Vegan Apple Turnovers

Craving a sweet treat that’s both comforting and easy to make? Look no further than these delightful Vegan Apple Turnovers! These flaky, golden pastries are filled with a warmly spiced apple filling, making them the perfect dessert, snack, or even a special breakfast. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, this recipe is designed to be straightforward and rewarding, yielding irresistible turnovers that everyone will love.
The beauty of these turnovers lies in their simplicity and the incredible flavor they pack. Imagine biting into a crisp, buttery crust giving way to tender, caramelized apples infused with cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg. It’s a classic combination that never disappoints, and by making them vegan, we open up this delicious experience to even more people without sacrificing taste or texture.

Why You’ll Love This Vegan Apple Turnover Recipe

Flaky Perfection: We’ll achieve that irresistible, light, and airy pastry using store-bought vegan puff pastry, making the process incredibly easy.

Warm, Spiced Filling: The apple filling is a symphony of flavors – sweet, tangy, and aromatic, making each bite a pure joy.

Naturally Vegan: No animal products here! These turnovers are perfect for those following a vegan diet or anyone looking to incorporate more plant-based options into their lives.

Versatile: Enjoy them warm with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream, at room temperature with a cup of coffee, or even pack them for a picnic.

Simple to Make: With a few key ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, you’ll have a batch of bakery-worthy turnovers in no time.

The Magic of Apples

Apples are truly a marvel in the culinary world. Their versatility allows them to shine in both sweet and savory dishes, but perhaps nowhere more so than in baked goods. For these turnovers, the type of apple you choose can significantly impact the final texture and flavor.

Best Apples for Baking:

While many apples can work, some varieties hold up better to baking and offer a superior flavor profile.

Granny Smith: These are a baker’s favorite for a reason. Their tartness provides a fantastic contrast to the sweetness of the filling, and they hold their shape beautifully, preventing the filling from becoming mushy.

Honeycrisp: Known for their crisp texture and balanced sweet-tart flavor, Honeycrisps are excellent for baking. They maintain some bite and contribute a lovely fruity note.

Fuji: Sweet and firm, Fuji apples are another great choice. They soften nicely without turning to complete mush and offer a pleasant sweetness.

Braeburn: These apples have a good balance of sweetness and tartness, along with a firm texture that bakes well.

Golden Delicious: While sweeter, Golden Delicious apples become wonderfully tender when baked and absorb flavors beautifully.

For the best results, I often recommend a mix of apples – perhaps a Granny Smith for tartness and structure, combined with a sweeter apple like Honeycrisp or Fuji for depth of flavor. This creates a more complex and enjoyable filling.

Preparing Your Apples:

No matter which apple you choose, proper preparation is key. Wash, peel, core, and dice your apples into small, uniform pieces (about ½ inch cubes). This ensures they cook evenly and fit neatly into your pastry.

Understanding Vegan Puff Pastry

One of the secrets to making these turnovers incredibly easy is using store-bought vegan puff pastry. Gone are the days of laboriously making puff pastry from scratch for every bake! Many brands now offer high-quality vegan puff pastry that is just as flaky and delicious as its traditional counterpart.

What to Look For:

When purchasing puff pastry, always check the ingredient list to ensure it’s vegan. Traditional puff pastry often contains butter, so you’ll want to find brands that use vegetable-based fats like vegetable oil or vegan margarine. Common vegan brands include Pepperidge Farm (in some regions, always check ingredients!), Jus-Rol, and Dufour Pastry Kitchens (check their vegan puff pastry specifically).

Handling Puff Pastry:

Puff pastry is best worked with when it’s cold but pliable. If it’s too warm, it will become sticky and difficult to handle. If it’s too cold, it will crack when you try to unfold it.

Thawing: If using frozen puff pastry, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for about 30-40 minutes. You want it to be flexible but still cool to the touch.

Working Quickly: Once unfolded, work relatively quickly to cut and fill your pastries. If the pastry starts to get too warm, pop it back into the fridge for 10-15 minutes to chill before continuing.

No Reworking: Try to avoid overworking the pastry scraps. While you can gather them and roll them out again, the layers won’t be as defined or flaky as the first time.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Apple Filling:

Apples: 4-5 medium apples (approx. 4 cups diced), preferably a mix of tart and sweet varieties (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Braeburn, Golden Delicious).

Granulated Sugar: ¼ cup, or to taste, depending on the sweetness of your apples.

Brown Sugar: ¼ cup, adds a lovely molasses flavor and deeper caramel notes.

Lemon Juice: 1 tablespoon, brightens the flavors and prevents apples from browning.

Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon, the quintessential apple spice.

Ground Nutmeg: ¼ teaspoon, a warming spice that complements cinnamon beautifully.

Cornstarch: 2 tablespoons, thickens the filling so it’s not too watery.

Vegan Butter: 1 tablespoon, adds richness to the filling.

Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon, enhances all the sweet flavors.

For the Turnovers:

Vegan Puff Pastry: 2 sheets (from a 17.3-ounce package), thawed according to package directions.

Plant-Based Milk: 2 tablespoons (almond, soy, or oat milk work well), for brushing the pastry.

Demerara Sugar (optional): 1 tablespoon, for sprinkling on top for extra crunch and sparkle.

Powdered Sugar (optional): For dusting after baking.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making these vegan apple turnovers is a straightforward process, broken down into two main parts: preparing the filling and assembling the turnovers.

