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Apple Turnovers

Apple turnovers are a classic pastry that utilizes America’s bountiful apple crop. This from-scratch recipe wraps an apple filling in a delicious homemade flaky crust, but if time is tight, the homemade pastry can be replaced with premade pie dough. Premade dough has been a kitchen staple for many years. During the 1950s–70s, General Mills introduced Pillsbury and Betty Crocker stick pie crusts. These refrigerated pie crusts were packaged as butter sticks that would keep for a long time. Today, pie sticks have morphed into Pillsbury’s iconic crescent roll tubes.

Recipe Servings: 4

Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Total Time
35 minutes
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Kosher
Halal

Ingredients

For the Dough:
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, divided plus extra for dusting
2 cups unsalted butter: 4 Tbsp chilled, with the rest at room temperature, plus extra for greasing baking sheet
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup and 3 Tbsp cold water
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
For the Filling:
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp freshly ground nutmeg, to taste
  • 7 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
For Assembly:

Directions

    To Make the Dough:
  1. Add 3 cups flour to a large mixing bowl. Cut the 4 tablespoons of cold butter into small pieces and add to the flour. Work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles cornmeal.
  2. Add salt and lemon. Combine lightly. Begin to add the water in small increments until the dough holds together. This may require slightly more than the listed amount of water.
  3. Flour a work surface and begin to knead the dough. Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, at least 3 minutes. Shape the dough into a 9-inch square, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  4. In a medium bowl, mix together the remaining flour and butter until smooth. Lightly flour a sheet of wax paper and turn this dough out onto the paper. Shape into an 8-inch square, top with another sheet of wax paper, and refrigerate 30 minutes.
  5. Take out the first square of dough, place it on a floured surface, and roll it into a 12-inch square. Take out the butter square, remove it from its paper, and place it in the center of the dough. Fold the dough to encase the butter.
  6. Using a rolling pin, pat the square of dough into a long rectangle. Keep everything lightly floured as you work. When the rectangle is about 20 inches long, brush extra flour off the top of the dough and fold each end into the middle. Then fold this piece in half again and tap the dough into a rectangle again. Make sure to always stretch the dough out in the same direction. The dough should stay cold as you work. If it gets warm, wrap it and refrigerate for 30 minutes before continuing to work.
  7. After you have stretched and folded the dough back into a rectangle two times, you have completed two turns. You need to do six turns. After six, the pastry can be rolled out flat and used.
  8. To Make the Filling:
  9. In a medium bowl, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  10. In a separate bowl, combine apple slices, lemon juice, and zest. Add the sugar mixture and combine well.
  11. To Assemble:
  12. Preheat oven 375°F. Butter a baking sheet.
  13. Roll out the dough and divide into four large squares.
  14. Fill one corner triangle with 4 tablespoons apple pie filling, leaving half-inch of pastry exposed around the dollop.
  15. Fold over into a triangle. Seal well by pressing the tines of a fork along both exposed edges.
  16. Bake 25 minutes to a light gold.
  17. Cool slightly on a wire rack, dust with powdered sugar, and serve warm.

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