Apfelstrude (Apple Strudel) is a dessert which originated in Austria but is popular in other countries such as Germany, Hungary, etc.
A classic dessert from Vienna, Apfelstrudel is known for its paper-thin pastry wrapped around a warm, spiced apple filling.
The word “strudel” in German literally means whirlpool and is named after the shape it takes when thin strudel dough encloses the sweet fruit filling, usually made with apples, sugar, raisins, nuts and cinnamon.
I’ve made strudels many times and since I have not posted any recipes yet, today I am posting three of my recipes. The first one is the classic Apfelstrudel and two other recipes of mine.
In both these recipes I have cooked the apples first. One is made with homemade tart dough, with coconut in the apple filling and the other one is made with leftover phyllo, after making again my Baklavas Tart with Chocolate, in which I have added some of my last year’s homemade fig jam.
Tips for Success
- You can use store-bought filo pastry for an easier version.
- The thinner the dough, the more authentic the result.
- Don’t overload with filling. it can tear the dough.
- Preheat fully before baking as this helps the pastry crisp up properly
- Use top & bottom heat (no fan if possible) for a more traditional result
- If using a fan/convection oven, lower to about 170°C (340°F)
- Brush with butter halfway through baking for a deeper golden color
Apfelstrudel (apple strudel)
A classic dessert from Vienna, Apfelstrudel is known for its paper-thin pastry wrapped around a warm, spiced apple filling.
Ingredients
Dough:
- 250 g all-purpose flour
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tbsp oil
- ~150 ml warm water
Filling:
- 4–5 apples (tart varieties work best)
- 50 g sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 50 g raisins (optional)
- 2 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 30 g butter (for toasting crumbs + brushing)
- Juice of ½ lemon
Instructions
1. Make the Dough
Mix flour and salt, then add oil and water.
Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes).
Form into a ball, coat lightly with oil, and let it rest (covered) for at least 30 minutes.
2. Prepare the Filling
Peel and slice apples thinly.
Toss with lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and raisins.
In a pan, melt butter and lightly toast the breadcrumbs until golden.
3. Stretch the Dough
Roll out the dough on a floured cloth.
Then gently stretch it with your hands until it’s very thin (almost see-through).
4. Assemble
Brush dough with melted butter.
Sprinkle toasted breadcrumbs over it.
Spread apple filling along one side.
Using the cloth, carefully roll the strudel into a log.
5. Bake
Place on a baking tray, seam-side down.
Brush with butter.
Bake at 180°C (350°F) for ~35–40 minutes until golden.
🍽️ Serving
Dust with powdered sugar
Serve warm, often with: Vanilla sauce, Whipped cream or even ice cream.
Notes
Tips for Success
The thinner the dough, the more authentic the result.
Don’t overload with filling. it can tear the dough.
You can use store-bought filo pastry for an easier version.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 214Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 8mgSodium 122mgCarbohydrates 38gFiber 2gSugar 10gProtein 4g
"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."
Apple Strudel (Roulade)
This is a twish of an apple strudel roulade I made with tart shell instead of phyllo dough.
Ingredients
- 1 dose tart shell dough
Filling:
- 1,200 grams (4-5 large apple) 3 Granny Smith and two Red Delicious
- ½ cup Demerara sugar
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 tbsp butter
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 30 ml brandy
- 1/2 cup walnuts (or almonds), toasted and coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup coconut
Egg wash:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon milk
- Icing sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare the dough and divide it into two pieces.
- Wrap each piece with cling film and leave it in the fridge for half an hour or until the filling is ready.
- Preheat the oven to 180oC and toast the walnuts or almonds. When they slightly cool, coarsely chop them.
- Soak raisins in brandy, until they become plump. Strain them and reserve the brandy.
- Peel and core the apples and put them in a bowl with water and lemon juice to prevent them from oxidizing.
- Then cut them into thin, smaller slices.
- Heat the butter in a large frying pan, add the sugar and mix until it starts to caramelize.
- Add the apples, stir, and pour the brandy. Cook briefly until the liquid has evaporated. Add the cinnamon, lemon peel, raisins, nuts, coconut and mix well for a few minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Roll out the first sheet between parchment paper and spread half the filling.
