Ah, Apple Strudel 🍏🥧 — a classic dessert with tender, spiced apples wrapped in thin, flaky pastry, often served warm with powdered sugar or whipped cream. Here’s a traditional, approachable recipe:
Apple Strudel
Serves: 6–8
Ingredients
- 6–7 cups peeled, thinly sliced apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ½ cup raisins (optional)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 6 sheets phyllo dough (or puff pastry as shortcut)
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven
- 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare filling
- In a bowl, mix apples, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, raisins, and nuts. Set aside.
- Prepare pastry
- If using phyllo: lay one sheet on a clean surface and brush with melted butter. Layer remaining sheets, brushing each with butter.
- If using puff pastry: roll into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
- Assemble strudel
- Spoon apple mixture along one long edge, leaving a 1–2 inch border.
- Roll tightly into a log, tucking in edges.
- Place seam-side down on prepared baking sheet. Brush top with remaining butter.
- Bake
- 30–35 minutes, until pastry is golden and crisp.
- Serve
- Cool slightly, dust with powdered sugar, and serve warm.
- Optional: serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
🔥 Tips & Variations
- Juicy filling: Sprinkle 1–2 tbsp breadcrumbs on pastry under apples to absorb extra moisture.
- Flavor boost: Add a splash of lemon juice or a bit of apple brandy.
- Shortcut: Use store-bought puff pastry — faster, almost as flaky.
- Freeze ahead: Wrap before baking and freeze; bake directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.
I can also give you a quick 30-minute apple strudel version with puff pastry and pre-sliced apples for fast weeknight dessert.
Do you want me to do that?
