Apple Cranberry Turnovers are the ultimate fall dessert recipe. Serve with a bowl of vanilla ice cream or with coffee.
This recipe was originally shared on September 23, 2012 and has been updated on October 22, 2021 with text and photos.
Nothing says Fall has arrived more than the abundance of apples available in the grocery stores. And when apples are in season you need a delicious way to enjoy them for dessert.
Red Delicious, McIntosh, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Fuji apples are available almost everywhere. Any of these apples varieties can be used to make turnovers.
These mini 4 inch Apple Cranberry Turnovers or hand pies as they are sometimes called are a perfect apple dessert to make in the fall.
The pastry crust is tender and flaky while the apple filling is sweet and tart from a combination of diced apples and cranberries.
The filling does double duty and makes an excellent vanilla ice cream topping so save any leftover apple filling.
Turnover pastry dough ingredients
This apple turnover pastry dough is made with a combination of butter and cream cheese. A cream cheese pastry dough is tender and flaky.
It is a delicious crust for apple turnovers.
- 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- 1 egg separated
- 3 tablespoons cold water divided
- 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
Apple Cranberry Filling Ingredients
The ingredients to make cranberry and apple turnovers are a combination of favorite fall flavors.
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full list of ingredient amounts.
- Apples: Granny Smith or any favorite apple variety
- Cranberries: whole fresh cranberries or dried cranberries.
- Oranges: The juice and zest from one large or two medium oranges.
- Sugars: dark brown sugar and white granulated sugar.
- Spices: ground cinnamon
- Thickener: I use corn starch as my favorite thickener.
- Salt: a pinch of salt to balance the sweet and tart flavors.
How to make turnover pastry dough
Prep: Make the pastry dough first to allow for chilling. A soft cream cheese based pastry dough will need to be refrigerated before rolling.
Allow the butter and cream cheese to soften on the counter at least an hour before starting.
Step 1: Separate the egg white and yolk, set the yolk aside and refrigerate the egg white until your ready to bake the turnovers.
Step 2: Beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth.
Step 3: In a bowl with a fork beat 2 tablespoons of the water into the egg yolk.
Step 4: Add the egg yolk mixture to the cream cheese and butter, beat until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
Step 5: Beat again until combined well.
Step 6: Slowly add the flour about ⅓ at a time, beating with the mixer until the batter becomes too thick, switch to a wooden spoon to mix in the remaining flour.
Step 7: Once the flour is completely mixed in scoop the pastry dough into a zip top bag or wrap in plastic wrap tightly, and chill for at least one hour so it can firm up.
The dough can be chilled overnight if needed.
Make the apple cranberry turnover filling
Step 1: Prep all of the filling ingredients and measure them out. Peel, core and dice or slice the apples. You can toss the apple pieces with Fruit Fresh or the orange juice to keep them from browning.
Step 2: Rinse the cranberries if you are using fresh berries before adding them to the bowl.
Step 3: Transfer the apple pieces, cranberries, sugars, and cinnamon to a large skillet.
Step 4: Stir and cook the filling on medium until the apple pieces are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
Step 5: Add the cornstarch to the skillet and cook until the juices have thickened. Once thickened remove from heat and set aside to cool before making the turnovers.
Making the apple turnovers
Assemble the turnover filling, sprinkling sugar, pastry dough, egg white and rolling pin on a work surface.
Step 1: Use a fork to beat the reserved egg with with a tablespoon of water.
Prep the work surface with a dusting of flour and place the chilled dough down on the flour.
Step 2: Roll the dough out on the floured surface to ⅛th to ¼ inch thickness. Using a 4 or 5 inch circle cookie cutter cut circles out of the turnover dough.
Step 3: Move the dough circles to a cookies sheet covered with parchment paper or greased with butter.
Step 2: Add a tablespoon of filling in the center of the circle of dough, dampen the edges with your finger dipped in water.
Step 3: Gently fold and pull the dough over the filling and gently press the edges together.
Step 3: Carefully press the tines of a fork into the edges to seal, being careful not to pierce the turnover dough.
Step 4: Brush the tops of the turnovers with the egg white wash and sprinkle with some white sugar.
