Apple Turnovers Recipe (Vegan Hot Apple Pie) (2024)

These vegan Apple Turnovers are the healthier and homemade version of the famous McDonald’s hot apple pie pockets – It is a quick and easy recipe using ready-made puff pastry, fresh apples, cinnamon, and a few other pantry-staple ingredients!

Who can resist these crispy golden hand pies oozing with a spiced apple filling? Let the irresistible aroma of these apple-filled pocket pastries waft through the air as you bake them and watch as it leads everyone in your house to the kitchen in mouthwatering anticipation!

I featured this recipe in my Vegan Foodp*rn Cookbook and it was such a hit, so I wanted to share it here on my blog too. The best thing is, I also get to share a recipe video and step by step instructions to show how to make the best apple turnovers from scratch!

Why homemade Turnovers are the best

Aside from the fact that they taste exceptionally good and they are easy to make, there are still so many reasons to love these sweet treats. Here are just some of the reasons why I adore making them:

• They are baked, not fried! So this dessert contains less fat and calories than the originalMcDonald’shot apple pie pockets!
• It’s the perfect treat that you can make ahead of time and freeze until you are ready to bake them.
• You can enjoy them at any time of the day! They are perfect for a sweet breakfast or as a quick afternoon snack or an easy dessert!
• It’s highly customizable! You can use other fruits as filling like mango, peaches, pears, cherries, or even add some nuts or raisins to make the filling more exciting. Anything that you use to make sweet pies, you can use here too.
• Thanks to their portable sizes, there are no plates and fork needed when you serve them! This means it’s great finger food for potlucks, picnics, and parties.
• Since there are no plates and forks needed to serve these, you’ll havefewer dishes to wash afterward.
• This recipe is fail-proof because my Grandma taught me how to make these when I was still a child! 😀

What are Turnovers?

Turnovers are basically portable pies. They are a type of pastry made by folding either a savory or sweet filling in a puff or short-crust pastry dough. The edges are sealed by either folding or crimping before they are baked to crispy and golden goodness.

They are also called pocket pies because some would wrap them in napkins and put them in their pockets for later. It is also identical to hand pies or pasties.

Tips when making your Apple Turnovers

• You can use any type of fresh apple to make this recipe. However, Granny Smith and Honey Crisps are highly recommended as they stay firm even after baking.
• Allow your spiced apple filling to cool down before adding it to the puff pastry dough or it will get soggy.
• Make sure to not overstuff your dough and leave enough space to crimp and secure the filling inside. Too much filling will make it ooze out while baking. I used a fork in crimping and it works very well.
• Cut at least three small slits to create a vent on the top of the turnover to allow the heat to escape while baking.
• Line your baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper and place them at least an inch away from each other.
• Brush the pockets with non-dairy milk or cream or vegan condensed milk plus a pinch of turmeric before baking. This will create a beautiful shiny golden color.
• Let these goodies cool a bit before serving them. The filling will be scalding after baking.

Is ready-made Puff Pastry vegan?

Using ready-made pastry makes this recipe super quick and easy! Though most of the puff pastries you can buy off the shelves are vegan, always check the ingredients list on the packaging first to ensure it does not contain dairy butter.

How to make Apple Turnovers

As always I recommend watching the recipe video and checking out this step-by-step instruction first. Then you’ll find the full recipe with exact measurements in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Make the Apple Pie Filling.

Start by chopping the apples into small chunks. Then combine with sugar, cinnamon, and a bit of lemon juice. Next, combine water, cornstarch, and vanilla extract in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to the boil, stirring continuously, then stir in the apples until combined. Set aside to cool.

Step 2: Fill and fold turnovers.

I used a sheet of ready-rolled vegan puff pastry. If you use a thawed puff pastry block, roll it out to a 15.5″x9.5″ (42×24 cm) rectangle or 12″ square. Then cut rolled out dough into 8 rectangles and place onto a parchment-lined baking tray.

Now spoon 1-2 tbsp of the apple filling onto half of each square and fold over. Crimp the edges together with a fork. Then use a sharp knife, cut 3-4 slits into the tops of each pie to allow the steam to escape. Finally, brush your Apple turnovers with vegan egg wash (vegan milk/cream + turmeric) and sprinkle with sugar as desired.

Step 3: Bake!

Bake until the pastry has puffed and turned golden brown, about 10-15 minutes. And that’s it!

Apple pie pockets are best served hot!

Some Add-ons for your Apple Turnovers

This recipe is as delicious as it is, but you can still perk it up by using some nice add-ons.

• You can sprinkle some vanilla glaze or vegan caramel sauce on top after baking to add more sweetness.
• Feel free to use other spices than cinnamon and vanilla, such as cardamom, allspice, cloves,and nutmeg.
• Top it with vegan vanilla ice cream or some vegan yogurt!

Make ahead and Frozen Apple Turnovers

You can make a big batch of these goodies and store them in your freezer for up to three months! Just make sure to place them in an airtight container or a freezer-safe Ziploc bag and separate individual pockets with a piece of parchment paper. Otherwise, they will stick to each other and you won’t be able to remove them individually.

When you are craving a homemade hot apple pie pocket, just take it out of the freezer and bake it straight from frozen.

These vegan Apple pie Turnovers are:

• Dairy-free (lactose-free)
• Egg-free
• Quick and easy to make
• Crispy and flaky from the outside
• Fruity and juicy from the inside
• Perfectly sweet
• With Apple cinnamon filling
• Incredibly delicious
• The perfect desserts for kids and adults alike!

More Vegan Apple recipes to try:

Looking for more delicious apple recipes? I‘m sure you’ll find something on this list that suits your taste:

• Vegan Apple Cake with Cinnamon Streusel
• Vegan Mini Apple Pies
• Apple Pie Roll-Ups
• Apple Hand Pies
• Moist Apple Blondies
• Best Vegan Apple Pie
• Vegan Frangipane Apple Tart
• Apple Crumble Pizza (German Streuseltaler)

If you try these vegan hot apple pie turnovers, please leave me a comment and a rating on how you liked this recipe! And if you take a picture of your delicious treat and share it on Instagram, please tag me @biancazapatka and use the hashtag #biancazapatka, because I love to see your photos! Enjoy! 🙂

IF YOU HAVE PINTEREST, YOU CAN FIND ME HERE AND PIN THE FOLLOWING PICTURE, IF YOU LIKE! 🙂