How to make Apple Pockets aka Apfeltashen-
I am an expat German living in Northeast Ohio and blogging mostly about authentic German food and my own original recipes inspired by German food. Having grown up in the border region with France in a very cosmopolitan city, even for its size, I am also drawn to all sorts of ethnic recipes.
I have been baking ever since I could hold a spoon, and it is my great passion in life. I have somehow always baked. I love to explore and experiment, to create and yes, eat what I have created. I am not just a consummate baker, I like to cook as well, especially seasonally.
Apple Pockets (Apfeltaschen)
Apples are among the most versatile fruit I know. I just love apples. LOVE apples. Pies, tortes, apple sauce, apple pancakes… the list goes on and on. They have just enough sweetness to not require very much more sugar, and their tartness (provided you use a baking apple) single-handedly enhances any pastry they are added to.
Apple pockets (Apfeltaschen) are consequently one of my favorite pastries, and the best thing is that they are a non-messy affair when you’re eating them, which makes them an ideal snack for kids, young and old.
The first round of these mysteriously disappeared over the course of the evening, before I had a chance to even photograph a single one coming out of the oven, much less GLAZE them. (Can I just say, “TSOS” = “teenage son over shoulder”?) I normally put out little signs that say things like, “Please don’t eat.” all the way to “Eat this and be PUNISHED!”, but this time I neglected to do that and was promptly punished myself – with an empty plate.
There was nothing else left to do but to make another batch, but these are so easy and quick, it was not really that bad. The recipe came out of one of my favorite recipe books, “Backen Macht Freude” by Dr. Oetker (the US English edition is called “German Baking Today”).
The recipes are easy to follow, accessible and accompanied by helpful photographs. The only substitution I made was to use craisins instead of the raisins that the recipe calls for, as nobody in my family really likes raisins that much.
It’s just a few steps and you’ll be enjoying these delicious treats. If you enjoyed this recipe you might also like my quick and easy scones.
If you’ve tried this Apple Pockets /Apfeltaschen recipe or any other recipe on askchefdennis.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Apple Pockets
Ingredients
For the dough
- 7 oz milk
- 3 ½ tbsp butter
- 1 ⅔ cups flour
- 1 ½ tbsp instant yeast
- 3 ½ tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 large egg beaten
For the filling
- 2 ¼ cups apples a good baking apple like McIntosh
- 3 ½ tbsp raisins
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 ½ tbsp butter
For topping
- milk enough to brush pastries
- sliced almonds to sprinkle on top of pastries
For the glaze
- 7 tbsp powdered sugar sifted
- 1 tablespoon * lemon juice
- ¾ tbsp butter
Instructions
For the dough
- warm up the milk and melt the butter in it. Set aside and let cool to 140 F or less.
- Mix the flour and yeast in the bowl of a mixer, slowly add the milk mixture and other ingredients and first mix with a paddle until the mass looks lumpy, then knead with a hook until they form a smooth dough.
- Place into a covered container and let rise until double.
For the filling
- peel and core the apples and cut them in to small pieces.
- In a pot, sauté the apples with the other ingredients until the apple juices are drawn out. Let cool completely.
- Preheat your oven to 395 F
- Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch (6 mm) and cut out circles of about 5 inch
- Roll out the individual circles a little thinner, brush the rims with milk and place a spoonful of the apple mixture in the middle.
- Fold in half and use a fork to seal them shut.
- Brush with milk and sprinkle with sliced almonds.
- Bake the pockets for about 20 minutes or until golden brown, place on a cooling rack.
For the glaze
- mix the lemon juice into the powdered sugar.
- Melt the butter and whisk into the mixture.
- Immediately glaze warm pockets with the mixture and let them cool completely.
Christina
Can I store the dough till later use??
Chef Dennis Littley
You can store yeast dough for about 48 hours. But I would try to use it as quickly as possible.
Shirley
Hello, I went to Germany for two weeks in 1981 and fell in love with the country. I came home and took two semesters of German, but you know how that goes. If you don’t use it, you lose it. It comes back to me a little when I look at recipes. In the train stations there were little wagons that sold apfeltaschen and I had one every time I went to another location on the train. I have craved them ever since. Your recipe looks interesting, but the ones I crave do not have raisins in them. I’ll try your recipe without them. I’ve been married and divorced twice to two German gentlemen. I learned to make a few dishes from my first husband’s mother and am looking forward to learning more from you. Thank you
skinnysimplerecipes
Wow these are reminding me of “Chausson aux pommes”. The recipe looks easy, hope It would work. Thanks
Kim
What is 10 vanilla? Is there an conversion for the ingredients?
Chef D
hi Kim, that was 10 ml and I converted the recipe as closely as possible. It’s always best to use a scale when baking though and most have either metric or US weights.
Elyse @The Cultural Dish
These look so yummy! Great post!
spicegirl
Chef Dennis, I hope this week is better! What a fabulous guest post. I can’t wait to try these.
