These treats might not look amazing but they taste absolutely wonderful! When my initially unimpressed cake testers took their first bite their eyes popped with delight. One said I should open a bakery and another that they’d happily attend any cake courses I gave. So please don’t judge by appearances and think this is a poor cousin when it could turn out to be your favourite pastry ever! They’re made with homemade inverted puff pastry but you could use shop-bought butter puff, making these easy-peasy to assemble. You can add your favourite sweetener to the apple compote but I prefer coconut sugar, more natural and healthier than the refined stuff. And it tastes so delicious, perfectly complementing the slightly sharp reinette apples. Choose the best and tastiest apples, add the minimum of sugar and flavour with very little pure vanilla extract to produce delicious chaussons aux pommes similar to the magical confections in Paris.
Chausson aux pommes (apple turnover) with coconut sugar
This one came rock climbing with us and was a welcome tea break. Yum yum. Quick, let’s make some more… No hanging around now! 🙂
THE RECIPE
They’re based on the chaussons aux pommes on the French blog, Le meilleur du chef. My recipe has adapted the quantities and uses pure vanilla extract instead of the pod. Also, my chaussons are brushed twice with eggwash then a ‘leaf’ design is carved on them. They’re a simple pastry and you can adapt them however you prefer.
Most importantly use scrumptious apples. Personally I adore reinettes but there are other flavoursome kinds out there. Homemade puff is amazing and doesn’t have any palm or other unhealthy oils like some commercial brands. Otherwise try to buy the good-quality all-butter stuff.
Chaussons aux pommes (apple turnovers) with coconut sugar
Puff pastry
- 450g/1lb homemade inverted puff pastry (recipe from my basics section here) or good-quality shop-bought (100% pure butter if possible)
Apple filling
- 400g/3 and 1/2 cups peeled, cored and chopped apples from around 530-550g (1 and 1/5-1/4 lbs) apples, like reinettes, coxes, gala or pink lady
- 20g/2 tablespoons (organic) coconut sugar, to taste so add less or more (30g/3 tablespoons), depending on how sharp or sweet your apples are
- 20g/1 and 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/3 tsp pure vanilla extract
Note: my coconut sugar makes the filling quite brown but if you add half the sugar at the beginning then the other half after 20 minutes the compote is lighter in colour.
Assembly
- Puff pastry and rolling pin
- Bowl with a little water and a pastry brush
- Beaten egg to brush on the chaussons
Note: leaving the pastry too thick doesn’t make it rise or puff up better. I also prefer these turnovers with a thinner pastry to apple ratio.
Syrup glaze option
I haven’t done this for my two recent batches but there is the option to make a glaze which adds shine and sweetness to your pastry. When your chaussons are in the oven, bring 25ml water and 25g (1 and 3/4 tablespoons) sugar to the boil in a small saucepan. Pour into a small bowl and allow to cool. As soon as your pastries come out of the oven brush lightly with this glaze. Oooh, pretty!
Storing and eating
Do be careful and try to wait before eating – I burnt my mouth on two occasions and it seems I just can’t learn! 🙂 These chaussons aux pommes are best eaten warm or on the same day at room temperature. If you need to store longer wrap in paper or place in a metal tin. In plastic airtight containers they go soft but are still delicious.
And if you don’t want to eat all eight turnovers immediately, freeze some! Don’t brush with egg yolk before wrapping tightly in plastic film. Bake from frozen (brush with egg yolk on top and under, place in the fridge 1/2 hour, brush with egg yolk again just on top then bake). They’ll be so yummy…
Chaussons aux pommes (apple turnovers) with coconut sugar
Christmas?
Yes, I know it’s Christmas soon and I have more festive recipes to post but this one’s been hanging around for ages. Plus what better yummy breakfast or tea to have between festive goodies? An apple turnover a day keeps the doctor away! Lol. Do please have a lovely chausson aux pommes.
Chaussons aux pommes (apple turnovers) with coconut sugar
Farewell sweet reader. Hope you’re having a wonderful run-up to Christmas or if you don’t celebrate Xmas then I wish you a wonderful week ahead! Happy baking and eating! 🙂 Lili x
lili's cakes 
They look wonderful to me! I bet they do taste delicious. Miam!
Joyeux Noel chere Lili!
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Aw thank you Deborah! Yes, chaussons aux pommes are so yummy! Merci et un très joyeux noël a toi aussi! Bises, Lili
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Yumolicious! 🍓
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Thank you! Great word! 🙂
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Looks so good
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Thank you! Happy you like them. 🙂
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Blissful. By the way reinette apples are probably my favourites. My mom used to make fritters with those. Favourite childhood food 😀
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Thanks Eva. Yes, reinettes are great and I can imagine how lovely they’d be as fritters. Drool. 🙂
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Sounds yummy!
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Thank you, yes very enjoyable! 🙂
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Oooo! These look lovely Lili.
I have placed my order with Mrs Dookes, I’m a bit busy with savoury stuff like pies at the moment, so hopefully I’ll get to taste some soon! I love apple turnovers!
Best wishes, Dookes
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Thanks Dookes, so pleased you like them! I have a real soft spot for apple turnovers too. Hope Mrs Dookes and you both enjoy them. I really like the sound of your savoury pies – love pies (I usually follow the Hairy Bikers’ recipes). Nice to hear from you! All the best, Lili
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Your pastry looks sooo good!
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Thank you, yes I love inverted puff…! 🙂
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