These easy upside down apple turnovers combine tender cinnamon apples with golden, flaky puff pastry for a simple fall snack the whole family can enjoy! They’re baked in the oven and made with just a small amount of maple syrup, or none at all for a no-added-sugar option.
Traditional apple turnovers can contain quite a bit of added sugar, but naturally sweet apples do most of the work in this toddler-friendly version. All you have to do is layer the ingredients directly on a baking sheet, cover them with puff pastry, and bake. No cooking the apples, folding the pastry, or sealing the edges!
Why You’ll Love These Upside Down Apple Turnovers
- Made with only a handful of ingredients
- Very low in added sugar
- Easy to make with store-bought puff pastry
- No precooking the apple filling
- Baked instead of fried
- Perfect for a toddler snack or simple fall dessert
- Easy for little helpers to assemble
- Delicious for adults, too!
If you're looking for more apple recipes for the fall season, be sure to check out my apple fritter cookies and applesauce muffins for other easy breakfast or snack options! You could even turn this upside down apple turnovers into a more traditional vibe using my easy cinnamon apples for the filling.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love These Upside Down Apple Turnovers
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How to Make Your Upside Down Apple Turnovers
- Hint for the Best Upside Down Apple Turnovers
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- Storing Your Upside Down Apple Turnovers
- Tiff's Dietitian Tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Pairing
- Easy Upside Down Apple Turnovers
Ingredients You'll Need
Here's what you'll need to make these easy upside down apple turnovers
- Apples - choose a naturally sweet apple, such as Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, or Honeycrisp. Using a sweeter variety means you won’t need much additional sweetener, slice the apples very thinly so they become soft while the pastry bakes.
- Puff pastry - store-bought puff pastry makes these little turnovers incredibly easy, thaw the pastry according to the package directions, but keep it chilled until you’re ready to assemble the turnovers.
- Maple syrup - you only need 1 tablespoon for the entire recipe or you can also leave it out completely, especially when serving these to a baby or child under age 2.
- Cinnamon - cinnamon adds plenty of warm, cozy flavor without requiring more sugar.
- Egg, milk, or butter wash - light egg wash helps the puff pastry bake up shiny and golden, you can substitute milk or butter if you need an egg-free option.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Your Upside Down Apple Turnovers
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Thinly slice the apple and cut the puff pastry into 6 equal rectangles.
- Step 2: Arrange 3-4 apple slices in 6 different sections, sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle maple syrup or honey (if using), then place a puff pastry rectangle on top.
- Step 3: Gently press around the pastry edges. Brush the tops with egg wash (or milk or melted butter) and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
- Step 4: Let the turnovers cool for 5 minutes, then carefully flip them over with a spatula. Cool before cutting and serving to your toddler.
Hint for the Best Upside Down Apple Turnovers
Slice the apples very thinly so they become soft and tender by the time the puff pastry is golden. A mandoline makes this especially quick and easy!
PS - refrigerated crescent roll dough can replace the puff pastry. Pinch the seams together, cut the dough into 6 rectangles, and place one over each pile of apples. Bake according to the package directions, usually at 375°F for 10-14 minutes until golden brown. The turnovers will be softer and more bread-like rather than light and flaky.
Substitutions
These upside down apple turnovers can totally be made gluten, dairy, and egg free!
- No added sugar: Leave out the maple syrup and place the apples directly on the parchment paper.
- Egg-free: Brush the pastry with milk or melted butter instead of egg.
- Dairy-free: Check the puff pastry label and select a dairy-free variety.
Variations
Feel free to change these upside down apple turnovers for toddlers up some!
- Different fruit: Try very thinly sliced pears or peaches.
- Apple pie spice: Replace the cinnamon with apple pie or pumpkin pie spice.
- Nutty variation: Add a very thin layer of almond, peanut, or sunflower seed butter beneath the apples. Avoid thick globs for young littles.
- "Sprinkles": Sprinkle some hemp hearts and powdered sugar on top for a little fun!
Want to make your own dough?
Instead of puff pastry, you can use my easy Greek yogurt pastry dough instead! Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour (gluten-free if needed), 1½ teaspoons baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Cut in ¼ cup cold grated butter, then gently mix in ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt until a shaggy dough forms (if it feels too dry then add a little more yogurt).
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and fold it over itself 3-4 times to create flaky layers. Roll it out, cut it into 6 rectangles, and use it in place of the puff pastry. Brush with egg wash and bake at 400°F for 15-18 minutes, or until puffed and golden. Avoid overmixing and keep the butter cold for the flakiest texture.oft and tender rather than flaky like traditional puff pastry.
Equipment
To make these easy upside down apple turnovers you'll need a cutting board, sharp knife or mandoline to thinly slice the apple, large baking sheet, parchment paper, small bowl, pastry brush, and spatula.
Storing Your Upside Down Apple Turnovers
Store cooled turnovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze for up to 2 months.
To help restore their flaky texture, reheat them in the oven or air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes. The microwave will soften the pastry, but it works well when you need a quick toddler snack.
Tiff's Dietitian Tip
This recipe is a fun way to offer apples in a new form. Your toddler doesn’t have to eat a large serving for the exposure to count! Seeing, touching, smelling, or tasting a familiar fruit prepared differently can help them become more comfortable with a variety of textures over time.
To make the snack more filling, pair a turnover with plain Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or a thin spread of nut or seed butter for some additional protein and fat.
FAQ
Upside down apple turnovers are individual puff pastry treats assembled directly on a baking sheet. The apples are placed underneath the pastry before baking, and the pastries are flipped over afterward to reveal the tender cinnamon apples.
No. As long as you cut the apples into very thin slices, they will soften while the puff pastry bakes.
Absolutely. A naturally sweet apple provides plenty of flavor, especially when paired with cinnamon. The turnovers won’t have quite as much caramelization, but they’ll still be delicious.
Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Pink Lady apples are naturally sweet and work especially well in a low-sugar recipe. Granny Smith apples can also be used, but their tart flavor may require additional sweetener.
Puff pastry can be a bit high in sodium, so it’s best served occasionally rather than as an everyday food. Make sure the apples are completely soft, cut the finished pastry appropriately, and supervise your baby closely. Skip the maple syrup for babies under 12 months and, ideally, omit added sweeteners for children under age 2. Or use the homemade yogurt dough option for another alternative!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with these upside down apple turnovers:
Easy Upside Down Apple Turnovers
Equipment
- cutting board
- pastry brush
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet apple apple such as Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, or Honeycrisp
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup optional
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry thawed according to package directions
- 1 large egg milk or melted butter wash for egg-free
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Core the apple and slice it very thinly. Peel it first if desired. Cut the puff pastry sheet into 6 equal rectangles.
- Arrange 3-4 apple slices in 6 different sections, sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle maple syrup or honey (if using), then place a puff pastry rectangle on top.
- Whisk the egg, then lightly brush the mixture over the puff pastry. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
- Let the turnovers cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Carefully flip each one over with a spatula. Allow them to cool to a safe temperature before cutting and serving.
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