This Easy Apple Strudel Recipe is made simple with puff pastry! It has a cinnamon apple filling with notes of warming spices and brown sugar. This simple Austrian dessert can be totally vegan and is a great treat for the holiday season (or really any time of year!
What is the History of Apple Strudel?
“Strudel” is a German word derived from Middle High German meaning “whirlpool.” This could be tied to its characteristic layers of wrapped flaky pastry. The oldest known recipe was handwritten in 1679! Today’s recipe in particular is technically Apfelstrudel, and is the national dish of Austria. Many people believe strudel has origins in Germany, but in reality it was a product of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The recipe I’m sharing today is by no means authentic, but it draws on traditional elements. Typically, Apfelstrudel is made by wrapping pastry around a filling of grated apples, sugar, cinnamon, and breadcrumbs. To save time and energy, this recipe using store-bought puff pastry to create the flakiest layers.
The Easiest Recipe for Apple Strudel
To make this simple apple strudel, first thaw your puff pastry dough and roll it so that it’s slightly larger than initially packaged. Then, make eight cuts on each side of the dough, slicing 1/3 of the way through.
After preparing the dough, create a cooked cinnamon apple filling on the stovetop. Line each pastry sheet with this filling and cross the pastry strips over top to create a “braid.” Brush with coconut milk, sprinkle with sugar, and bake! I prefer to serve it warm, with a sprinkling of powdered sugar.
Can I freeze apple strudel?
Yes! As you can see, this recipe makes two large logs of strudel. To store for later, wrap tightly and place on an even level in the freezer. Reheat in a 350 degree oven for 5-10 minutes, until fragrant and warm.
What kind of apples are best for homemade apple pie or strudel?
If you can, I recommend using a tart cooking apple like Granny Smith in this recipe. Since we are adding sugar, it’s a nice contrast in flavor. I would imagine that Envy Gala, or even Fuji apples would also work well here.
I hope you enjoy this puff pastry apple strudel recipe! If you’re looking for more apple ideas, try one of these next:
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Apple Strudel Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 20 slices 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Easy Apple Strudel is made simple with puff pastry! It has a cinnamon apple filling with notes of warming spices and brown sugar. This simple German dessert can be totally vegan and is a great treat for the holiday season (or really any time of year!
Ingredients
- 2 sheets of puff pastry, thawed*
- 4 medium sized apples, Granny Smith if possible, cored and sliced into small chunks
- .25 cup brown sugar
- 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- .5 tsp salt
- 2 TBS cornstarch
- .5 cup water
- .25 cup raisins (optional)
- Juice of one half of a lemon (a few TBS)
- 3 TBS coconut milk, for brushing
- Coarse sugar, for sprinkling
- Powdered sugar, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Begin by thawing your puff pastry overnight in the fridge. If your did not do this, wrap it in a towel and microwave for 15-2 seconds, until soft and useable. Sprinkle some flour on a work surface and roll out each sheet of pastry so that each side increases about one inch (2.54 cm).
- Make 8 cuts into each long side of the pastry rectangle, about 1/3 of the way in (see photo).Carefully transport each pastry sheet to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place in the fridge to chill while you make your apple filling.
- To make the filling, combine apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, water, and raisins if using. Heat skillet to medium and stir to combine. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring, until apples have softened and mixture is fragrant. Turn off heat and squeeze in lemon juice. Remove apples from skillet and place in the fridge to cool slightly.
- To assemble strudel, place longways half of apple mixture along the middle portion of the strudel, filling the entire pastry. To braid, take a strand from the top left side of the pastry and fold it over the apple filling. Repeat with the right side, alternating down the length of the strudel. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
- Using a pastry brush or your fingers, brush coconut milk over the surface of the pastry braid (this will act like an egg wash). Sprinkle with corse sugar. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven once pastry is golden brown.
- Serve in slices, sprinkled with sifted powdered sugar if desired.
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Austrian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: One slice of 20
- Calories: 172 calories
- Sugar: 6.9 g
- Sodium: 122 mg
- Fat: 9.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20.5 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: apple, strudel, pastry, puff, dessert, fall, winter
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