Apple turnovers are an easy, everyday version of the classic apple pie. Their flaky dough and sweet center make for the perfect treat any time of day. Enjoy it with a cup of coffee in the morning or after dinner for dessert.
You could use this base pastry recipe and mix and match all sorts of pie fillings to suit your tastes.
If you are in hurry, you can use store bought puff pastry sheets to make these hand pies..which makes the whole process so much easier and quick.
But when we make the pie dough at home, we can get rid of those trans hydrogenated fat which is used in making commercial puff pastry sheets and from those preservatives present in them.
These apple turnovers are made completely from scratch with a homemade puff pastry dough and a simple apple filling.
The whole process of making the dough to baking the apple turnovers will be done in less than two hours.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS APPLE TURNOVERS MADE FROM SCRATCH
We can make this pie dough in less than ten minutes of work time.
It is so easy to make this pie dough and the ingredients are very basic.
We can get rid of all those trans fat and preservatives found in the store bought puff pastry sheets.
The amazing texture of the baked pie: you will be surprised to see those flaky, crispy,fine layers of pie crust.
We can adjust the sugar of pastry crust according to the sweet or savory filling.
INGREDIENTS
FOR THE PASTRY
- All-purpose flour : 2 and 1/4 cups +1 tbsp or 300 g
- Salt : 1/2 teaspoon
- Unsalted butter, chilled, cut into small pieces:170 g or 3/4 cup or 1 and 1/2 stick
- Sugar:2 tbsp or 25 g
- Water :8-9 tbsp (120-135 ml)
FOR THE FILLING
- Apples(peeled, cored and diced small) : 2
- Granulated sugar :1/4 cup or 50g
- Ground cinnamon :1/2 teaspoon
- Pinch of salt
- Corn flour :1 tbsp
- water:1/4 cup or 60 ml
- lemon Juice:1 tbsp(optional)
FOR EGG WASH
- Egg :1
- Milk : 1/2 tablespoon
- Sugar for sprinkling on top :1 tablespoon
HOW TO MAKE APPLE TURNOVERS
1.PREPARE THE PASTRY DOUGH
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt.
Slice frozen butter into thin slices
Add the Frozen cold butter and, toss it into the flour mixture .
Add cold water, little by little into the flour mixture and, using a fork, gently toss and stir together until large lumps form and all of the flour has been moistened.
We need to be careful while adding water..if we add more water, the pastry will become tough and hard.
So add water little by little and stop when the dough can be squeezed and be pressed to form dough.
We don’t want all our butter to get dissolved into the dough..and it is a good sign to see the butter flakes in between the dough.
Using your hands, pat the dough into a ball and wrap with plastic wrap or parchment paper.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes or more until the dough is firm(if preparing ahead of time, the dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month).
2.PREPARE THE FILLING
Meanwhile, in a small pan, add the sugar, cinnamon powder,salt,corn flour and water and bring it to boil .
When it get thickened,stop cooking and take it out from the stove.
We don’t necessarily want to cook the apples but we want our corn starch to get cooked.
As there is corn flour in the mixture, there is tendancy for it to get settle in the bottom of the pan if not stirred properly.And we need to stir continuously, while cooking to prevent formation of any lumps.
What kind of apples is best for making apple turnovers
We can use any kind of apples which are , light and crispy ,very sweet and tangy.We don’t want those apples to be very soft and which may get mashed when cooked or baked.
In this video,I have used Pink Lady Apples which worked really well.We can also use Granny Smith Apples, Honey crisp, Fuji Apples etc.
Can you use raw apple as filling
Yes you can use raw apples for filling.The apple will get cooked during the baking time.
If using raw apples, take care not to mix all the ingredients..especially sugar and apple long before, as it will cause the moisture from apple to ooze out and the filling will be watery.
So combine the sugar and apple,just before assembling the handpies.
I have tried making apple turnovers using both raw apples and the cooked apples and the thickened apple filling(using corn flour as done in video) and though I loved three of them ,I found the third type of filling gives us a more store bought taste,look and feel.
It makes the filling more, delicious and easy when shaping the hand pies.
The one made with raw apple filling(raw apples+sugar+salt+cinnamon powder) seems dry and lean( may be because all those juice from apples got evaporated) after the baking.
CAN YOU MAKE THE APPLE FILLING AHEAD OF TIME
Yes we can make the filling ahead of time.Once the filling has cooled completely, keep covered in refrigerator.