Part 1: Preparing the Apple Filling

Prepare the Apples: Wash, peel, core, and dice your apples into approximately ½-inch cubes. Place them in a medium bowl.
Combine Filling Ingredients: To the diced apples, add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Toss gently to coat all the apple pieces evenly.
Cook the Apples: In a large saucepan or skillet, melt the vegan butter over medium heat. Add the apple mixture to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes, or until the apples have softened slightly but still retain some bite. They should not be mushy.
Thicken the Filling: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until smooth. Pour this cornstarch slurry into the simmering apple mixture, stirring constantly. Continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes, until the mixture has thickened to a jam-like consistency.
Add Vanilla: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Cool Completely: Transfer the apple filling to a separate bowl or a shallow dish and allow it to cool completely before using. This is crucial! Warm filling will melt your puff pastry and make it difficult to work with, leading to soggy turnovers. You can even make the filling a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator.

Part 2: Assembling and Baking the Turnovers

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Prepare Puff Pastry: Carefully unroll one sheet of thawed vegan puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface. Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, cut the pastry into four equal squares. You should get 9 squares from a standard sheet of puff pastry. Repeat with the second sheet. You will have 8-9 squares in total.
Fill the Pastry: Place about 2-3 tablespoons of the cooled apple filling in the center of each pastry square. Don’t overfill, or it will be difficult to seal.
Fold and Seal: Bring one corner of the square over to the opposite corner, forming a triangle. Gently press down on the edges to seal the turnover. You can use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges firmly, which also creates a decorative pattern.
Vent the Turnovers: Using a small, sharp knife, cut 2-3 small slits on the top of each turnover. This allows steam to escape during baking, preventing the pastry from bursting.
Arrange on Baking Sheet: Carefully transfer the assembled turnovers to the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between each for even baking.
Brush and Sprinkle: In a small bowl, whisk the plant-based milk. Lightly brush the tops of the turnovers with the plant-based milk. If desired, sprinkle a little demerara sugar over the top of each turnover for a lovely crunch and golden finish.
Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the turnovers are puffed, deeply golden brown, and the filling is bubbling slightly.
Cool and Serve: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the turnovers cool on the sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, you can dust them with powdered sugar, if desired.

Tips for Success

Don’t Overfill: Resist the urge to add too much filling. Overfilled turnovers are prone to bursting open during baking, leading to a messy baking sheet and less appealing pastries.

Seal Tightly: Ensure the edges are well-sealed. Use a fork to crimp the edges not just for decoration, but to really press the pastry together and prevent the filling from leaking out.

Cold Filling is Key: I cannot stress this enough – make sure your apple filling is completely cool before spooning it onto the puff pastry. Warm filling will make the pastry greasy and difficult to handle, hindering its ability to puff up beautifully.

Chill if Needed: If your kitchen is warm and the puff pastry becomes too soft or sticky while you’re working, place the assembled (or partially assembled) turnovers on the baking sheet into the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to firm up before baking.

Evenly Sized Pieces: Cutting the apples into uniform pieces ensures they cook evenly in the filling, leading to a consistent texture.

Don’t Skip the Vents: The small slits on top are important! They allow steam to escape, which is essential for that beautiful flaky puff and prevents the turnovers from exploding.

Adjust Sweetness: Taste your apples before adding sugar to the filling. If they are very sweet, you might reduce the sugar slightly. If they are quite tart, you might add a touch more.

Serving Suggestions

These vegan apple turnovers are fantastic on their own, but here are a few ideas to elevate your serving experience:

Warm with Vegan Ice Cream: A classic pairing! A scoop of vegan vanilla bean or cinnamon ice cream melting over a warm turnover is pure bliss.

Drizzled with Caramel Sauce: A homemade or store-bought vegan caramel sauce would add an extra layer of sweetness and decadence.

With a Dollop of Vegan Whipped Cream: Light and airy, vegan whipped cream (made from coconut cream or aquafaba) offers a lovely contrast to the pastry.

A Simple Powdered Sugar Dusting: For an elegant and subtly sweet finish, a simple dusting of powdered sugar after they’ve cooled is perfect.

Alongside Coffee or Tea: They make for an excellent afternoon treat with your favorite hot beverage.

For Breakfast or Brunch: While decadent, they’re not overly sweet and make a wonderful addition to a weekend brunch spread.

Storage and Reheating

Storage:

Leftover vegan apple turnovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The pastry will soften slightly over time, but the flavor will still be delicious.

Reheating:

To restore some of their crispness, reheat turnovers in a preheated oven or toaster oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through and the pastry is slightly crisped again. Microwaving is not recommended as it will make the pastry soggy.

Variations and Customizations

While these apple turnovers are perfect as is, feel free to get creative with variations:

Spice it Up: Add a pinch of ground cardamom or allspice to the apple filling for a different spice profile.

Add Nuts: A tablespoon of finely chopped pecans or walnuts added to the apple filling would provide a lovely textural contrast.

Glaze It: Instead of powdered sugar, you could make a simple vegan glaze by whisking powdered sugar with a tiny bit of plant-based milk and a splash of vanilla extract, then drizzling it over the cooled turnovers.

Other Fruits: While this recipe focuses on apples, you could experiment with other fruit fillings! Pears, peaches, or mixed berries would also be delicious, just be sure to adjust sugar and cornstarch as needed for their moisture content.

Nut Butter Twist: Stir a tablespoon of your favorite vegan nut butter (like almond or cashew butter) into the cooled apple filling for an extra layer of richness and flavor.

A Sweet Conclusion

These Vegan Apple Turnovers are more than just a recipe; they are an invitation to create something truly special and comforting in your own kitchen. With their golden, flaky crust and warm, spiced apple filling, they embody everything wonderful about homemade baked goods. They are perfect for sharing with loved ones, enjoying as a quiet moment of self-care, or bringing a smile to anyone’s face.
So, gather your ingredients, take a deep breath, and enjoy the process of bringing these delightful pastries to life. The aroma alone will make your kitchen feel like the coziest bakery. Happy baking!