- Shape into a roll, making sure that the sides are sealed.
- Do the same with the second roll.
- Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and lightly score the top.
- Mix egg yolk with milk and brush the rolls.
- Bake for about 40-50 minutes or until golden brown.
- After slightly cooling, transfer them to a platter and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Serve the strudel warm, preferably with a dollop of ice cream or whipped cream.
Nutrition Information
Yield 10 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 290Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 6gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 27mgSodium 67mgCarbohydrates 34gFiber 3gSugar 25gProtein 4g
"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."
My favourite apples when making apple pies are Granny Smith and Golden Russets, known in Greece as “Mila Tripoleos” or “Pilafa Delicious” which add a lovely tartness to the pies and hold their shape.
In order to reduce the volume of the apple, so that they may be easily rolled, I decided to cook them first. In the second recipe that follow, I also grated them and lightly squeezed them to removed most of the juices, so that the phyllo does not become soggy.
I got one glass of fresh juice packed with vitamins which is perfect to give to your children.
In order to make the strudel with phyllo, you will need six sheets of phyllo. As I only had four and lots of pieces, I used the 2 sheets as the bottom layer, added half of the pieces scattered on top but making sure that each piece is well buttered. I added the filling and continued adding the remaining two as well as the leftover pieces .
I folded the sides to secure the filling from oozing out and made the roll. It’s advisable to lightly score the pieces before baking as you can then easily cut the slices. In my rush to finish quickly I forgot to score it on top and when cutting the pieces the phyllo crumbled and broke.
My twist on Apple Strudel with leftover phyllo
Ingredients:
- 7 apples, 5 Granny Smith and 2 Mila Tripoleos (Russet apples) about 1 ½ kilos, peeled, grated and juices drained
- ¾ cup sugar, preferably brown sugar
- 150 grams butter, divided
- 250 grams phyllo pastry (6 sheets or 4 sheets plus leftovers)
- A pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp mixture of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg
- ½ cup fig jam
- 50 grams ground almonds
- 50 grams ground walnuts
- 2 tbsp raisins
- Melted butter to brush the phyllo
- Icing sugar to sprinkle on top
Directions:
- Peel and grate the apples on the big holes of a box grater. Drain part of the juices.
- Put 50 grams butter, sugar and a pinch of salt as well as apples and cook until all the juices are drained, mixing regularly, for about 15 minutes. Add spices, mix in the jam, almonds, walnuts and raisins and set aside to cool.
- Melt the remaining butter either in the microwave for 1 minute repeating until it melts completely or in a small frying pan. (The milk solids will stay at the bottom of the bowl and we will use only the oil).
- Brush 3 sheets, placing one on top of the other (or use two sheets plus half of the leftovers).
- Add the filling on the long side, leaving about 2 – 3 cm on each sides.
- Repeat with remaining 3 buttered phyllo sheets (or 2 sheets and leftovers) on top. Fold the two edges over the filling and wrap the strudel making a roll.
- Lightly score the phyllos into portions and brush with butter on top.
Bake in a preheated oven to 180o C / 350o F for about 30 minutes or until golden on top. - Sprinkle with icing sugar on top.
As I have already informed you, my blog has been nominated by BHMAGourmet for an award, in the category “Best Greek cooking in English”. If you like my recipes and have not yet voted, you can still vote for my blog until the 14th of December, 2015, here.
We still have to participate in two challenges which will be judged by a committee. One of the challenges is to make frugal recipes which are nutritious and full of flavour and the other category is to make good use of our leftovers, so my today’s recipe falls in that category.
Other related Recipes:
Milopita: Two Old Fashioned Apple Pies
Upside down Apple Caramel Cake, made in two ways
Tahinopita me Mila (Tahini Bread with Apples)
Cobbler, Crisp, Crumble, Grunt, Slump, Clafoutis etc.
The Ultimate Caramel Apple Pie
Glyko Milo (apple fruit preserve)
Mini Apple Turnovers with homemade Apple Sauce
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Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,
Rosa
Saturday 16th of April 2016
Heavenly! I wish I could have a slice of this strudel right now. Cheers, Rosa
Angie
Saturday 16th of April 2016
It must have been more than a decade since I last had this Austrian classic dessert. Yours look marvelous, Ivy.