By Wendy Stoltz / Last Modified On March 8, 2023
Easy Gluten-Free Apple Turnovers made with a flaky pastry dough, filled with apples and spices, and topped with a sweet glaze.
You're going to love these delicious gluten free turnovers, they are like a gluten free pop tart, but better.
If you love treats with apples you're going to want to try my Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts and this easy yet impressive Cinnamon Apple Gluten-Free Galette. My Paleo Apple Cake is also super tasty.
Gluten-Free Apple Turnovers
There is currently a debate going on in my house: which is more of a fall flavor, apple or pumpkin? These gluten-free apple turnovers scream fall. At least, that's my opinion.
But I also love a good pumpkin dessert like an ooey-gooey gluten-free pumpkin chocolate chip skillet cookie, and my gluten free pumpkin cheesecake.
The house is divided so we decided that both apple and pumpkin are fall flavors and depending on what kind of gluten-free desserts you like, you can enjoy both so we are planning on making both apple and pumpkin desserts this holiday season.
What other apples can I use in turnovers?
You can use any apple that is tart, some of my favorites are:
- Granny Smith Apples
- Honey Crisp Apples
- Gala Apples
- Winesap Apples
- Melrose Apples
- Northern Spie Apples
Just make sure you are using a tart apple and not a sweet one like a Fuji so that your filling isn't too sweet.
What is the best way to seal pastry dough edges?
It's up to what works best for you. I like to dip a salad fork into melted butter or oil and press down on the pastry dough edge, then pull the fork, towards me (this helps prevent sticking).
You can also use your fingers to press the dough together.
Can I use other fruit in turnovers?
Yes, you can use any berry or stone fruit in turnovers and get good results. Some of my favorites besides apples are cherries, strawberries, and peaches. Now you have me craving turnovers!
Can I used canned apple filling in this recipe?
You can but there are some things to keep in mind. Canned apple filling has other ingredients in it, so check the labels and make sure there are no glutinous ingredients (like wheat flour) included.
If you find a gluten-free apple filling please note that the apples are already cooked so they may be on the soft or mushy side if you use pre-made filling in this gluten-free apple turnover recipe.
Homemade Puff Pastry Dough
If you can't find Schar Puff Pastry Dough in your area you can use my recipe for Gluten Free Puff Pastry Dough to make these gluten free hand pies.
These gluten-free apple turnovers are two servings each. You can make smaller apple turnovers, also called gluten-free apple hand pies, or you can cut them into triangles.
I like to make the big ones so I can stuff more apple filling in the center.
If you make smaller gluten-free apple hand pies, or go the triangle route, you'll want to adjust how much filling you put in the center.
The most important thing is to seal the edges so your filling doesn't run out onto the pan and burn.
A little apple juice on the pan is fine, you just don't want it all to leak out.
If you like apple baked goods you might also like my Gluten-Free Apple Spice Muffins or Gluten-Free Apple Pie. Gluten Free On A Shoestring has a yummy recipe for Gluten-Free Apple Crumble, if you are interested.
If you make these gluten-free apple turnovers please stop by and let me know what you thought! Also, if you have any questions about this recipe please leave a comment and I will get back to you.
Gluten-Free Apple Turnovers
Easy Gluten-Free Apple Turnovers made with a flaky pastry dough, filled with apples and spices, and topped with a sweet glaze.
Ingredients
For the filling:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose gluten-free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 cups granny smith apples (about 4 large apples) peeled, cored, and chopped
- 2 packages (17.3 ounces each) Schar puff pastry dough, thawed OR my recipe for Gluten Free Puff Pastry Dough
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon milk
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, gluten-free flour and cinnamon; add in the chopped apples and toss until evenly coated.
- On countertop, or piece of parchment, roll out each pastry sheet. Cut each sheet into four squares. Repeat with all 4 sheets of pastry dough. You should end with 16 squares.
- Lay out 8 pastry squares. Scoop ⅓ cup of apple filling into the center of each one.
- Place a pastry square on top of the filling and press the edges to seal it. Repeat until all 8 are sealed.
- Place the turnovers on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake for 22-26 minutes or until they are golden brown and puffy.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
- For the glaze, in a small mixing bowl combine the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Glaze will be thick. Add more powdered sugar for a thicker glaze, or more milk for a thinner glaze. Drizzle glaze over each turnover.
