Enjoy the flavors of apple pie in simple, no-fuss puff pastry apple turnovers — flaky pastry encasing gooey cinnamon apples and a crunchy sugar topping!
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Some food combinations are ‘meant to be,’ and a gooey apple filling in pastry is always a winner. I’ve already share apple pie cookies for those wanting to skip the effort of making a full pie (no blind baking or fancy crimping!), but these portable puff pastry apple turnovers are even easier - only a handful of ingredients and minimal effort for a bakery-quality dessert.
Just cook the apple filling, fold it into store-bought puff pastry (accidentally vegan!), and bake this family-favorite treat until golden with a crunchy sugar topping. They’re a portable, freezer-friendly, crowd-pleasing, cozy fall breakfast or dessert you can enjoy at home or on the go, optionally with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of glaze.
Love apples? Also, check out my healthy apple pie baked apples, air-fried apples, and/or dehydrated apple chips.
Ingredient Notes
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients, substitutes, and quantities.
Recipe Variations
- Pears: Use alongside or instead of apples in these apple pie pockets.
- Add-ins: Add texture/flavor with ¼-½ cup dried fruit (raisins, cranberries), vegan chocolate chips, chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds), etc.
- Vanilla extract: Just a little adds warmth to the apple turnover filling.
- Toppings: The pastry isn’t sweet, so I sprinkle them with sugar. Alternatively, use a simple glaze (powdered sugar + apple juice/plant milk like this easy lemon glaze), maple glaze, or caramel sauce like this vegan peanut butter caramel sauce.
How To Make Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers
Step 1: Finely dice the apples. Then, preheat the oven. Melt the vegan butter in a large skillet. Add the apples and cook for 3-5 minutes. Stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon for a minute. In a small bowl, mix the water and cornstarch and add to the apples. Stir well, reduce to low, and cook until it thickens. Remove it from the heat and let it cool for 10-15 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the pie dough according to the package instructions and lightly flour a clean surface. Cut each pastry sheet into 6 squares and transfer them to the baking sheet. Add 3 tablespoons of cinnamon apple filling to the center of each square.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & get this sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get great new recipes from me every week!
Step 3: Lightly wet the edges and fold each in half then crimp with a fork to seal. Leave an inch between pastries, brush with melted vegan butter, and sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake the apple turnovers for 20-25 minutes. Transfer the apple pie turnovers to a cooling rack and leave to cool. Enjoy!
Enjoy one alone, with a dusting of powdered sugar, scoop of vegan ice cream, or vegan whipped cream, and maybe even with a cup of Instant Pot apple cider or super creamy vegan eggnog.
FAQs
Use crisp baking apples that will soften but hold their shape. Granny Smith apples balance sweetness, but any firm apple works (Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Pink Lady)—adjust sugar as needed.
Yes, you can prepare the filling a few days in advance and store it in the fridge. Or assemble and freeze the unbaked turnovers (before brushing them with vegan butter). Bake from frozen, adding 5-10 minutes.
In an oven or air fryer at 350F/180C for 5-10 minutes until warm.
Pro Recipe Tips
- Food quick prep: Use a grid food chopper to dice apple slices in seconds.
- Adjust sweetness: Based on how sweet or tart the apples are.
- Let the filling cool: A hot filling can make pastry soggy or misshapen.
- To avoid soggy pastry: It may help to cut 2-3 slits on top of the dough for steam to escape.
- To avoid filling leakage: Don’t overfill them, wet then properly, crimp the pastry edges, and optionally chill the pastries for 20-30 minutes pre-baking.
Storage Information
Store: In an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Freeze: Flash freeze the apple pie turnovers, not touching, until solid, then transfer to a Ziplock/Stasher for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or on the counter.
More Vegan Desserts to Consider....
If you tried this easy puff pastry apple turnovers recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks!
Easy Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers
Ingredients
- 3 Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and finely diced
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 (17.3-ounce) package frozen puff pastry sheets thawed according to package instructions
- 1 tablespoon melted vegan butter
- Brown or turbinado sugar for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the vegan butter.
- Add the diced apples and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until they begin to soften.
- Stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon, mixing well. Cook for 1 minute.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Add this mixture to the pan and stir well.
- Reduce the heat to low and cook until the apple mixture thickens. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Lightly flour a clean surface and unfold the puff pastry sheets according to package instructions. Cut each sheet into 6 squares and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.Place 3 tablespoons of the apple filling in the center of each square.Lightly wet the inside edges of the dough, then fold each square diagonally to form a triangle.
- Use a fork to crimp the edges and seal the turnovers. Ensure there is at least one inch of space between each pastry.
- Brush the tops with melted vegan butter and sprinkle with brown or turbinado sugar.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the turnovers are puffed and golden brown.
- Carefully transfer the turnovers to a cooling rack and allow them to cool before serving.
Notes
- Adjust sweetness: Based on how sweet or tart the apples are.
- Let the filling cool: A hot filling can make pastry soggy or misshapen.
- To avoid soggy pastry: It may help to cut 2-3 slits on top of the dough for steam to escape.
- To avoid filling leakage: Don’t overfill them, wet then properly, crimp the pastry edges, and optionally chill the pastries for 20-30 minutes pre-baking.
Andrea says
Love these apple turnovers!!
suzi says
I made this yesterday, but didnt have the puff pastry. Used a 10" organic soft flour tortilla that I cut in two halves and folded. Worked great!!! Subbed coconut sugar and added a pear, short one apple. DELISH!!!