The Best Easy Vegan Apple Turnovers Recipe

These vegan apple turnovers are delicious and require very little effort. Golden brown pastry, rich brown sugar and sour fresh apples come together for a flaky, sweet treat. 

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Who doesn't love an apple turnover? Flaky puff pastry combines beautifully with spiced apple filling to make one of the best sweet treats out there. A scoop of vanilla ice cream or glug of custard takes this dessert to the next level, for those who really want to indulge. 

The beauty of these plant-based apple turnovers comes from how incredibly simple they are to make. Simply make an apple pie filling, create hand pies by wrapping store-bought puff pastry around the apple mixture and then bake! The result is a delicious apple turnover that tastes fresh from the bakery! 

The Two Main Components of Apple Turnovers

• Pastry: This easy recipe uses frozen puff pastry to eliminate the bulk of the effort required for turnovers. We used Pampas puff pastry sheets, which just so happen to be accidentally vegan! If you are strictly plant-based, be careful to check that you're purchasing the classic version, as the butter flavour isn't vegan-friendly. All you need to do is let each puff pastry sheet thaw a bit before assembling the turnovers, and you're good to go. 
• Filling: This sweet apple cinnamon filling comes together in one pan. Granny Smith apples, vegan butter and brown sugar combine to create that nostalgic home-baked taste, while an arrowroot starch or cornstarch thickens it up.

Ingredients and Substitutions

This recipe only requires seven ingredients (eight if you include ice cream), which is a bonus in our books. 

• Puff Pastry: Ready-made puff pastry is an easy shortcut that yields great results with little effort. We recommend Pampas Puff Pastry, as it's vegan. If you're not vegan, you can use any frozen puff pastry, including Pamas Butter Puff Pastry for a richer flavour. 
• Apples: You can use any type of apple you like, but for the most classic flavour, choose tart apples like Granny Smith. Sour-tasting apples are great for balancing the sweetness of cinnamon and vanilla ice cream.
• Vegan butter: Vegan butter adds a rich, caramelised flavour to the sweet filling. We used Nuttelex Buttery Spread for its butter taste. For a vegan substitute, coconut oil would also work. Non-vegans can use an equal amount of butter for the same results. 
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar is a must. Melted with butter, it creates a delicious caramel to accompany the sour apples.
• Salt: A pinch of salt goes a long way in baking. You don't taste it, but it helps the other flavours sing.
• Lemon juice: Similarly, you won't be able to taste lemon in the final result, it just adds a bit of brightness to the overall taste of the apple filling.
• Cinnamon: What would an apple dessert be without cinnamon? Don't miss out on this essential ingredient. Plus, it'll make your kitchen smell amazing while the turnovers are baking.
• Arrowroot starch: Adding this to the filling helps the apple mixture thicken – ideal for folding into pastry. Cornstarch works the same way, so substitute that if it's what you have on hand.

Holidays for making apple turnovers

• Thanksgiving: The classic fall dessert captures the flavours of the season and serves as a great alternative to traditional apple pie.
• Christmas: Warm, flaky apple turnovers make a cosy holiday treat, especially when topped with warm (vegan) custard for those in the Northern hemisphere or cold vanilla (vegan) ice cream for those in the Southern.
• Easter: Light and fruity, turnovers can be a nice addition to an Easter brunch.
• Fourth of July: A portable, hand-held version of apple pie, perfect for patriotic celebrations
• Halloween: Great for a seasonal treat at parties. Add a caramel drizzle for extra indulgence.

📖 Recipe

The Best Easy Vegan Apple Turnovers Recipe

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5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Simply Fresh Foodie
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 8 turnovers 1x

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Description

These vegan apple turnovers are delicious and require very little effort. Golden brown pastry, rich brown sugar and sour fresh apples come together for a flaky, sweet treat. 

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 sheets of puff pastry (vegan-friendly, about 26 cm x 26cm each)
• 2 granny smith apples (diced)
• 2 Tablespoons vegan butter
• 3 Tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• ½ lemon (juiced)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
• 2 teaspoon arrowroot starch

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C.
2. Line a baking tra3y with a large piece of parchment paper. 
3. Remove 2 puff pastry squares from the pack and allow to thaw for 15-30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, dice the apples into small cubes, slightly smaller than 1cm.
5. Heat a large, shallow non-stick pan over medium heat.
6. Once the pan is warm, add the vegan butter and brown sugar.
7. Mix the butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes. The mixture should be well-combined and the sugar completely melted.
8. Add the diced apples, a pinch of salt, lemon juice, and cinnamon to the pan. Lower the heat and allow everything to simmer for 5 minutes.
9. After 5 minutes, add the arrowroot starch and stir to combine. Simmer for another 2 minutes until the sauce thickens, then remove from heat. 
10. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut each puff pastry sheet into four equal squares (cut in half vertically, then horizontally). This will leave you with 8 squares total.
11. Dollop about 2 Tablespoons of apple mixture into the centre of each square.
12. To fold your turnovers, grab one corner of the square and fold over the apple mixture to make a triangular-shaped pocket.
13. Seal the edges of the turnover by pressing the folded edges of the pastry with a fork. 
14. With the same fork, pierce the top of each turnover, to let steam out while they bake.
15. Place the turnovers on the lined baking sheet, leaving space between each. 
16. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the pastry has risen and is golden brown in colour. They should feel crisp to the touch, and have a uniform hue.
17. Serve popovers warm, straight out of the oven. For an extra touch, top them with a scoop of vegan ice cream or custard. 
18. To store leftover turnovers, allow them to come to room temperature, then transfer them to an airtight container. The container can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat your pastries in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or in a 180-degree oven for 10-15 minutes. 

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Calories: 353
• Fat: 22.5
• Carbohydrates: 36.9
• Protein: 4