Every morning, on the way to school with my kindergarten-aged daughter, I stop by a cafe for breakfast and coffee. I love this ritual, and the Central European cafe culture in general, because it allows me to socialize before my daughter starts her day and further integrate into the country we so gratefully visit. It's these little moments that give me a taste of the Hungarian lifestyle and remind me of the positive aspects I want to incorporate into my own life when I return home.
These delicious homemade turnovers are stuffed with tart cherries and surrounded by the richness of butter and pastry for a balanced taste in every bite. My daughter's favorite. A Hungarian classic!
Sour Cherry Turnovers
material
- 1 pound pitted sour cherries
- 1/2 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch of salt
- 1 pound puff pastry (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Place oven rack in center position and preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine pitted cherries, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl. Let mixture sit for 5 minutes, then pour into a strainer set over a bowl. Drain the cherries, reserving the juice for later. Return strained cherries to original bowl.
- Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the pastry dough to a 10-inch square. Cut each square into four 5-inch squares for a total of eight squares.
- Place 2 tablespoons of the cherry mixture in the center of each dough piece and brush the edges of each piece with the reserved juices. Fold each dough piece into a triangle and press edges with a fork to seal. Transfer triangles to the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Spread more cherry juice over the turnovers and sprinkle generously with sugar. Bake until turnovers are golden brown (20-25 minutes), rotating the pan halfway through baking. Transfer turnovers from pan to a wire rack and allow to cool slightly. Serve warm.
