These sugar free apple turnovers have all the flavor and texture of a classic apple turnover, minus the calories. So what’s inside them? They are made with 5 simple ingredients. They are also easy to make. But, most importantly, no one will notice they are sugar free, butter free, and essentially vegan!
Why I Love Sugar Free Apple Turnovers
Why Are Sugar Free Apple Turnovers Healthy?
These yummy turnovers contain heart-healthy avocado oil instead of butter. In addition, monk fruit replaces refined sugar and light, flakey phyllo dough replaces the high-fat puff pastry the recipe is usually made with.
Sugar Free Apple Turnovers Are Suitable for Any Occasion
You can make them anytime and for any occasion, but I love making them first thing in the morning. There’s something nice about starting the day to the fantastic fragrance of warm apples in the kitchen. It also means they’ll be ready by mid-morning snack time!
Popular now: The New York Times cranberry curd tart goes sugar free.
Ingredients in Sugar Free Apple Turnovers
Filo / Phyllo Dough
- ATHENS PHYLLO DOUGH – I usually use about half a roll (it usually comes with 2 rolls per package). If you have extra dough afterwards, just roll it up and put it back in the freezer.
- AVOCADO OIL – to meld the layers of filo dough together. Avocado oil is neutral in flavor and much lower in saturated fat than butter which makes it a healthy alternative. The Sugar Free Apple Turnovers also taste great with avocado oil, as my diabetic mother confirmed. She’s a big fan of this pastry.
Fruit Filling in Sugar Free Apple Turnovers
- APPLES – This recipe is also delightful with pears or with a mix of apples and pears.
- SUGAR FREE WHITE OR BROWN POWDERED SWEETENER – I use zero-calorie monk fruit allulose blend, a natural sugar replacement.
- AVOCADO OIL – Avocado oil is much lower in saturated fat than butter which makes it an excellent alternative.
- CINNAMON – Apart from adding flavor, cinnamon has numerous health benefits including anti-inflammatory properties and health-boosting anti-oxidants. Moreover, it is known to help reduce high blood pressure as well as lower blood sugar and the risk of type 2 diabetes.
For the Sugar Free Icing
- SUGAR FREE POWDERED SWEETENER – I make the glaze with a sugar free powdered sweetener or simply sprinkle it on top.
- VANILLA EXTRACT
- DAIRY OR NONDAIRY MILK OF CHOICE
How to Fold Phyllo/Filo Dough
Place the apple filling on the dough. Then fold the filling.
Keep folding until done.
Frequently Asked Questions about Healthy Sugar Free Apple Turnovers
Avocado oil is a neutral-tasting oil so it doesn’t impart any flavor. So, no one will know that you used avocado oil in these Sugar Free Apple Turnovers.
Avocado oil significantly lowers the amount of saturated fat in the recipe. This is important, because saturated fat is unhealthy; it can raise your bad cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease. In fact, if I made this recipe with butter, it would contain MORE THAN 4 times as much saturated fat: 1.06 grams of saturated fat per serving with avocado oil versus a whopping 4.8 grams with butter!
Moreover, avocado oil is high in monosaturated fat, a healthy fat that can help you lose weight and reduce the risk of heart disease. Avocado oil also contains polyunsaturated fat, another healthy fat that helps reduce bad cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease. Avocados are, in other words, our friend. They are even an ingredient in black bean avocado brownies.
I rarely bake with regular flour or premade doughs. But there are so many reasons to feel good about baking with phyllo / filo dough. Made with enriched wheat flour and canola oil, filo dough contains: no saturated fat, no transfat, no sugar, no cholesterol.
Pro Tip for Perfect Sugar Free Apple Turnovers
IMPORTANT: Filo dough is stored in the freezer. The night before use, put it in the refrigerator. Then take it out of the refrigerator 2 hours before you use it. It needs to dethaw properly. Otherwise, the dough could tear. In addition, if you have extra dough at the end, just roll it up and freeze it for another time.
Are Apple Turnovers Healthy?
This Sugar Free Apple Turnover recipe is healthy because I made it with monk fruit, a natural, zero-calorie sugar substitute and I used avocado oil, a healthy oil, instead of butter. That means, this recipe is significantly lower in carbs, calories and saturated fat than a traditional apple turnover recipe.
Are Sugar Free Apple Turnovers Keto?
No, this Sugar Free Apple Turnover recipe is not keto, because it is not a low carb recipe. The recipe gets its carbs from the apples and phyllo dough. This Sugar Free Apple Turnover recipe is, however, much lower in carbs and calories than a traditional apple turnover recipe.
Equipment to Make Sugar Free Apple Turnovers
- 1 Saucepan – to cook the fruit.
- 1 Pastry brush – to brush the avocado oil on the filo dough.
- 1 Knife or pastry cutter – to cut the filo dough.
- 1 Large baking sheet
- Parchment paper
How to Store Healthy Apple Turnovers
To store them: You can leave them out in an airtight container for 1 day. After that, refrigerate for up to 3 days.
To freeze them: I do not recommend freezing them.
Looking for More Healthy Cake and Pastry Recipes?
- Chocolate Keto Bundt Cake
- 20+ Best Keto Avocado Dessert Recipes
- Gluten Free Fruit Tart
- Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake
- Sugar Free Plum Cake (German Pflaumenkuchen)
- Healthy Pumpkin Tart
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Recipe Card
Sugar Free Apple Turnovers – Easy Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan to cook the fruit
- 1 Large baking sheet
- 1 pastry brush to brush avocado oil on the filo dough
- 1 knife or pastry cutter to cut the filo dough
- parchment paper to bake the pastries on
Ingredients
The Dough – Important: The night before use, transfer filo dough from freezer to refrigerator. Then take it out of the refrigerator 2 hours before you use it. It needs to dethaw properly. Otherwise, the dough could tear.
- 1 package filo / phyllo dough I usually use about half a roll of Athens Phyllo Dough (there are 2 rolls in a package). If you have extra dough afterwards, just roll it up and put it back in the freezer.
- ½ cup or more avocado oil to brush on the filo dough
Fruit Filling Ingredients
- 4 cups pealed, cored and finely chopped apples (2-3 apples)
- 3-6 tablespoons white or brown sugar free sweetener adjust for flavor; I use monk fruit
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
For the Icing
- 1 cup sugar free powdered sweetener If you don't have any: Just pulverize granulated sweetener in the blender.
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons milk of choice
Instructions
- Put the fruit-filling ingredients in a pot.
- Bring to boil, then simmer on low for 6 min.
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Open the filo dough.
- Place one sheet horizontally on clean work surface.
- Brush the sheet with avocado oil.
- Put another sheet directly on top. The oil will meld the 2 sheets together.
- Viewed horizontally, use a knife or pastry cutter to cut the sheets into 4 equal size strips.
- Place 2-3 Tbs filling at the bottom of each strip.
- Fold the edge of the filo dough up over the filling to make a triangle shape; then continue folding the pastry into triangles.
- Place on parchment paper on a large baking sheet.
- Bake 8 minutes. Then use a spatula to peak underneath the pastry. In some ovens, the bottom browns quickly so you’ll need to flip the pastry and bake another 5 minutes.
- Allow to cool.
Toppings
- Option 1: Sprinkle sugar free powdered sweetener on top
- Option 2: Combine the icing ingredients to make vanilla icing and drizzle over the pastries.
Uwe Braun says
Great idea! I had some file dough lying around and tried this. I made it with pears and it tastes great.