Just because it's the dead of winter doesn't mean you have to give up making fruit desserts. In fact, a hot turnover is sometimes exactly what I need as comfort food. For this recipe you only need a handful of ingredients plus a pinch of salt to have a perfect pocket of scrumptiousness. This is the PERFECT recipe for all of you "non-bakers" out there; it really is fabulously easy.

Here's what you need to make 4 turnovers:

1 cup frozen or fresh mixed berries (blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries if they are in season)
1/4 cup sugar (plus a little extra for dusting the top)
2 Tablespoons cornstarch (dissolved in equal parts water)
pinch of salt
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (Don't let the picture to the side throw you. It shows a pastry sheet and a roll of pie dough - ignore the pie dough. That was part of another recipe I was doing simultaneously and I mistakenly included it! doh!)

NOTE: Most puff pastry packages come with two sheets so double all of the ingredients above if you want to make 8 turnovers.

Begin by lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then in a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the berries and sugar.

Stir in the salt, water/cornstarch until all of the berries are coated with sugar. Stir consistently until the substance turns into a jam like substance. When your spoon goes through the jam the juices should stay on the side like this...

Remove the berries from the heat and transfer to a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly onto the surface of the berries so a film doesn't develop. Chill for at least an hour or overnight if you want to make some of the dessert in advance. After the mixture has cooled completely, roll out the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Cut off the raggedy edges of the sheet then cut into 4 equal square(ish) pieces. As you can see, mine aren't perfect. Geometry was never my strong suit.Divide the berry mixture between the four squares, putting the mixture in the middle of each section of dough.Fold the corners over diagonally, lightly brushing the edges with water so the pastry sticks together. Put in the fridge for another 15 minutes to make sure they are chilled when you put them in the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. If you have your act together, you should dust the tops of the turnovers with sugar before baking for 25-30 minutes. I forgot so my final product looks a tad anemic.But the flavor is just divine!

Of course you COULD serve with ice cream, but I missed that too. Don't feel bad for me. I was perfectly happy with the warm berries!!

Enjoy.

Simple Berry Turnovers