Vegan Apple Turnovers - Serene Trail

Name: Vegan Apple Turnover
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon vegan butter; 2 medium apples; 1/4 cup brown sugar,; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon cornstarch; 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice; 1/2 cup powdered sugar; 1/4 cup plant-based milk, (divided); 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 2 sheets puff pastry dough, (thawed)

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Flaky puff pastry is filled with a warm cinnamon-sugar apple filling in these Vegan Apple Turnovers! Almost like mini apple pies, these treats are so simple and delicious. Everyone will love them for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack!

This baked treat is so easy to make and with just a few ingredients!

Simply use any type of apple and store-bought pastry dough. You can find prepared plant-based pastry dough at many stores such as Publix, Whole Foods, and even Walmart. Just watch for the sneaky ingredient of lard on the labels.

These vegan apple turnovers are ready in a flash and are a great way to kick off the season!

You can make these for the holidays, have them for brunch on a lazy weekend, a midday snack, or a special dessert.

Oh, and they are just as tasty whether they’re warm or cold!

Reasons You’ll Love this Recipe

Quick and easy
Dairy-free and eggless
They’re like handheld mini apple pies
Great for fall, winter, apple season, or anytime!

Ingredient Notes

Apples - Use your favorite type of apple. You can even combine varieties. Here, I use Ambrosia, but Pink Lady or Honeycrisp are also good.
Puff Pastry - Any store-bought puff pastry works as long as it’s vegan. The dough in this recipe is size 9x14, but a similar size will do.
Vegan Butter - The apples are cooked in a medium pot with unsalted, plant-based butter.
Sugars - We use brown sugar and powdered sugar in this apple turnover recipe. Look for sugars that say "vegan" or "organic" on the label.
Cinnamon & Salt - Use just a bit of ground cinnamon and salt.
Cornstarch- Cornstarch helps create a creamy apple mixture. Arrowroot powder or tapioca starch can be used instead.
Lemon Juice- A small amount brings a balance to the apple filling.
Milk- Any type of plant-based milk is used as a substitute for egg wash when sealing the turnovers and for the icing. It also helps the turnovers come to a golden brown color when baking.
Vanilla- Pure vanilla extract gives the icing a delicious flavor that goes so well with warm apples.

How to Make A Vegan Apple Turnover

Peel two apples and cut them into small bite-sized pieces. (You really don’t need to peel the apples if you don’t want to.)

Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat.

Once melted, add the apples, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and lemon juice.

Stir frequently as they cook for 5-7 minutes. You want the apples to soften just a bit, but not too much as they will continue to cook in the oven later.

At this point, go ahead and preheat the oven to 400°F.

Pour the apples into a bowl and place them in the refrigerator to cool for about 20 minutes. This helps keep the filling from running all over while baking.

While the apples are cooling in the refrigerator, make the icing. Pour the powdered sugar into a small bowl.

Add the vanilla and 1.5 tablespoons of plant-based milk. Stir it until it’s lump-free. Tip: Use a spoon to smash out the powdered sugar lumps, if any. Place the icing in the refrigerator until it’s needed.

Prepare a flat surface for the puff pastry dough. You can either sprinkle flour or work directly off of parchment paper.

Gently roll the dough out and fix any holes with your hands. Cut each sheet into 4 squares or rectangles, depending on the original size of the sheet.

Brush the inner edges of the pastry squares with the plant milk. Place 2-3 tablespoons of apple filling in the center of each square.

Next, fold the dough over, line the corners up, and press to seal. You can make these into either rectangles or triangles.

Use a fork to further seal the turnovers at the edges. Brush the tops with the remaining plant milk.

Cut several slits into the tops of the turnovers.

Place the apple turnovers onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake the vegan apple turnovers in the oven for 18-24 minutes, or until golden brown.

Let the turnovers cool for a few minutes before drizzling icing over them. You can also add a light dusting of cinnamon to the tops if you’d like.

Recipe Variations

Try these with peaches or pears!
Add additional spices to the apple filling such as nutmeg, ginger, or cloves.
Instead of icing, sprinkle turbinado or can sugar to the tops of the turnovers before sliding them into the oven.

Can turnovers be made ahead of time?

Option 1: Follow all of the instructions before the baking step. Place them in the freezer, separated and sealed, for up to 2 months. Bake them from frozen when you're ready.
Option 2: Prepare the apple filling and place it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Follow the rest of the steps for baking the apple turnovers when ready.
Option 3: Fully make the turnovers, including baking and icing them. Allow them to cool completely and the icing to set. Separate them with parchment paper and freeze them for 2 months

How to store leftover turnovers?

Store leftover turnovers in a sealed container on the counter for 2 days or in the refrigerator for 4 days. Eat them cold or reheat them in the oven, toaster oven, or microwave.

Where to buy vegan puff pastry?

Vegan puff pastry dough can be found at most grocery stores or online. Check the refrigerated cookie dough section or the frozen pie shell area. Some vegan brands include Wewalka European, Greenwise, Aussie, and Pepperidge Farms. Be sure to check the ingredients label to make sure there isn’t any dairy, egg, or lard.

Does the Autumn season have you in the mood for more Fall baking? Try these delicious Pumpkin Cookies or this comforting Chocolate Pumpkin Bread.

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