Liz
Oh, these look fabulous!!! I can SO relate to having food disappear thanks to my sons 🙂 Great guest post, Dennis!
tasteofbeirut
This is my favorite way to enjoy apples! while the French make it with puff pastry (chaussons) I prefer this version with a pastry that can be enjoyed like a little calzone. Yummy.
Amalia
These look perfect! I love apples myself, they are so wonderful to cook and bake with. I would be like your son, eat at any chance I got 🙂 Awesome post, I hope to bake more German cuisine because these pockets look amazing!
Emily @ Life on Food
These look delicious. My husband would be sure to love them.
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
They are wonderful w/ a cup of coffee.
Katherine Martinelli
I love Sofie’s blog and these apple pockets look just incredible. Great guest post! Hope next week is better 🙂
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thank you very much!
Ally
Fantastic guest post! These look incredible!
🙂
http://allykayler.blogspot.com/
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thanks for taking a look!
Daisy@Nevertoosweet
Congratulations for making Top 9 on Foodbuzz today 😉 Thanks for sharing with us Chef Dennis ~ Hello Sofie nice meeting you too ~ These look so yummy!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thanks! I was thrilled about the opportunity to guest-post here. 🙂
grace gambuti
Hi, this looks great but living in the USA I find I need USA measurements in order to follow your recipes.
Thank you In Advance.
Grace
Chef D
hi Grace
I had problems with metric too, but I found a really inexpensive scale on Amazon, that also helped me a great deal in regular baking, I was never very accurate and now that I weigh everything my baked goods come out a lot more consistent, and I can use metric easily just by switching on the scale.
Cheers
Dennis
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
What Dennis said. 🙂
FreeSpiritEater
These apple pockets look delicious! Great guest post and congratulations to you both on Top 9 today! Have a great weekend you two! =]
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
This was fun! 🙂
vianney
Hello Sofie!! what a treat!! nice to meet another talented blogger..hope your weekend is relaxing!!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
So far, so good! Hope you’re having a great one, too!
mangiabella
these apple pockets are simply beautiful. A lovely guest post. I sure have missed visiting your blog over the last month friend. Our household was literally plagued with colds and viruses that continued to make rounds again and again for weeks and weeks and weeks and pretty much took me out of the game for the month of February…I’m just coming up for air now. Slowly but surely getting back into the saddle again. Man it’s tough with 3 little babies and all that sickness…So much going on as I’ve been reading through your posts, all 26 that i’ve missed LOL….between the neighborhood watch, google+, pinterest, etc. Your thoughts, input and guidance are such treasures. I have been resisting google + and still can’t seem to be consistent with twitter 🙁 but pinterest I have loved combing through….your wisdom and guidance here are so appreciated. Dennis, what can I say, your presence in the blogosphere is like a lighthouse, a beacon of light. have a wonderful weekend
anna
ooo these look so, so yummy! i am gluten free, but i may try to figure out a gf angle to attack them! because they look so good!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
If & when you do, I’d be interested in seeing them!
Marsha @ The Harried Cook
Great recipe! I love the beautiful flavors and the photographs are lovely! And I LOVE that the measurements are in grams! Perfect! Thanks for a great guest post!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
You’re the first who’s THANKING me for being metric! LOVE it. 🙂
Dionne Baldwin
My dear friend I am sending you hugs with this. I absolutely detest those kinds of weeks. It seems as though every thing that falls apart challenges my resolve to be strong.
I am so excited to have “met” Sofie! These apple pockets look crazy good. Apples are my absolute favorite in dessert. I fell in love with apple pies when I was little and I have been hooked ever since. I have GOT to have some of these!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thanks! Be sure to let me know how they turn out!
Jen
There wouldn’t be any of those left in my house if I set them on a plate either!!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
🙂
Tina@flourtrader
Sorry the week has been so hectic for you Chef! The bright side, however, is that next week is bound to be better and at least you made it through this one.
Glad to see Sofie here guest posting! Poor thing that the crowd is waiting for her to forget to put her do not eat sign up, so they can consider her delicious creations as fair game to eat. I guess it would be hard to comply, she does have some delicious things coming out of her kitchen. This one is no different-yum!
Here’s hoping that you both get some time to kick back and relax this weekend. Call it Chef’s day of peace if you have to!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thank you for your compliments! The “crowd” is actually just a crowd of one, but that kid can eat, let me tell ya! Have a great weekend yourself! XO
Elin
Chef Dennis….you truly deserve a great weekend for sharing with us this wonderful guest Sofie. Her Apple pockets would be great tea treats for us 🙂
Sofie…thanks for sharing this german apple pockets with us. It looks delicious and no wonder you had to bake a second batch 🙂 I have bookmarked this and shall make it for our tea break …mmmm can’t wait to try it out…imagine eating this with a cup of strong expresso coffee !
