Make easy puff pastry turnovers for a versatile and handheld dessert that combines flaky pastry with a variety of sweet, tangy or creamy fillings, providing a satisfying treat that’s perfect for any occasion!
Are you searching for a dessert that’s both easy to make and utterly delicious? Look no further than puff pastry turnovers! These delightful pastries are not only a breeze to whip up but also offer endless possibilities for creative fillings, making them a versatile treat that’s sure to impress.
In this article, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about puff pastry turnovers, from their flaky layers to mouthwatering filling ideas that will have you reaching for seconds!
what are puff pastry turnovers?
A turnover is a delightful pastry treat consisting of a few key components that come together to create a delicious snack or dessert. At its core lies the flaky and buttery puff pastry, which forms the outer layer of the turnover, providing a crisp and golden exterior that contrasts beautifully with the tender filling inside.
Speaking of filling, whether sweet or savory, the filling adds depth of flavor and texture to the turnover, with options ranging from juicy fruits like apples, berries, or peaches to rich and creamy fillings like chocolate, custard, or cheese.
Finally, a turnover often features a finishing touch, such as a dusting of powdered sugar, a drizzle of glaze, or a sprinkle of nuts, adding a final element to this delicious handheld treat.
With its perfect balance of flakiness, flavor, and sweetness, a well-crafted turnover is a true treat that’s sure to please everyone!
The Flaky Texture of Puff Pastry Turnovers
At the heart of every puff pastry turnover lies its flaky and buttery foundation. Made from layers of thin dough and butter, puff pastry achieves its signature texture through a process known as lamination. As the pastry bakes, the butter melts and creates steam, causing the layers to separate and puff up, resulting in a crisp and golden exterior that gives way to tender, airy layers inside. It’s this irresistible combination of textures that makes puff pastry turnovers so irresistible.
Endless Filling Possibilities
One of the most exciting aspects of puff pastry turnovers is their versatility when it comes to fillings. Whether you’re craving something sweet or savory, there’s a filling combination to suit every taste and occasion. For a classic dessert option, consider filling your turnovers with a combination of tender fruits like apples, berries, or peaches, seasoned with warm spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.
The possibilities are truly endless, allowing you to get creative in the kitchen and tailor your turnovers to your personal preferences.
Simple Steps to Success
Despite their impressive appearance, puff pastry turnovers are surprisingly easy to make, requiring just a few simple steps:
- You start by rolling out your puff pastry dough into squares or rectangles, then spoon your desired filling onto one half of each piece of dough.
- Fold the dough over the filling to create a triangle or rectangle shape, then use a fork to crimp the edges and seal in the filling.
- Brush the turnovers with an egg wash for a glossy finish, then bake in a preheated oven until golden brown and puffed up.
- Top the turnovers with a topping like powdered sugar or a homemade glaze. You now have a batch of freshly baked turnovers ready to enjoy!
15 best recipes for puff pastry turnovers:
Caramel Apple Turnovers
▢ Apples
▢ Pecans
▢ Cinnamon
▢ Salted caramel
Cook apples, pecans, and filling ingredients in a saucepan. Cut puff pastry into squares, and spoon apple mixture onto each. Fold into triangles and seal edges with a fork. Brush turnovers with beaten egg wash, make steam vents, and bake. Drizzle with caramel sauce.
You'll enjoy this dessert for its combination of sweet, cinnamon-spiced apples with crunchy pecans wrapped in flaky puff pastry. The filling offers a warm, comforting flavor with a hint of vanilla, while the pastry provides a satisfying crunch.
The addition of caramel sauce adds extra sweetness and richness. Plus, it's convenient to store, offering a delicious indulgence whenever desired.
Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Turnovers
▢ Cream cheese
▢ Chocolate
▢ Raspberries
▢ Powdered sugar
▢ Vanilla glaze
Beat cream cheese mixture ingredients until creamy. Cut puff pastry into squares, and add cream cheese mixture, chocolate, and raspberries on squares. Brush edges with egg wash, fold into triangles, press edges with fork. Brush triangles with egg wash and bake until golden. Whisk glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle turnovers, sprinkle with sugar.
This dessert has a creamy and tangy cream cheese filling, complemented by the sweetness of chocolate and the tartness of fresh raspberries. The pastry offers a flaky and golden exterior, while the vanilla glaze adds a touch of sweetness and a hint of flavor.
Overall, it provides a delicious combination of flavors, making it a satisfying dessert for chocolate and cheesecake lovers.
Blueberry Turnovers
▢ Blueberries
▢ Lemon
Simmer blueberries with filling ingredients until thick. Make an egg wash. Roll out puff pastry, cut squares, brush edges with egg wash. Fill squares, fold into triangles, crimp with a fork, poke holes, and bake until golden.