Step 5: Bake the apple turnovers for 15-20 minutes in a preheated 375 F. degrees oven until golden brown.
Step 6: Cool on a rack before serving.
Step 7: Store leftover turnovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The dough will soften from being refrigerated.
Recipe Expert Tips
- The orange juice will help keep the apple slices from browning as you slice them. Or you can use a product like Fruit Fresh to keep them from browning while you are cutting them.
- Today I am dicing the apples. You can also cut the apples into thin slices. I've done both and both ways work well.
- You can use dried cranberries or fresh cranberries to make this recipe.
- If you are worried about adding the dried corn starch to the filling you can mix it with a tablespoon of water before adding it.
- Allow the turnovers to cool to room temperature before eating.
More apple recipes
Try some of these apple recipes this fall.
Print the Apple and Cranberry Turnovers recipe below.
Apple Cranberry Turnovers
Ingredients
Crust
- 8 ounce cream cheese softened
- ¾ cup butter softened
- 1 large egg separated
- 3 tablespoons cold water divided
- 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
Filling
- 2 ½ cups diced granny smith apples (about 4 medium apples)
- ½ cup fresh whole cranberries (dried cranberries can be used)
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest from one large orange
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 Pinch salt
Instructions
To Make the Crust
- Allow the butter and cream cheese to soften on the counter at least an hour before starting.
- Separate the egg white and yolk, set the yolk aside and refrigerate the egg white until your ready to bake the turnovers.
- With a hand mixer beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until creamy and smooth.
- In a bowl with a fork beat the 2 tablespoons of the water into the egg yolk. Gradually add the egg yolk mixture to the cream cheese and butter, beat until combined.
- Slowly add the flour about ⅓ at a time, beating with the mixer until the batter becomes too thick, switch to a wooden spoon to mix in the remaining flour.
- Once the flour is completely mixed in scoop the pastry dough into a zip top bag or wrap in plastic wrap tightly, and chill for at least one hour so it can firm up. The dough can be chilled overnight if needed.
To Make the Apple Filling
- Prep all of the filling ingredients and measure them out. Peel, core and dice or slice the apples. You can toss the apple pieces with Fruit Fresh or the orange juice to keep them from browning.
- Rinse the cranberries if you are using fresh berries before adding them to the bowl.
- Transfer the apple pieces, cranberries, sugars, and cinnamon to a large skillet.
- Stir and cook the filling on medium until the apple pieces are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add the cornstarch to the skillet and cook until the juices have thickened. Once thickened remove from heat and set aside to cool before making the turnovers.
Making the turnovers
- Use a fork to beat the reserved egg with with a tablespoon of water.
- Prep the work surface with a dusting of flour and place the chilled dough down on the flour.
- Roll the dough out on the floured surface to ⅛th to ¼ inch thickness. Using a 4 or 5 inch circle cookie cutter cut circles out of the turnover dough.
- Move the dough circles to a cookies sheet covered with parchment paper or greased with butter.
- Add a tablespoon of filling in the center of the circle of dough, dampen the edges with your finger dipped in water.
- Gently fold and pull the dough over the filling and gently press the edges together.
- Carefully press the tines of a fork into the edges to seal, being careful not to pierce the turnover dough.
- Brush the tops of the turnovers with the egg white wash and sprinkle with some white sugar.
- Bake the apple turnovers for 15-20 minutes in a preheated 375 F. degrees oven until golden brown.
- Cool to room temperature before eating.
- Store leftover turnovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The dough will soften from being refrigerated.
Video
Recipe Expert Tips
- Makes 4 inches turnovers or hand pies.
- If you have a little filling left over spoon it over a bowl of vanilla ice cream. This filling made a delicious topping for the ice cream.
- The orange juice will help keep the apple slices from browning as you slice them. Or you can use a product like Fruit Fresh to keep them from browning while you are cutting them.
- Today I am dicing the apples. You can also cut the apples into thin slices. I've done both and both ways work well.
- You can use dried cranberries or fresh cranberries to make this recipe.
- If you are worried about adding the dried corn starch to the filling you can mix it with a tablespoon of water before adding it.
- Allow the turnovers to cool to room temperature before eating.
Chelsea
These look so good! Perfect to dip in some ice cream!