- Serve warm or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 turnoverAmount Per Serving: Calories: 286Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 127mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 2gSugar: 31gProtein: 1g
Sarah
These look beautiful! I was so excited to find the Schar pastery dough locally, but I’m having a hard time using it. The flavor is good and I love the convenience, but If I thaw it on the counter, it cracks horribly when I unroll it. If I use a rolling pin to put it back together, I get no rise at all and no layers. If I defrost it in the microwave it does better unrolling, but still very little rise. Any tips? Thanks!
chrystal
I’m sorry to hear that you are struggling with the Schar pastry dough. Next time try thawing it in the refrigerator or for a couple minutes in the microwave on the defrost cycle. I find it works best when still cold.
Hope that helps,
Chrystal
Bernadette Higgins
Hii,
How long does frozen dough take to thaw in in the fridge?
Thanks
Be
chrystal
It depends, but usually just a couple of hours.
Best,
Chrystal
Monica Sawhill
I live in California. Where did you find the puff pastry?
chrystal
Hi Monica,
The Schar puff pasty is the only one that I recommend at this point. The others I've tried just aren't really working. Schar is launching their puff pastry nation wide this holiday season. The best thing to do is to check their product locator on their website. I hope that helps!
Happy baking,
Chrystal
Stacey
I'm glad I saw this recipe. I saw the Schar puff pastry at my local Safeway recently but didn't know what I would do with it. Now I do. I can't wait to try these turnovers.
chrystal
Hi Stacey,
So glad you found it! You can also make pot pie with it 🙂 I hope you like it!
Best,
Chrystal
Rachel Boham
i have tried to find this puff pastry but haven't been able to locate it anywhere, even online.
Any suggestions?
chrystal
Schar has a store locator. Have you tried that yet?
Best,
Chrystal
Teresa Lucas
Hi like your recipe but we here in Australia do not have your brands of ready made products and most of ready made products have eggs or milk products in them as I have allergies to eggs and lactose so I can't use read made products in my place in Australia but will using other gluten free flaky pastry dough recipe to try this one ok
chrystal
Hi Teresa,
I understand! Let me know which pastry you use. Others in Australia may want to use the same on 🙂
Best,
Chrystal
Diane Porter
Can you make meat pies with the puff pastry
chrystal
Hi Diane,
Yes, you can make meat pies with it.
Best,
Chrystal
SUSAN P GALLONI
My daughter is making the squares but the bottom doesn't seem to be baked. Any suggestions?
chrystal
Hi Susan,
I haven't personally had an issue with the puff pastry baking up. I'm not sure how she's making her squares, but maybe heat the pan up before she adds the squares.
Sorry I can't be more help,
Chrystal
Mary
If you put a pizza or other baking stone in the oven, and place the sheet on it, your bottom will brown. Also works with pies.
chrystal
Thanks for sharing Mary! Happy Holidays.
Best,
Chrystal
Toni
I’ve made these Apple turnovers many times and the results are not very consistent. Sometimes they’re great and other times there is no puff.
I suggest using them as soon as purchased. One package I used was one week passed the “use by” date and it was not good.
chrystal
Thanks for sharing Toni. I agree, the puff pastry needs to be used right away or it dries out and doesn't puff up.
Best,
Chrystal
K
Does the Schar dough contain corn flour? That's off limits for many of us gluten intollerant people.
chrystal
It does have cornstarch. Here are all the ingredients: water , margarine (palm oil, water, sunflower seeds oil, citric acid, sodium citrate, salt, artificial flavor) , corn starch , rice starch , rice flour , chicory inulin , dextrose , modified cellulose , soy protein , sunflower seed oil , guar gum , iodized salt , potato flakes , psyllium seed husks (vegetable fiber) , palm oil , ammonium bicarbonate , natural flavor. Contains: Soy .
Sarah
Have you ever made these and froze them? I have a surgery coming up, thought it may be nice to tuck some in the freezer so my kids can easily grab them and reheat them while I’m recovering. 🙂
chrystal
Hi Sarah,
You can make them and freeze them. If you're kids want, they can wrap them in foil and pop them in the toaster to easily reheat them, without the filling possibly dripping into the toaster. They'll be a little crunchier than if they microwaved them.
Best,
Chrystal
Joyce
Corn flour is fine to use as I am a Coeliac. I use it to make gravy.
Suzy H
Made this tonight and everyone loved them. Absolutely delicious! The Schar pastry wasn’t easy to use so next time
I’ll try your recipe.
Pauline
Just made these and they were fantastic and so easy. The pastry was so light, not heavy. The Schar puff pastry dough is available in our local Shaw's supermarket. Thanks for the recipe!
Becky
Would these be anything like toaster strudels?
chrystal
Yes! They aren't quite as flaky but really close, especially when drizzled with a glaze.
Best,
Chrystal