We know you'll like this dessert for its combination of sweet blueberry filling and flaky puff pastry, offering a contrast of textures between the soft fruit and crispy pastry. The blueberry filling provides a burst of fruity flavor, complemented by the buttery richness of the pastry.
Additionally, the convenience of using store-bought puff pastry makes this dessert easy to prepare, while the homemade blueberry filling adds freshness and customization.
Jam & Cream Cheese Turnovers
▢ Jam, marmalade, or fruit butter
▢ Cream cheese
▢ Lemon juice
Beat cream cheese mixture ingredients. Roll out pastry, cut squares, add cream cheese and jam, fold into triangles, and crimp edges. Brush with water, sprinkle with sugar. Bake until golden brown.
We love this dessert for its creamy and tangy cream cheese filling, complemented by the sweet and fruity flavor of the jam. The pastry crust adds a flaky and buttery texture, while the sugar sprinkled on top adds a subtle crunch.
Overall, it offers a pleasant combination of sweet and tangy flavors with a satisfying texture, making it a delicious treat for any occasion.
Strawberry Turnovers
▢ Strawberries
▢ Sugar Glaze
Heat strawberries and filling ingredients in a saucepan. Smash strawberries and let cool. Roll out puff pastry, cut into squares, add filling, fold, and seal. Brush with egg and bake. Mix powdered sugar and milk for glaze. Drizzle with glaze..
You'll enjoy these turnovers for their sweet and fruity flavor from the strawberries, complemented by the flaky texture of the puff pastry. The glaze adds a touch of sweetness and a glossy finish.
Chocolate-Hazelnut Turnovers
▢ Chocolate chips
▢ Chocolate-hazelnut spread
Cut puff pastry into four squares and brush edges with egg wash. Stir chocolate chips into chocolate-hazelnut spread, divide among squares, and fold into triangles. Press edges to seal and brush tops with egg wash. Bake until golden brown.
This dessert has a combo of flaky puff pastry, rich chocolate-hazelnut spread, and gooey melted chocolate chips. The pastry is golden brown and crispy, providing a contrast to the creamy filling.
Additionally, the warm and melty chocolate inside adds an indulgent element. Overall, it appeals to chocolate lovers and pastry enthusiasts alike.
Apple Turnovers
▢ Apples
▢ Cinnamon
▢ Nutmeg
▢ Allspice
▢ Lemon
Combine apple and filling ingredients in a pot and cook until softened and thickened. Roll out pastry, cut into squares, and spoon filling onto each square. Brush edges with egg wash, fold into triangles, seal with fork. Brush with remaining egg wash and bake until golden and puffed.
We know you'll like these apple turnovers for their sweet and tart flavors from the apples, enhanced by the warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. The filling is thick and luscious, encased in flaky puff pastry that adds a delightful crispiness to each bite.
Additionally, the aroma of the baked turnovers fills the kitchen, creating a comforting and inviting atmosphere. They are perfect for a sweet treat any time of the day.
Peach Turnovers
▢ Peaches
▢ Cinnamon
▢ Lemon
▢ Crystal sanding sugar
Stir together peaches and filling ingredients. Roll out pastry sheets and cut into squares. Spoon peach mixture onto squares. Fold pastry, crimp edges. Cut slits, brush with egg, sprinkle with sugar. Bake until golden.
We love this dessert for its sweet, juicy peaches with warm, fragrant cinnamon, all enveloped in flaky puff pastry. The turnovers offer a pleasant contrast of textures, with the tender fruit filling encased in crisp pastry layers. Additionally, they are super easy to make!
Fig & Goat Cheese Turnovers
▢ Fig jam
▢ Goat cheese or cream cheese
▢ Sugar sprinkles or raw sugar
Cut pastry sheet into squares. Add fig jam and goat cheese. Beat egg and water. Brush edges with egg wash, fold into triangles, seal, brush tops with egg wash, cut slits, sprinkle sugar, and bake.
It's a combination of sweet fig jam and tangy goat cheese. The pastry offers a flaky texture, while the warm filling provides a creamy contrast.
Additionally, the subtle sweetness from the sugar sprinkles adds a pleasant crunch. Overall, it's a satisfying treat that balances sweetness and tanginess, perfect for a dessert or snack.
Blackberry Cream Cheese Turnovers
▢ Blackberries
▢ Lemon
▢ Cream cheese
▢ Glaze
Heat and thicken blackberry filling. Mix cream cheese ingredients. Roll out pastry, cut squares, top with cream cheese mixture and blackberry mixture. Brush edges with egg wash, fold into triangles, and seal with fork. Brush tops with egg wash, cut slits, bake until golden. Whisk glaze, drizzle over turnovers.
