- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- BakingDessertSweet Food
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every July 5
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍎
National Apple Turnover Day arrives every July 5, celebrating the beloved portable pastry. These flaky, fruit-filled delights are a perfect treat for any occasion, combining sweet apples with warm spices. Bake a batch, visit your local bakery, or share your favorite apple turnover memory with friends and family.
Want to sponsor National Apple Turnover Day? Learn how
Expected National Apple Turnover Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows National Apple Turnover Day often inspires sweet deals. Look for discounts at bakeries like Panera Bread, Crumbl Cookies (for apple-inspired treats), and local patisseries. Grocery chains such as Whole Foods Market and Kroger may feature sales on baking ingredients or ready-to-bake turnovers. Fast-food giants like McDonald’s and Burger King might offer special pricing on their classic apple pies or turnovers. Keep an eye on specialty apple product brands like Mott’s for recipe ideas and potential contests. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 5 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Apple Turnover Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #AppleTurnoverDay. Share mouth-watering photos of your homemade turnovers or your favorite bakery finds.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #AppleTurnoverDay. Film a quick recipe tutorial or a taste-test video of different apple turnovers.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #AppleTurnoverDay. Ask your community to share their best apple turnover recipes or childhood memories.
National Apple Turnover Day Hero
Johnny Appleseed
History of National Apple Turnover Day
It is uncertain as to when or who celebrated the first National Apple Turnover Day. If we were to look at the first recorded instance of an apple turnover, our efforts will be futile because that remains a mystery. However, fret not because even if we do not know much about the origins of the dish, we can still talk about its popularity, starting from the old days to the modern ages. Historians state that the sweet treat grew in popularity during the 17th century. It began in a French town called Saint-Calais, which was situated in the Sarthe region. The town was suffering through an epidemic, and to aid them with food supplies, the Lady of the Town, known as the chatelaine, distributed flour, butter, and apples. The townspeople made apple turnovers using the ingredients, and soon, the town’s situation slowly started to improve. Today, the town celebrates the dish during the ‘Chaussons aux Pommes’ (Apple Turnover) Festival each year.
Going a little forward in history, the recipe started appearing in cookbooks from the 1750s in England. At the time, recipes were printed in cookbooks only if they were popular with the public. One of the most popular apple turnover recipes included Granny Smith apples, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon, and phyllo sheet. Apple turnovers were actively being freshly made and sold at local bakeries and restaurants. Soon, people were swapping apples for other fruits, and many actually substituted sweet with savory. You can find a turnover recipe in many cultures of the world. The Chinese have dim sums while the Indians have samosas and the Spanish have empanadas.
National Apple Turnover Day timeline
A French town, St. Calais, going through an epidemic is saved when apple turnovers are made by the people as a nutritious source of food.
An apple turnover/pastry is published in an English recipe book for the first time.
Sarah Tyson Rorer publishes her housekeeping book, which also contains recipes, including the portable apple pies that she calls ‘apple turnovers’.
McDonald’s, the famous American fast-food chain, starts selling apple turnovers as one of its signature dishes.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Apple Turnover Day
Local bakeries and cafes can celebrate National Apple Turnover Day by offering special discounts on apple turnovers or introducing limited-edition flavors. Restaurants might feature apple turnover-inspired desserts on their menus for the day. Grocery stores could highlight apple varieties best suited for baking and provide recipe cards for homemade turnovers. Even non-food businesses can join in by offering small apple turnover treats to customers or hosting a fun social media contest centered around the pastry.
National Apple Turnover Day FAQs
When is National Apple Turnover Day?
In 2026, National Apple Turnover Day falls on Sunday, July 5, offering a sweet start to the week for many. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy a flaky, fruit-filled treat.
How popular are apple turnovers?
Apple turnovers remain a beloved pastry across the United States, often featuring prominently in bakeries, grocery stores, and fast-food chains. Their portability and classic flavor contribute to enduring popularity.
What are the origins of apple turnovers?
Turnovers, generally, have a long history, with variations found in many European cuisines. They are essentially a pastry dough folded over a filling, baked or fried, making them a convenient, handheld meal or dessert.
What makes a perfect apple turnover?
A perfect apple turnover typically features a flaky, buttery pastry crust that is crisp but tender, encasing a sweet-tart apple filling. The apples should be tender but not mushy, often spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg.
National Apple Turnover Day Activities
Devour an apple turnover
You can have an apple turnover for breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea time snack, or midnight snack … it’s THAT versatile! Enjoy the pie with a dollop of cream or chocolate, or as is.
Make an apple turnover
Making an apple turnover is one of the easiest things you can bake. Combine all the ingredients (except for the pastry sheet, of course!) and let it simmer over medium heat. Once done, put the filling into pastry sheets, fold them over, and stick those bad boys into the oven or fry them.
Learn more about apple turnovers
Apple turnovers’ origins might be unclear, but that shouldn’t stop you from researching the treat that is legendary for saving a French town. Furthermore, turnovers, in general, are amazing things in and of themselves, so while you’re at it, research the history of turnovers, too.
5 Facts About Pies That Will Blow Your Mind
Egyptian pies from 6000 B.C.
The recipe for pies can be traced back to 6000 B.C. when Egyptians invented them using fruits, honey, nuts, and bread dough.
186 million pies sold per year
Each year, the American grocery stores sell 186 million pies, which are enough to circle our planet and beyond.
The heaviest pie
The heaviest pie weighed around 23,237 lbs and it was made in 1998 by 17 students from Stratford-upon-Avon College.
Ban on meat pies
In the 17th century, meat pies were banned by Oliver Cromwell, Lord of the Commonwealth, as he viewed the dish’s consumption as gluttony.
Apple pie the most favorite
24 American states voted apple pie as their most favored pie flavor.
Why We Love National Apple Turnover Day
It’s a celebration of apple turnovers
Apple turnovers have come a long way since ancient times. The dish has grown in popularity and has been lauded as the savior of a French town. These beloved portable pies have also been a part of many people’s daily lives. From carrying it in lunchboxes for school to grabbing it on the way to offices, the humble apple pie is everywhere.
It’s a celebration of pies
Pies deliver the best of both worlds with their versatility. Whether you are a fan of the sweet or you lean towards the savory, pies have gotcha covered! Depending on the fillings and their compatibility, you can also mix and match both sweet and savory to take it to the next level.
It’s a celebration of culinary identities
Pies have been known to humanity for quite a while now. This means that different cultures have given pies their own twist to make them their own. For example, the Middle East has baklava, while the South Asians have a variety of recipes infused with spices.
Social Media Tips for National Apple Turnover Day
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