Easy Apple Turnover Recipe

These easy Apple Turnovers are filled with a sweet apple filling inside store-bought puff pastry sheets and drizzled with a luscious maple glaze. It’s like apple pie wrapped up in a flaky, buttery pocket of goodness!

Can’t get enough apple desserts? Then, you have to try this Apple Fritter Cake, Cinnamon Apple Bread, and Apple Crumble Pie!

Apple Turnovers are like apple pie in handheld form and are way easier than they look!

All you have to do is make a homemade apple filling with fresh apples, butter, sugar, cinnamon, and a cornstarch slurry to thicken it. 

You’ll spoon the filling into sliced store-bought puff pastry sheets, bake, and you’re done! You get the gooey apple pie filling and flaky crust all in one bite.

Since the pastry is buttery, like a pie crust, I like to make a maple glaze to add a little extra sweetness! Plus, any maple + apple combo is always a win in my book.

Why we love these homemade Apple Turnovers:

• Gooey apple pie filling: This recipe makes a homemade filling that tastes just like apple pie!
• Simple ingredients: This recipe comes together with a few basic ingredients and even uses store-bought pastry sheets to make things easier. 
• Make-ahead friendly: You can assemble the turnovers and then freeze them before baking. When you’re ready to eat them, just pop them in the oven for a quick treat!

Easy Apple Turnover recipe ingredients:

• Salted butter: Used for sautéing the apples and creating a rich, buttery flavor. If you need a dairy-free version, you can swap it for margarine or coconut oil.
• Firm baking apples: Choose firm apples that can hold up to cooking. Granny Smith apples are tart and work well in most apple desserts!
• Sugar: Since we’re using tart apples like Granny Smith, granulated and dark brown sugar help to sweeten the filling. You can swap the dark brown sugar with light brown sugar if needed!
• Ground cinnamon: A classic spice that adds that warm fall feel! Feel free to add extra spices like nutmeg or allspice if you like it more spiced.
• Cornstarch: Mixed with water to thicken the apple mixture to prevent it from being runny inside the pastry.
• Puff pastry: The flaky, buttery pastry that gives the turnovers their signature light and crispy texture. I use a store-bought puff pastry because it’s easier, but you can totally make a homemade puff pastry if you like!
• Egg: Mixed with water to create an egg wash to brush over the top of each turnover for a flaky texture and golden brown sheen.
• Powdered sugar and maple syrup: This is for the sweet glaze that goes on top of the turnovers. I highly recommend using pure maple syrup for the best flavor! If you don’t want maple flavor, just swap it with regular milk.

How to make puff pastry Apple Turnovers:

These Apple Turnovers may look fancy, but they’re super easy to make! Make sure to check the recipe card for the full list of instructions!

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan, then add chopped apples, sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
• Cook until apples are soft and the mixture has thickened.

• Drop a spoonful of the apple mixture into the center of each square of puff pastry.
• Bake until golden brown.

Variations and Substitutions

• Caramel sauce: If you don’t want to make the maple glaze, you can swap it for store-bought or homemade caramel sauce!
• Powdered sugar: If you like to keep things simple, you can do a simple dusting of powdered sugar on top of the warm turnovers. 

How to store Apple Turnovers:

Store leftover Apple Turnovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 day. If you want to keep them longer, refrigerate them for up to 5 days. Place on a piece of paper towel so they don’t get soggy.

You can also pop them in the freezer for up to 3 months! Just let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. 

Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350°F for 5–7 minutes to bring back that crispy texture.

Make-ahead option:

If you want to make Apple Turnovers ahead of time, it’s super easy! 

Prepare the apple filling and assembling the turnovers as usual, but don’t add the egg wash yet.

Place the turnovers on a baking sheet and flash-freeze until frozen. Once frozen, store them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. 

When you’re ready to bake, take them out of the freezer and bake as usual, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time if needed!

More apple desserts you’ll love:

• Maple-Glazed Apple Crisp Cookies
• Apple Crisp Blondies
• Maple Glazed Apple Crisp Cinnamon Buns
• Apple Crisp Cheesecakes