Thank you and have a great weekend to the both of you 🙂
Elin
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thank you! If you do, please let me know how they turn out!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
Sofie, these apple pockets look fabulously soft and flavorful! What a wonderful recipe and great guest post. Thank you for introducing me to a new talented blogger, Dennis!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
I appreciate you taking a look!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Germans go strictly by weight, and when I list spoons, those are always real spoons. I decided at some point to keep it the way the original recipe listed things. For one thing, it stays closer to the authentic original, and the other reason is that I am on a crusade to convert y’all to using scales.
Why? B/c a) it’s more precise, b) easier to scale, and c) you don’t have to switch utensils all the time – just zero out your scale w/ the bowl on top and keep adding. You can buy scales for under $30 at, for example, amazon.com (that’s where I got both of mine).
Sorry if that discourages people, but it’s the way I roll. 🙂 At some point I will probably take the time to convert everything, the way “German Baking Today” did, but at this point I don’t have the time/resources… 🙂
RavieNomNoms
Hello Sofie! You did a fantastic job, what a lovely pocket! I would gladly eat one of those for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! 🙂
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thanks! My son actually did… 🙂
Susan
Perfect for kaffeetrinken !
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
You bet they are! 🙂
Betty Ann @Mango_Queen
This sounds like a terrific recipe for apples! I love it. Must try making this soon. The photos look gorgeous. What a great guest post, Sofie! Thanks for sharing this.
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thanks! They are super easy and great for breakfast or as a snack.
Vivian
Hi,
I followed Sofie over here and now, Dennis, I have ANOTHER site to explore! How much fun is that?!
(Hmmm…this didn’t seem to upload the first time so I will give it another go. If I duplicate…my apologies.)
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thanks!
Anita at Hungry Couple
Great to see Sofie over here. My father was German so I’m familiar with a lot of those goodies…and my daddy taught me to love them 🙂 Thanks for the recipe, Sofie!
And I love guest post Fridays, Dennis, not just for the great variety but for your humor in introducing them. It was nearly 70 degrees in NY, too. Spring is almost here!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
I’m glad that this was passed on through the generations! And yes, Guest Post Fridays here are great – not just because today was my turn, but also b/c of all the other people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting here!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Dennis, I’m sorry you had such a rough week! I surely can relate… time flies away from me, and I have nothing like your excuse. 🙂 Thanks for having me over!
Kiri W.
It’s my fellow Ohioan expat German! 🙂 great to see Sofie here, and mmm, one of my favorite childhood treats. Wonderful post!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Danke! Hey, die kannst Du für unser “BLate” auch haben statt der Käsekuchenbrownies… 🙂
Jessica | Oh Cake
What an awesome recipe. I love apples and these little hand pies look hard to resist. I can definitely understand why you had empty plates – I would have had empty plates in my house, too! 🙂
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thanks! These did a vanishing trick, let me tell ya…
Maureen
Had to laugh at Obi Wan 🙂 I will remember that bit about breathing in the morning.
I love Sofie! Her food is always inspiring and delicious.
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thanks, Maureen, you’re a sweetie… Hey, hope the rain has eased over there, it must have been quite the downpour!
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time
Hi Chef! It’s been a while. I’m sorry that life’s so tough. We’ve got the same thing going there. Thanks for introducing me to Sofie. Sofie, I love these pies. My daughter (who has the same name) would adore them. Thank you for sharing your recipe with us!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thanks! I rarely meet other Sofies, so maybe you’d want to make an introduction. 🙂
Kirsten@MyKitcheninthe Rockies
Koestlich, Apfeltaschen. Denen kann man doch nie widerstehen! Muss ich auch bald mal wieder backen. LG Kirsten
Suzi
Hi Chef, I have been to Sofi’s site and she has some truly wonderful things going on and this is no exception. I love pockets of goodness. Wonderful guest post Sofi and thanks for sharing her with us Dennis. You are the Man. Enjoy you weekend both of you.
Kim Bee
Dennis- I hope all is well. Life sure can be a giant pain in the rump some days. I am crossing my fingers you have the most wonderful weekend. You deserve it.
Sofie- These are wonderful. I think my kids would go crazy for this. I also put notes on everything. I also use my microwave as a holding station for food that needs to be photographed so they know never to touch anything inside. Sad but true.
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
It’s crazy, right? I just made my daughter a pie (yeah, I know) for her birthday tonight, and my son has already eaten pretty much most of it. *sigh*
Mary
Hi Sofie! These are just lovely and they sound delicious. It’s nice to meet you here!
Chef Dennis, I’m wishing you a fabulous Friday and an absolutely peaceful and relaxing weekend!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
It’s thanks to Dennis, I am so pleased to be over here today!
Jersey Girl Cooks
Mmmmmnnn! I wish I had this for breakfast!
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie
Thanks! They are exquisite with a good cup of coffee.