WHAT KIND OF SUGAR CAN BE USED FOR MAKING APPLE TURNOVERS
We can use both white sugar and brown sugar for making apple turnovers.
Personally I prefer using white sugar.
When I used brown sugar,I felt like the caramel flavor of brown sugar is not going well with the baked apples.
I also tried making this apple filling using caramelized white sugar and I felt the same with it.Though they looked gorgeous, the flavor didn’t match well.
3.ASSEMBLE THE APPLE TURNOVER
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll out one half of the dough to ⅛-inch thickness.
Cut the pie dough sheet into circles using a cookie cutter or into long rectangles or squares using a pizza cutter.
Transfer the shapes to the parchment-lined baking sheet.
Repeat the rolling and cutting process with any cutout parts of dough.
Spoon about 1 to 2 tablespoons filling onto each dough sheet and fold it in half so the other side comes down over the filling. Seal the hand pie, and make a decorative edge by pressing the edges of the dough together with the tines of a fork.
Keep the tray covered in freezer for 20 minutes or Refrigerate the assembled hand pies for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
WHY DO WE NEED TO REFRIGERATE THE APPLE TURNOVERS BEFORE BAKING
The cold temperatures will firm up the pastry, meaning that the butter in the dough will melt more slowly.If we place soft butter into a hot oven, the first thing that might happen inside the oven, is the melting of butter than the cooking and we will end with a pool of butter and the pastries will not turnout good, they cannot hold its shape.
4.BAKE THE APPLE TURNOVERS
In a small bowl, whisk together an egg and milk for the egg wash.
Remove the chilled hand pies from the refrigerator, and lightly brush with the egg wash.
Using a sharp knife, cut a few small slits on the top of each hand pie, then sprinkle generously with coarse sugar.
Bake @400 F for 10 minutes and then reduce the temperature to 375 F and bake for another 16-20 minutes or Bake until the hand pies are golden brown, the baking time vary according to how thick we rolled the dough. Small pies will require slightly less baking duration so they might be ready in 10 minutes(450F) + 15-18 minutes (375 F).
Remove the pies from the oven, and let stand to cool slightly before serving.They are really hot just when they are out of the oven.So wait for it to cool down .
The pies are best eaten within a day of baking them.
This is one apple dessert your family will be asking for again and again.
FOUR MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR MAKING THE BEST FLAKY PIE CRUST
- Use Cold Ingredients and try to keep the dough cold all the time
- Don’t Overwork the dough
- Don’t add too much water while preparing the pie dough
- Work as fast as you can while working with the dough
WHY THE PIE DOUGH IS CRUMBLY
If your pie dough breaks and crumbles when you try to roll it out, it’s probably too dry.
Solution : Just spray or sprinkle some cold water over the dough and work until the dough just comes together.
WHY THE PIE CRUST IS HARD AND TOUGH
If your pie crust is hard and tough instead of tender and flaky, you probably either overworked the dough or added too much water to it.
This happened to me when I added more water than needed.
Solution :Next time when you make the pie dough, add water 1 tablespoon at a time.Remember,We can always add more water to the dough but we cannot take the water out of the dough.
We do not want to work with the pie dough just like how we knead a bread.Pie dough actually need only a few squishing and patting to form the dough 🙂
HOW TO STORE THESE APPLE TURNOVERS
These apple hand pies are best served warm and eaten on the same day they are made. However, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, and reheat in oven at 325 degrees F for 5 to 10 minutes.
CAN YOU FREEZE UNBAKED APPLE TURNOVERS
Yes,You can freeze unbaked apple turnovers.
After the pies are fully assembled and before brushing tops with egg-wash, freeze them flat on a lined baking sheet then transfer to a freezer-safe bag.And can be kept in freezer for up to 2 months.
When ready to bake, arrange them frozen on a baking sheet (do not thaw), brush with some egg wash and bake at 400˚F for 10 minutes and then 375 F for the next 16-20 minutes.
CAN I FREEZE BAKED APPLE TURNOVERS?
Yes! Let the apple turnovers cool completely. Once cooled, transfer the apple turnovers to a freezer bag. And we can keep them in freezer for up to 2 months.
To reheat, bake in a 325 degree F oven until warmed through (12-14 minutes).
CAN I FREEZE APPLE TURNOVER DOUGH
Yes,You can freeze the pastry dough.
After forming the pastry dough, cover them with a freezer safe plastic film and then can be kept in freezer for up to two months.
When you want to use the dough, take it out of the freezer and wait for until the pastry dough is soft but still cold and workable.It may take around 5-10 minutes.
