Apple Pockets
December 6, 2010 • Category: Dessert
I am one of those people who totally subscribe to the slogan: “ An apple a day keeps the doctor away” . I eat apples all the time, I love their crunchy, juicy, sweet texture.
Except some apples end up being not-so-great and get tossed into the lower vegetable bin of the refrigerator for weeks on end.
This is an idea for something delicious and easy to do with these apples.
INGREDIENTS: Yields 4 dozens for the whole pastry package.
- 1/2 package (or the whole package!) of puff pastry squares
- 12 apples
- 3/4 cup of sugar (or more, to taste)
- 1/2 orange, juiced
- 1 egg yolk, beaten slightly with a fork
METHOD:
- Peel and cut the apples in small chunks; place in a large pot, add one cup of water, the juice of the orange and the sugar.
- Stew the apples, stirring them from time to time, on low heat until they are thoroughly cooked and most of the liquid evaporates. This can be done the day before.
- The apples should turn to mush and take on a nice honey color.
- Roll the pastry squares out very thin; cut several rounds with a 4 inch cookie cutter or the rim of a glass. Place a generous tablespoon of apple purée on one side of the pastry round and fold over, crimping the edges and folding them over gently.
- Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper; brush a few drops of beaten egg yolk on each pocket for a nice sheen. Place in a preheated 375F oven for 20 minutes or so or until the pockets are golden, puffed up and slightly browned at the edges. Cool a few minutes and serve.
TIP: A Lebanese flavor twist here would be to add the last five minutes of cooking the apples 1/4 teaspoon of mastic, crushed with a dash of sugar in a mortar or with a rolling pin. The purée can also be enriched with a half cup of chopped walnuts.
Comments
32 Comments • Comments Feed
Anita says:
looks very yummy, I have a 1/2 bushel of apples waiting for me to decide on.. I think a few apples are destined for these pockets. Thanks
On December 6, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Anh says:
I love this! The Turkish friends in Oz called it Middle Eastern apple pie :))
On December 6, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Bria @ WestofPersia says:
Ummmm, I would have to eat exactly 87 of these. Just because I could. They look that good 🙂
On December 7, 2010 at 12:56 am
The AmerArab Wife says:
I grew up making little pies like this with my Granny, except that we would make them with leftover scraps of pie dough. We would also sometimes fill them with apricot jam if the apple filling was used up. Either way, they are irresistible!
On December 7, 2010 at 2:33 am
Diane says:
They look so yummy, I must go and get some more apples. Diane
On December 7, 2010 at 3:26 am
Katerina says:
We have the same saying in Greece regarding apples. I could always use a recipe for apple pies. I love the addition of mastic in those.
On December 7, 2010 at 3:58 am
arthur says:
Exquisite apple pockets! They would make the best pastry for teatime or dessert. This should surprise my friends who are used to eating empanadas. Thanks for sharing this fabulous recipe! Cheers!
On December 7, 2010 at 5:10 am
Alice says:
It only took a few minutes until they were all devoured by my brother. 😉 Very yummy!
On December 7, 2010 at 5:51 am
Rachana says:
Mmmhhh…these apple pockets look so cute and yummmm!!!
On December 7, 2010 at 7:23 am
Heni says:
I like apples too and turnovers! Your pic make me want to grab it out of the screen Joumana! I made some ‘pop tart’s turnovers with pumpkin yesterday for my kids§ i have quince and apples maybe make your recipe with apples ..; and others with quince.
On December 7, 2010 at 9:02 am
TheKitchenWitch says:
Those are so cute! I’m a sucker for anything apple!
On December 7, 2010 at 9:44 am
Lentil Breakdown says:
Mind reader! I have some homemade pie dough in the freezer and some apples and was contemplating making some turnovers, but now you’ve inspired me to do them more like yours. Luscious pics!
On December 7, 2010 at 10:55 am
Krista says:
Aww, these are adorable!! Much better than the ones we used to get at McDonald’s as kids. 🙂 I love apples too and like that you used puff pastry to wrap them in. Yum!!
On December 7, 2010 at 11:18 am
Sushma Mallya says:
Very tempting, am sure must have tasted great…
On December 7, 2010 at 11:35 am
Susan says:
I think I have some of those apples in my bin 🙂 These sound like a delightful way to use them, Joumana!
On December 7, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Claudia says:
Sitting here eating an apple (crunch) and thinking about letting some of them go soft so I have an excuse to make this. Because this will get made!
On December 7, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Tall Clover says:
Wow Joumana, I’m licking my lips over these fine treats. I’ve got apples galore and now off to find some pastry.
On December 7, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Nadji says:
Des chaussons aux pommes comme je les aime.
Je t’en prends un au passage.
A bientôt.
On December 7, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Joanne says:
I totally eat an apple a day as well! I love how each one tastes just a bit different. It’s even better when I get to eat em in dessert form. These cute little pockets look fantastic!
On December 7, 2010 at 2:33 pm
peter says:
Good thinking on those forgotten apples…better tucked in these pasties than in the trash can.
On December 7, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Faith says:
Apples are my favorite fruit so I always have them on hand, and I’m always looking for new ways to use them. Love this! Great idea to add a little walnut too!
On December 7, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Pamela says:
Completely agree on “one apple a day..” Apples are part of my life, so these cute pockets are going to have their place in my kitcken very soon! the idea of the orange juice is so perfect. Thanks!
On December 7, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Hannah says:
Oh, those look delightful! I had mastic for the first time at The Ottoman recently, and loved it. Have no idea where I could source it here in Canberra though! Hmm…
On December 7, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Joumana says:
Hannah, you can find it sold online through Amazon or Greek or Middle-Eastern purveyors.
On December 7, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Azita says:
I eat apples all the time and love to try different kinds of apples! these little apple pockets look very delicious!great recipe!
On December 7, 2010 at 10:15 pm
sweetlife says:
i love your pockets, but then again i love anything sweet!! apples go quickly here, but i am sure my girls would LOVE these for a afternoon snack
sweetlife
On December 7, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Fragolina says:
They look delicious… I think eating some while the apple is still warm is really good.
On December 8, 2010 at 8:19 am
grace says:
i enjoy packages, especially edible ones filled with apple-y goodness.
On December 8, 2010 at 9:07 am
SYLVIA says:
This a temptation Joumana, this is a simply divine dessert. I love the smell of apples baking in the oven.
This is the ultimate apple turnover with the mastic gum and walnuts. It rocks..
On December 9, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Eve@CheapEthnicEatz says:
Puff pastry to the rescue! And I bet these taste way better then the store bought kind.
On December 9, 2010 at 9:02 pm
FOODESSA says:
These apple cuties would be very dangerous in my viewing vicinity!
They look incredible and I also really appreciate the orange juice ingredient you’ve used to enhance such a treat ;o)
Ciao for now,
Claudia
On December 10, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Jeannie says:
I could eat a few of these in one sitting, they look so irresistible! I noticed cinnamon is omitted from this recipe, I am going to bookmark this. Thanks for sharing and Happy holidays!
On December 22, 2010 at 1:21 am