Curried Apple Turnovers
Fragrant crispy Curried Apple Turnovers with tender apples inside.
My family always looks forward to apple picking this time of year. The kids enjoy climbing up on daddy’s broad shoulders to reach for juicy autumn orbs tucked beneath leafy branches.
They get even more excited about all the other glorious things you find at an apple orchard… Farm animals to feed, hay rides, play areas, and decedent apple treats!
Henderson county, just south of us, is known for having more apple orchards than any other county in the US. (Yes, that includes Michigan and Washington.)
Who knew that this little corner of western North Carolina could produce such apples!
We have visited our fair share of apple orchards over the last decade and have firmly decided on a favorite, Sky Top Orchard. As noted by it’s name, Sky Top Orchard is located on a mountain top in Flat Rock, North Carolina.
With lush mountain views in all directions, why would you want to pick apples any where else?
Plus, they have great variety in the orchard, a well-stocked apple emporium, and plenty of extra attractions to keep the kiddos busy long after the bushels are filled to the brim.
As if that weren’t enough, they also sell hot fresh apple-cider donuts. After your first bite of these supple, sugar-crusted rings, you don’t know whether to swear, thank God, and cry out of utter bliss!
Alright, enough about the donuts.
While I’m pondering the possibility of recreating them, I’d like to offer you another apple treat that is perfectly lovely in its own right. Curried Apple Turnovers are one of my favorite fall snacks. They are cute, easy to take with you, and full of flavor.
There is only one problem with making apple sweets. When you bring home bushels of apples from the orchard, you start to worry about monotony. After all, what better accents apples than cinnamon?
Yet if you spice all your apples with cinnamon, it doesn’t matter whether you make turnovers, pies, crisps, cakes, or muffins. You end up with same flavor.
As a girl who likes a lot of variety, I’ve been experimenting with different flavor profiles to complement apples.
I’ve found that curry powder and garam masala do wonders to spice up savory or sweet apple dishes. Both are Indian spice blends usually containing a little cinnamon. Yet, you also get a bit of coriander, clove, fenugreek, turmeric, cumin, and cardamom as well.
These extra spices provide rich depth to your apple treats… And the element of surprise!
I’ve noticed that if you don’t tell your taste-testers what your secret ingredient is, they will devour several hand pies while contemplating the possibilities, and still may never figure it out!
The touch of curry in these crispy Curried Apple Turnovers adds that little extra something, without overpowering the apple goodness.
Curried Apple Turnovers
Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry
- 2 Granny Smith apples, medium
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- Zest of 1 orange
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- ¼ teaspoon curry powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg + 1 tablespoon water
- Turbinado sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Peel and chop the apples into ¼ inch cubes. Mix the apple cubes with the raisins, orange zest, orange juice, brown sugar, flour, garam masala, curry powder, and salt.
- Cut each puff pastry sheet into 9 squares and place them on baking stones or parchment paper-lined cookie sheets. Gently roll out each square into a diamond shape. Top each diamond with a tablespoon of apple mixture.
- Whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon of water and brush the egg wash over the edges of the diamond. Then fold the dough over the apple mixture and crimp the edges with a fork.
- Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with Turbinado sugar. Bake for 17-20 minutes until golden brown on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.
I have never heard of apples and curry – I’m intrigued! I love apples though, my little boy tells me all the time that he will plant me an orchard in our backyard one day. So sweet. I can’t wait to try these, they look great!
These look so wonderful! Love the flavor combination so much!
I made these last night and they were amazing. Thanks for the recipe. Next time I might add a tiny bit more ginger.
Thanks for sharing this with us!! Your apple curry turnovers look divine!!
Really!
MMMMMMMMMMMMM,…lovely food!
I'll have to come out of my baking box a little more and try these wonderful turnovers…how wonderful all these ingredients sound ;o)
Great post and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
Wow I was thinking of making a spicy apple chutney with my recent windfall, but looking at these YUM What a superb idea. Instead of a sweet apple turnover, how about a spicy one!
A terrific idea to add the curry and garam masala to the apple filling! Love it!
Step 1 indicates mixing the brown sugar and flour with the other ingredients but the measures are not listed in the ingredients. Also, the 9 inch squares should read 9 one inch squares. Tasted great. I added a bit of cardamon 1/8 teaspoon.
Ooooh, I could definitely use this recipe. I have some apples that I desperately need to do something with. If I make this, I will repost it and link back to you!
Wow, apples and curry. That is a combinations that begs to be tried out. Very interesting. I want to go apple picking too :)