Chocolate Apricot Strudel Recipes

CHOCOLATE-APRICOT BABKA

Steps:

• To make dough, combine flours, salt and all but 1 tablespoon sugar in mixer fitted with dough attachment and mix on medium speed. In a small bowl, stir yeast with one tablespoon warm water and reserved tablespoon sugar just until sugar and yeast have dissolved. Reduce mixer speed to low, add yeast mixture, milk, eggs and vanilla. Beat until dough is shiny and elastic, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add one stick butter by spoonfuls until thoroughly incorporated, then beat on low speed for about 5 minutes. When finished, dough should be silken and rich like very thick ice cream. Transfer to a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside. When dough has doubled in size, after 2 hours, flour a cutting board and your hands. Then push dough down on board, cover well with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours or overnight.
• To make filling, purée apricot preserves in a food processor until smooth. In a small bowl, combine cake crumbs, preserves and butter; mix until smooth. Set aside. Grate chocolate by hand in large holes of a box grater or in a food processor. If using a food processor, pulse into large chunks. Set aside.
• To make streusel topping, in a small bowl mix flour, sugar and cinnamon. Add cold butter and using your fingers, mix together until crumbly. Set aside.
• To assemble, line one Bundt pan or two 8 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch loaf pans with parchment paper, not letting paper come more than 1 inch above top of pans. Remove dough from refrigerator and divide it in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll one piece of dough into a 12 x 8-inch rectangle.
• Using a metal spatula, spread half the apricot filling over dough within 1/2 inch of edges. Sprinkle with half the grated chocolate. Beginning with long side, roll dough up tightly and fold in ends. Twist babka lengthwise to create a spiral, holding one end of babka in each hand. Place twisted babka in half the prepared Bundt pan or in a loaf pan, pressing dough firmly into pan. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Brush babka top with melted butter and sprinkle with half the streusel. Repeat with second half of babka dough. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let loaves rise at room temperature until they reach top of pan or about doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees and bake for about 45 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Allow babka to cool for 30 minutes before cutting. Slice babka and serve.

CHOCOLATE-APRICOT STRUDEL

Steps:

• TO PREPARE FILLING: Combine first 3 ingredients in a medium bowl, Microwave at high 1 1/2 minutes or until sugar dissolves, stirring after 45 seconds. Stir in dried apricots and ginger; cover. Microwave at high 3 minutes; let stand 5 minutes. Place apricot mixture in a food processor or blender; process until coarsely chopped, Spoon apricot mixture into bowl; cover and cool completely. Stir in 1/4 cup chips.
• TO ASSEMBLE: Preheat oven to 350°F Place 1 phyllo sheet on work surface (cover remaining dough to keep from drying) lightly coat with cooking spray. Working with 1 phyllo sheet at a time, coat remaining 7 phyllo sheets with cooking spray, placing one on top of the other. Place a sheet of plastic wrap over phyllo, pressing gently to seal sheets together; discard plastic wrap.
• Spoon filling along 1 long edge of phyllo, leaving a 2-inch border. Fold over the short edges of phyllo to cover 2 inches of apricot mixture on each end.
• Starting at long edge with 2-inch border, roll up jelly-roll fashion, Do not roll tightly, or the strudel may split. (Strudel may be for frozen for up to five days at this point). Place strudel, seam side down, on a baking sheet coated with baking spray. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until golden.
• Place 1/4 cup chips in a small heavy-duty zip-lock plasric bag,and seal. Submerge bag in very hot water until chips melt. Snip a tiny hole in 1 corner of bag; drizzle chocolate evenly over each of 8 dessert plates. Cut strudel diagonally into 16 slices using a serrated knife, dipped in hot water; arrange 2 slices over chocolate drizzle. Garnish each serving with diced apricot, if desired.

CHOCOLATE-APRICOT RUGELACH

Steps:

• Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add cream cheese and cold butter; pulse until butter is the size of peas. Add 1 tablespoon ice water and pulse until combined. Continue adding water as needed until dough stays together when squeezed.
• Divide dough in half. Form each piece into a disc, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 days.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray the paper with nonstick spray.
• Remove dough from the refrigerator and let rest at room temperature for 15 minutes.
• Mix apricot preserves and orange zest together for filling.
• Roll both discs of dough into 1/4-inch thick circles. Spread apricot preserve mixture over top of each circle and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
• Cut each circle into 12 wedges. Start at the wide edge and roll each wedge toward the point to create a crescent. Brush beaten egg over each crescent and sprinkle with sugar. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until light golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool before serving.

APRICOT STRUDEL

Steps:

• Cream the flour, butter, and cream cheese into a ball and chill it.
• Divide dough into 4 parts.
• Roll each into a rectangle.
• Spread mixture of apricot preserves, shredded coconut, and chopped nuts.
• Roll up as a jellyroll.
• Put on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.
• cool and slice.

APRICOT STRUDEL STICKS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt; cut in butter until crumble. Add ice cream, tossing with a fork until a ball forms. Refrigerate overnight., Shape dough into six balls. Lightly sprinkle work surface with confectioners' sugar; roll out each ball into a 13-in. x 8-in. rectangle. Spread apricot filling evenly over dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. Top with raisins and pecans; sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Roll up jelly-roll style into a tight roll, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal., Carefully place on three greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Cut each roll into 12 slices; sprinkle cut sides with confectioners' sugar.

HAZELNUT APRICOT STRUDEL

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the apricots, sugar and peel. Stir in orange juice and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until juice is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. Set aside 1 tablespoon nuts; toast remaining nuts. Stir into apricot mixture., Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; brush with butter and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of crumbs. Repeat with 5 more sheets of phyllo; brushing each layer with butter and sprinkling with crumbs. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) , Carefully spread filling along one long edge to within 2 in. of edges. Fold the two short sides over filling. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. , Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Brush top with butter and score top lightly every 1-1/2 in. Sprinkle with reserved nuts. , Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Slice at scored marks.