The blackberry filling offers a sweet-tart taste with a hint of citrus from the lemon juice, while the cream cheese filling adds a creamy and slightly tangy element. The puff pastry provides a light and flaky texture, contrasting with the smoothness of the fillings.
Additionally, the glaze adds a touch of sweetness and extra moisture to the turnovers. Overall, these turnovers offer a delicious blend of fruity, creamy, and flaky components, making them a yummy treat for dessert or a snack.
Jam Turnovers
▢ Jam of your choice
▢ Glaze
Cut pastry into squares, add jam, fold in triangles, press edges with a fork, brush with egg, pierce with a hole, and bake until golden. Mix glaze and drizzle over turnovers.
You'll enjoy this dessert for its simplicity. It has the crisp outer layer and the gooey, fruity filling. The glaze adds a touch of sweetness. Additionally, the convenience of being able to store them for a few days allows for easy enjoyment whenever a sweet craving strikes.
Raspberry Turnovers
▢ Raspberries
▢ Cinnamon
▢ Vanilla
Cook raspberry filling ingredients until thick. Cut puff pastry into squares, fill with raspberry mixture, fold into triangles, seal edges, and brush with butter. Sprinkle with sugar and bake until golden.
This raspberry turnover has a sweet and tangy flavor from the raspberries, enhanced by the sweetness and warmth of vanilla and cinnamon. It's a combination of crispy puff pastry and soft, jammy raspberry filling.
Additionally, this dessert is versatile and easy to make, allowing for customization with various toppings or glazes. Plus, it can be made ahead and frozen for future enjoyment, making it convenient for busy schedules or unexpected cravings.
Mango Turnovers
▢ Mango preserves
▢ Cashews
▢ Cinnamon
▢ Nutmeg
▢ Cloves
▢ Confectioners' sugar
Mix mango preserves with chopped cashews. Sprinkle spices over pastry squares. Spoon mango mixture onto squares, fold into triangles, seal edges, and chill. Bake turnovers golden. Dust with sugar.
We know you'll like these mango turnover for its tropical flavors and contrasting textures. The combination of sweet mango preserves and crunchy cashews offers a balance of flavors, while the addition of spices adds warmth and depth. Dusting them with sugar adds a touch of sweetness and visual appeal.
Pumpkin Turnovers
▢ Pumpkin puree
▢ Pumpkin pie spice
▢ Cinnamon sugar
Roll out pastry, cut into squares. Mix pumpkin filling, spoon onto pastry squares, fold, and seal. Whisk egg and water, brush over pastries, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake until golden brown, then cool before serving.
We love this pumpkin turnover for its combination of sweet and spiced flavors, with the creamy texture of pumpkin filling contrasted by the flaky puff pastry. The warmth of cinnamon sugar adds an extra layer of sweetness, making it a comforting treat.
Additionally, it's relatively quick and easy to prepare, making it a convenient option for a fall-inspired dessert.
Cherry Turnovers
▢ Cherries
▢ Lemon
▢ Cinnamon
Combine cherries and filling ingredients in saucepan, simmer until thickened. Roll out puff pastry, cut into squares, and fill with cherry mixture. Seal edges, brush with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and vent. Bake until golden brown.
You'll enjoy its sweet and tangy flavor from the cherries combined with the warmth of cinnamon, all wrapped in flaky puff pastry. The crispy pastry is combined with the soft, gooey cherry filling. Additionally, it's perfect for enjoying as a handheld treat or dessert.
Ginger Pear Turnovers
▢ Bosc pears
▢ Ginger
▢ Vanilla
▢ Turbinado sugar
Macerate pears with ginger and sugar. Cook with cornstarch mixture until thickened. Cool filling. Whisk egg and water. Preheat oven and line pans. Roll out pastry, cut, and brush edges. Spoon filling, fold, and crimp edges. Make cuts, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with sugar. Bake until golden.
The ginger-infused pear filling taking center stage. The ginger adds a subtle warmth and complexity to the dish. Combined with the flaky pastry, the pears create a harmonious balance of textures that is both comforting and satisfying.
Summary
Whether you're hosting a dinner party, planning a cozy night in, or simply craving a sweet treat, puff pastry turnovers are a delicious and versatile dessert option that's perfect for any occasion. With their flaky layers, mouthwatering fillings, and simple preparation, they're sure to become a staple in your baking repertoire. So why not give them a try? Get creative in the kitchen and whip up a batch of irresistible puff pastry turnovers today!