Step 1: Prepare the Apple Filling To create the heart of these turnovers, you’ll need a rich and spiced apple filling that evokes the sweetness of Snow White’s favorite fruit. Begin by melting 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced honeycrisp apples to the pan and cook them for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften. The apples will start to release their juices, filling the air with a comforting, sweet scent.

Now, stir in the brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and white sugar. Let this mixture simmer for another 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. The apples should be tender and coated in a syrupy glaze that’s bursting with warm, aromatic spices.

Once the apples have softened and the syrup has thickened slightly, it’s time to thicken the filling further. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of water to create a slurry. Add this mixture to the apples and stir well. The cornstarch will help give the filling that thick, gooey texture that makes each bite of the turnover irresistible.

Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the vanilla extract. Let the filling cool for about 10 minutes before transferring it to the fridge to chill for about an hour. This step is crucial—it ensures the filling is cool enough to go into the puff pastry without making it soggy.

Step 2: Prepare the Puff Pastry While your apple filling chills, you can prepare the puff pastry. Puff pastry is the perfect choice for this recipe because it bakes up light, flaky, and golden, just like Snow White’s grace and elegance. Unroll the package of refrigerated puff pastry dough on a clean, lightly floured surface. You’ll need to cut the dough into 3-inch squares, which will be perfect for folding into turnovers.

Using a pizza cutter (or a sharp knife if you don’t have one), slice the dough into squares. Be sure to handle the dough gently to keep it from getting too warm or sticky.

Step 3: Assemble the Turnovers Now comes the fun part—assembling the turnovers! Take a spoonful of the cooled apple filling and place it in the center of each square of dough. Don’t overfill, or it will be difficult to seal the edges. Once the filling is in place, fold the dough into a triangle shape, pressing the edges gently together to seal the turnover.

For extra security and a beautiful finish, you can crimp the edges of the turnovers with a fork. This not only helps seal them but also gives them that signature turnover look that’s both rustic and elegant.

Step 4: Fry the Turnovers Next, it’s time to fry the turnovers. Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. To test if the oil is hot enough, drop a small piece of dough into the pan. If it sizzles immediately, it’s ready.

Carefully add the turnovers to the hot oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry the turnovers for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and crispy. The smell of frying apples and buttery dough will fill your kitchen with a comforting aroma that’s simply irresistible.

Once the turnovers are golden and crispy, use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain any excess oil.

Step 5: Serve with Toppings These warm apple turnovers are already delicious on their own, but why not take them over the top? Serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a generous drizzle of caramel sauce. The cold ice cream melts into the warm apple filling, creating the perfect balance of flavors and textures.