugar crust. If you don't have turbinado sugar on hand, granulated sugar can work as a substitute.
Add a steam vent - Slicing a vent or piercing with a fork creates a place for steam to escape while your turnovers bake. This helps prevent filling from leaking out the sides while baking.
Storage
Leftover turnovers will keep for up to 2 days in a tightly sealed container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Frequently asked questions
Make sure the oven is fully preheated before placing your turnovers in the oven. A fully preheated oven ensures the filling and puff pastry are fully baked at the time listed in the recipe card. Don't add extra filling to your turnovers - this can cause them to leak while baking. Don't add extra liquid to the filling or use frozen fruits. Extra liquid will cause your turnovers to turn out mushy.
I recommend granny smith, honeycrisp, or golden delicious apples for baking. I don't recommend softer apples like gala, fuji, or red delicious. While these apples may be great for snacking, they don't hold up well to baking and can get mushy and mealy when cooked.
Yes, apple turnovers can be frozen before or after baking. Place your turnovers on a baking sheet and place in the freezer until frozen solid. Transfer your frozen turnovers into a plastic storage bag or other freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to two months.
Yes. Add up to 5 minutes of baking time if baking frozen turnovers.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers
Ingredients
- 2 small apples, granny smith are ideal
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 puff pastry sheets, thawed
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Peel, core, and dice apples into ½" cubes. In a bowl, add apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Toss to coat and set aside.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry sheets to approximately 12 inch squares. Cut each sheet into four squares.
- Spoon a scant ¼ cup of pie filling onto a corner of each square, avoiding ½ an inch around the edges. Fold the opposite corner of each puff pastry over to cover filling to form a triangle. Press the edges with a fork to seal.
- In a small bowl, whisk egg and 1 tablespoon of water to create an egg wash. Brush tops and edges of each turnover with egg wash.
- Sprinkle the tops with turbinado sugar and slice a vent in the center of each turnover to allow steam to escape (this helps prevent filling from seeping out the sides).
- Transfer turnovers to parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for about 19-22 minutes, or until turnovers are golden brown.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- To thaw puff pastry, place in refrigerator the night before or thaw on the countertop for 30 minutes.
- Turbinado sugar can be substituted with granulated sugar.
- Egg wash can be substituted with heavy cream for a similar result.
- Leftover turnovers will keep for up to 2 days in a tightly sealed container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Turnovers can also be frozen for up to two months (raw or baked). To bake from frozen, add up to 5 minutes to the listed baking time.
Awesome and easy recipe, perfect for a quick snack or dessert
So good and so easy! I used Gala instead of Granny Smith (all I had on hand). I zested half a lemon into the apple filling and also a sprinkle of nutmeg. These turned out really well and I will definitely make them again.
So easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Can you freeze the apple turnovers?
Yes, they can be frozen before or after baking and stored in the freezer for up to two months. If baking from frozen, you may need to add up to 5 minutes to your baking time.