Air-Fried Cherry Turnovers: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Cherry turnovers are a delightful treat, and you can make them at home with an air fryer! This recipe will guide you through creating a batch of warm, golden turnovers filled with luscious cherry filling. The air fryer produces a crispy outer layer while keeping the inside tender, and the process is quicker and less messy than traditional baking methods. You'll need puff pastry, an egg, cherry pie filling, and a few other simple ingredients. In just a few simple steps, you'll be able to enjoy these pastries for breakfast, dessert, or a sweet snack.

Choosing the right puff pastry

• Type of Puff Pastry: The most common type of puff pastry used for cherry turnovers is the store-bought variety, such as Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry. These pre-made sheets are convenient and save time in the kitchen. However, if you're feeling adventurous, you can opt to make your own rough puff pastry from scratch. While it requires more effort, a homemade pastry can add a unique, personal touch to your dessert.
• Texture and Flakiness: The hallmark of a good puff pastry is its ability to puff up and create a light, flaky texture. When choosing your puff pastry, look for options that promise a buttery, flaky crust. This will ensure that your turnovers have the perfect crispness and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Thickness: Puff pastry sheets come in different thicknesses, and the right choice depends on your personal preference. Thicker pastry sheets will result in a more substantial, flaky crust, while thinner sheets will create a lighter, more delicate texture. Consider the overall balance of your dessert and choose a thickness that complements the generous filling.
• Ease of Handling: Working with puff pastry can be tricky, as it needs to be just the right temperature for easy handling. Choose a brand that is known for its ease of use, ensuring that the dough remains cool but not frozen. This will make it easier to roll out, cut, and shape without becoming sticky or difficult to manage.
• Taste: Don't forget to consider the taste of the puff pastry itself. Some brands may have a more buttery flavor, while others might be slightly sweeter. Opt for a brand that strikes a balance between a rich, indulgent flavor and one that allows the sweetness of the cherry filling to shine through.
• Size and Quantity: Pay attention to the size and quantity of the puff pastry sheets you choose. Most recipes for cherry turnovers will require you to cut the sheets into squares, so ensure you have enough pastry to yield the desired number of servings. Check the package to see how many sheets are included and the dimensions of each sheet.

Remember, the key to choosing the right puff pastry is finding a balance between convenience, taste, and texture. By selecting a high-quality, reliable brand and following the tips above, you'll be well on your way to creating mouthwatering cherry turnovers in your air fryer!

Preparing the cherry filling

Firstly, gather your ingredients. You will need cherries, and you can use either fresh or frozen pitted cherries for this recipe. You will also need some corn starch, also known as cornflour, to thicken the filling. A pinch of salt will balance the sweetness, and you can add lemon juice and almond extract to enhance the flavour. If you want to cut down on sugar, you can use a natural sweetener instead. You will also need some water to create a slurry with the corn starch.

Next, combine the corn starch and water in a small bowl and mix until you have a smooth slurry. This will ensure that your filling thickens nicely without any lumps. Then, in a saucepan over medium heat, mix together your cherries, sweetener or sugar, salt, lemon juice, vanilla or almond extract, and the corn starch slurry. Stir the mixture regularly as it warms up.

As the mixture comes to a boil, you will notice it starting to thicken and become jelly-like, with a glossy appearance. Continue to stir, and after a couple of minutes, your filling should be ready. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool to room temperature. You can then store it in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to assemble your turnovers.

This homemade cherry filling is a tasty alternative to canned pie filling and gives you the option to control the sweetness and flavour to your taste. It is also a simple process that will add a special touch to your air fryer cherry turnovers.

Assembling the turnovers

To assemble the cherry turnovers, first, cut the puff pastry into squares or rectangles. The number of pieces you cut the pastry into will depend on how big you want your turnovers to be and how much puff pastry you have. For example, you could cut each sheet of puff pastry into 4 squares or 8 rectangles.

Next, add the cherry filling to the puff pastry. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of filling in the centre of each piece of puff pastry, being careful not to overfill as this could cause the turnovers to burst open during cooking.

Then, fold the puff pastry over diagonally to create a triangle shape, and seal the edges with a fork. You can also use the back of a fork to press lines into the open edges of the turnovers to ensure they are well sealed.

After that, brush the turnovers with an egg wash. Beat an egg and brush it over the turnovers before cooking to give them a golden and shiny finish. You can also sprinkle the turnovers with brown sugar, ground cinnamon, or turbinado sugar for added sweetness and texture.

Finally, before placing the turnovers in the air fryer, make a few small slits in the tops of the turnovers to allow steam to escape.

Air-frying the turnovers

Preparing the Puff Pastry:

Begin by lightly dusting your work surface with flour. Unroll the thawed puff pastry sheet and use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut it into squares (4 or 6 squares) depending on your desired turnover size.

Preheating the Air Fryer:

Set your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Preheating ensures that your turnovers start cooking immediately and evenly, resulting in a nice, even browning.

Filling and Sealing the Turnovers:

Place about 2 tablespoons of cherry pie filling onto one half of each puff pastry square. Be careful not to overfill, as this can cause the filling to spill out during cooking. In a small bowl, beat an egg and brush the edges of the pastry squares with the egg wash. This egg wash helps seal the turnovers.

Now, carefully fold each square diagonally to form a triangle. Press the edges together to seal, and use a fork to crimp them tightly, ensuring they are well sealed.

Applying the Egg Wash and Toppings:

Brush the top of each turnover with more egg wash to achieve a golden finish. You can also sprinkle brown sugar, ground cinnamon, or turbinado sugar for added sweetness and texture.

Line the bottom of your air fryer basket with parchment paper. Place the turnovers in a single layer, leaving space between each one for proper air circulation. Cook in batches if needed.

Air fry your turnovers for about 15-18 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and puffed up. The exact cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer model.

Cooling and Serving:

Allow the turnovers to cool for a few minutes after air frying, as the filling will be extremely hot. You can drizzle a vanilla or simple sugar glaze on top or serve them as is. Enjoy your freshly made cherry turnovers!

Storing and reheating the turnovers

Storing and reheating your cherry turnovers is a simple process. If you have any leftover, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. For longer storage, you can refrigerate them for up to five days or even freeze them.

To reheat your turnovers, simply pop them back into the air fryer for a few minutes to regain that crispy texture. Alternatively, you can use an oven or toaster oven, preheated to 350-375°F, and heat for around 5-10 minutes.

If you're short on time, a quick blast in the microwave for 20-30 seconds will also do the trick!

Remember, the key to maintaining that delicious crispy texture is to reheat without overcrowding your air fryer or oven. Cook in batches if necessary, and always allow a little time for your turnovers to cool before digging in!

Frequently asked questions