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 wish I had one of these with my coffee right now! Fall is in the air and apple turnovers flavored with a savory touch of curry and garam masala – brilliantly delicious. Yum!
garam masala is an inspired choice for a dessert. going to try that asap.
kinda funny, but the folks who grow the most apples don't necessarily grow the best. there's a little place in western maryland called McCutheon's that makes some great apple products. and my personal all time favorite apple is a Colorado Western Slope honeycrisp.
cheers!
I can't think of a better treat with a cup of coffee than these apple turnovers; the spice mix is so unusual yet so complementary to the apples!
Those turnovers are beautiful! Very original with that addition of curry.
Cheers,
Rosa
Pretty little turnovers you got there. I love apple season. Fall is my favorite time of the year.
I love the curry and garam masala with the apples. I might need to try that.
Sommer, those are truly beautiful! I love the addition of the "surprise" spices. And of course, the best part of your blog is that I can actually drive to Skytop Orchard and check it out for myself! Glad you had such a nice time.
Oh my, I love this idea! Will definitely have to try it. We love apple picking and I love coming home with bags and bags of apples, but you're right, it does get monotonous after a while.
I didn't realize there were so many apples there. This is just a fantastic recipe, not to mention they are gorgeous!
Those turnovers look extremely YUMMY!
This recipe rocks! Thanks for sharing…
OMG …curry powder garam masala and apples …something really really interesting to begin with….
The curry powder available in the US is different from the one we use here , but we can always make our own favorite curry powder.
People make apple curry and apple pickle here from the small varieties of himachal apples.
That looks simple and delicious. I would never have thought of adding curry. I would love to try Thanks very much for sharing.
Love these apple turnovers with a twist! Excellent pictures!
I love the addition of curry powder and garam masala! It must add such a great depth to the apples, with still a bit of familiar, cinnamon-y warmth from the garam masala. I definitely want to give this combination a try!
I love it! What a fabulous idea, and I have all of that homemade Madras curry powder just itching to be "that little something" in an apple treat.
Indian spices in an apple turnover. I am sure that goes really well.
No apple orchards here. I am jealous.
Oh my goodness…curry and apples…this just sounds so unique and delicious. They pastry looks flaky and wonderful too. Beautiful pictures.