Now you can roll the dough, and continue with the rest of the steps.
WATCH THE VIDEO TO SEE HOW EASY IT IS TO MAKE APPLE TURNOVERS
If you want to experiment with another super easy homemade puff pastry dough,I hope this Easy croissants recipe will help you.
You might also love this elephant ear pastry or palmers recipe too.
Easy Apple Turnovers from scratch
Equipment
Ingredients
For the pastry Dough
- 300 g All-purpose flour 2 and 1/4 cups +1 tbsp
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 170 g Unsalted butter 3/4 cup or 1 and 1/2 sticks chilled, cut into small pieces
- 25 g Sugar 2 tbsp
- 120-135 ml Water 8-9 tbsp
For the Apple Filling
- 2 Apples (peeled, cored and diced small)
- 50 g Granulated sugar 1/4 cup
- 1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp Corn flour
- 60 ml Water 1/4 cup
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice optional
For topping
- 1 Egg
- 1/2 tbsp Milk
- 12 g Sugar 1 tbsp for sprinkling on top
Instructions
Prepare the pastry dough
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and salt. Add the cold butter and, toss it into the flour mixture and try to incorporate the butter into the flour.Add cold water, little by little into the flour mixture and, using a fork, gently toss and stir together until large lumps form and all of the flour has been moistened. Using your hands, pat the dough into a ball and wrap with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or more until the dough is firm
Prepare the apple filling
- In a small pan, add the sugar, cinnamon powder,salt,corn flour and water and bring it to boil .When it get thickened,stop cooking and take it out from the stove.
Assemble the apple turnovers
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured work surface, roll out one half of the dough to ⅛-inch thickness. Cut the pie dough sheet into circles using a cookie cutter or into long rectangles or squares using a pizza cutter.Spoon about 1 to 2 tablespoons filling onto each dough sheet and fold it in half so the other side comes down over the filling. Seal the hand pie, and make a decorative edge by pressing the edges of the dough together with the tines of a fork.Transfer them to the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze for 20 minutes or Refrigerate the assembled hand pies for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Bake the apple turnovers
- In a small bowl, whisk together an egg and milk for the egg wash. Remove the chilled hand pies from the refrigerator, and lightly brush with the egg wash. Using a sharp knife, cut a few small slits on the top of each hand pie, then sprinkle generously with coarse sugar.
- Bake @400 F for 10 minutes and then reduce the temperature to 375 F and bake for another 18-20 minutes or Bake until the hand pies are golden brown, the baking time vary according to how thick we rolled the dough.
- Remove the pies from the oven, and let stand to cool slightly before serving.Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use Cold Ingredients and try to keep the dough cold all the time
- Don’t Overwork the dough
- Don’t add too much water while preparing the pie dough
- Work as fast as you can while working with the dough
Will
Wednesday 27th of April 2022
Hello! I love this recipe, when I made it all of the butter melted out of the pastry in the oven. Any thoughts on what I could try next?
Bincy Chris
Saturday 21st of May 2022
Sorry to hear that. It is one of the common problems while dealing with pastry doughs that contain lot of butter; in a comparatively warm environment.In such case, just keep the shaped pastry in fridge to cool(around 20-25 minutes) or in freezer for a few minutes (5-7 minutes), just before baking; so that the butter will be firm and does not melt as soon as we take the tray inside the oven for baking. Hope the helps.
Niky
Wednesday 9th of March 2022
Hi, i am a fan of your recipes . I have tried so many of your recipes and they have all come out so good Including these apple turnover, they came out amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your recipes ..
Bincy Chris
Thursday 10th of March 2022
Hi Niky,I am so happy to hear you enjoyed many of our recipes.Thank you so much for taking your time to write back me and for rating this recipe.
Mari Grace
Monday 26th of April 2021
Hello! I am a fan. Thanks for sharing this recipe! I will do this on the weekend:) I just want to ask why is there no egg used for the dough? I have seen other videos and most of them if not all use one egg. Thank you!
Bincy Chris
Monday 26th of April 2021
Hi Mari Grace,I just tried to simplify the recipe and it worked really well.
Michael
Friday 19th of February 2021
Can i put more water
Bincy Chris
Saturday 20th of February 2021
Yes you can (a teaspoon or so )But It is better to use water sparingly as possible.
Tina
Monday 1st of February 2021
Is corn flour the same as corn starch?
Bincy Chris
Monday 1st of February 2021
Hi Tina,Yes it is.