Zana
I just made these this morning, and most of them are already gone! Incredibly delicious, and easy to make. It was my first time making the dough with cream cheese, and I really liked the outcome. Thank you for a great recipe!
Flour On My Face
Zana
Your very welcome. I am so happy you enjoyed the recipe. I love that crust.
Angie @ Big Bear's Wife
great turnovers!
Hezzi-D
These little handpies are so cute. One of my favorite fall combinations are apples and cranberries so I'll be making these for sure!
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
Welcome to Sunday Supper! Isn't this the greatest group? I'm so glad to be introduced to your beautiful blog. These turnovers looks absolutely perfect. And the combination of apple and cranberries feels so autumn-y to me.
Flour On My Face
Nancy
Thank you I am happy to be here.
Sarah
Perfect little hand helf apple pies. Love it. I bet I can eat a whole batch of them by myself.
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories)
Cranberries are one of my favorites! These look so great and I love the little sprinkle of sugar on top.
sunithi
That pic is amazing !! All those colors just pop up ! Looks yummy ! Apple & cranberries must be a winning combo. Maybe around thanksgiving when cranberries are in abundance, will make this !
Conni Smith
Oh goodness, I am practically drooling over these! I have some wild cranberries in my freezer that I picked thi summer...might put them to use!
Liz
Your turnovers look picture perfect! I love seeing the juices oozing out of them...YUM! Great #SS post 🙂
Tammi @ Momma's Meals
These look delish! What an awesome little dessert! Thanks for sharing!
Faye Leong
Love the idea using cranberries with apples...lovely turnovers!
Patti
These look sooo good! We love dried cranberries here - another great way to use them. I can use dried yes?
Nicholle Olores
This is simply delicious. It's perfect for a rainy afternoon paired with hot chocolate drink!
Tara
Oh my goodness, do those look great. They would be so good for Thanksgiving or even Christmas!!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
Don't these little guys look cute and delicious! Welcome to #SundaySupper!
Flour On My Face
Thank you Erin I am happy to be a part of such a great group!
Soni
These look divine!!Love the crust and the filling ingredients and so tempted to make it myself :)Thanks for such a wonderful recipe!!Great pics too 🙂
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time
I'm always looking for something sweet and home made to include in my daughter's lunch box. These look just perfect. The right size and something she'd love. Thanks for sharing!
Amy (Savory Moments)
These look delicious. I love all the fall flavor in these turnovers. Yum!
Kim Bee
These turnovers look so good. I adore apple turnovers, adding cranberries is such a great idea.
Bea
Apples and cranberries together are amazing. These turnovers sound absolutely amazing! Cream cheese in the pastry?! Yum!
Katie
Wow - this combo sounds heavenly! I would love to have one of those turnovers right about now...
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
These are so cute and look so yummy! I just pinned this recipe! Can't wait to try it! Yea #SundaySupper!
Carla
I love the little spillage because that makes them look even more delicious! It's like a tease to what's inside.
megan @Irun4wine
Those look and sound unbelievable! Thank you so much for sharing
patsy
I've been wanting to make something like this for awhile... and you make it look so doable! Simply delicious!
Jennie @themessybakerblog
These look absolutely amazing! I love the combo of apples and cranberries. Happy #SS!
Tora Estep
I have never heard of using cream cheese in the pie crust before. What does that do?
In any case, these look completely adorable. I bet they are just fun and delicious to eat.
Renee
Homemade turnover dough with cream cheese? Oh my word I am so in on that. I'm bookmarking this.
Jen @JuanitasCocina
Oh my gosh, I LOOOOVE the cranberries in this!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen
Fantastic filling! Turnover are such a great dessert, especially when the filling leaks!
diabeticFoodie
I love apples and cranberries together. Great dish. Welcome to Sunday Supper!
Flour On My Face
Thanks so much!
Crazy Kwistin
Love the cranberries and cheese with the apples, this sounds so good and they look so tasty. Perfect treat for my daughter's Birthday PArty.
Laura Hunter
Welcome to SundaySupper! And what a fabulous dish you brought for your first time.
Flour On My Face
Thank you Laura!
Baker Street
a cream cheese crust and the berry-apple filling both sound heavenly! 🙂