Classic Cherry Strudel Recipes

CHERRY STRUDEL RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 410F/210C and line a large baking tray with a silicone mat.
• Place cherry pie filling, vanilla, sugar and ground arrowroot/cornstarch into a medium sized bowl and mix until smooth.
• Place one sheet of filo pastry onto your baking sheet, longest edge facing you, then brush lightly with melted butter. Lay the next sheet on top, then brush lightly with butter. Repeat until you have layered all 5 sheets of filo pastry. On your final sheet of pastry, brush lightly with butter again.
• Place cherry pie filling along the longest edge, about 1/2 inch away from the edge, neatly in a line, leaving a 1 inch gap at either end. (You may not need all of the cherry pie filling; I had a couple of tbsp leftover.)
• Take the 1/2 inch gap you left nearest you and gently fold over the cherry pie filling. Then gently continue to roll your strudel up until you get to the end. Hopefully you will end up with the seam side down on the baking tray, if not you will need to flip it. It will be fragile, so be careful! I used a spatula to lift half of it up, then placed a hand under there, then used the spatula again to help hold the other end, then I flipped it, so the seam was on the baking tray.
• Fold your ends underneath the strudel, then lightly brush with your beaten egg.
• Slash across your strudel a few times (just to allow some steam to exit!) and then place in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until golden and crisp and the filling is bubbling.
• Leave to cool for at least 45 minutes before slicing into 8 and serving. I dusted my strudel lightly with icing sugar before cutting.

CHERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat cherries and water, stirring constantly. As cherries thaw, mash them with a spoon. Add 3/8 cup granulated sugar, and continue to stir.
• Slowly add cornstarch, continuing to stir. Bring mixture to a light boil, and turn heat down to low. Stir until mixture thickens to the consistency of a thick jam.
• Remove from heat, and allow to cool in a heatproof bowl. You can place it in the fridge if you need to speed up the process.
• Unroll the filo dough. Place one sheet on a cutting board. Brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar. Place another sheet directly on top, and repeat the process until you have three layers of dough, butter, and sugar.
• Evenly place 2 Tablespoons of crumbled filo dough on the bottom 1/3 of the top layer of filo dough, leaving one inch around the bottom and sides free. Cover crumbled filo dough with ¼ cup cherry filling.
• Fold bottom and sides in so the filling does not escape.
• Gently fold strudel over twice so resulting pastry is roughly 6 inches x 2 inches.
• Repeat the process to make a total of 3 strudel. Place on buttered cookie sheet. Brush the tops of each strudel with melted butter, and sprinkle each with ½ teaspoon sugar.
• Use a sharp knife to cut 4, 1-inch slits in the top of each strudel, evenly spaced out. The slits should go through to the filling but not into the dough below the filling.
• Bake at 400F on center oven rack for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Strudel are best when served fresh, after being allowed to cool for 5-10 minutes.

EASY CHERRY STRUDELS

Steps:

• Drain cherries, reserving 1/3 cup juice. In a large saucepan, combine the cherries, sugar, cranberries and butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through. Combine cornstarch and reserved juice and add to the pan. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes longer or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in walnuts. , Unfold one pastry sheet and cut in half. Mound half of the cherry mixture on one pastry half to within 1/2 in. of edges. Top with remaining pastry half; pinch edges to seal. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling. , Place on a greased foil-lined baking sheet. With a sharp knife, cut diagonal slits into tops of strudels; brush with egg. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

CLASSIC CHERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• For the cherry filling, bring the cherries up to a simmer with the sugar and cinnamon sticks, and simmer for 10 minutes. Whisk the cornstarch in a small bowl with a little cold water and add this to the cherries, stirring until the juices have thickened and the cherries are glossy. Set aside to cool before using. For the strudel dough, blend the all-purpose and bread flours with the salt in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the water, oil and vinegar and mix on low speed until the dough comes together and then increase by one speed and knead for 2-3 minutes (the dough will seem sticky). Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and continue to knead the dough until it seems a smooth but elastic texture. Place the dough in a covered bowl and set aside to rest at room temperature for at least an hour. To assemble, preheat the oven to 375 F. Lay a clean tablecloth out over your work surface and dust it evenly with flour. Place the strudel dough in the middle of the tablecloth and with your hands or a dusted rolling pin; spread the dough out as far as you can. Now switch to only using your hands (and keep them dusted with flour) and pull and stretch the dough from underneath, using the back of your hands, until it is almost transparent (it's alright if a hole pops up here or there). Once stretched as far as it can, brush the entire surface of the dough gently with butter (or spread it with your hand). Sprinkle the dough with breadcrumbs, then spoon the cool cherry filling over one end of the strudel. Trim away the end pieces of dough and, using the tablecloth for leverage, lift and roll up the strudel dough loosely and quickly. Use the tablecloth to lift it onto a parchment-lined baking tray (you can curve it, if it is bigger than the tray) and pinch the edges to ensure the strudel is sealed. Brush the top with egg wash and bake for about 45 minutes, until it is a rich golden brown. Allow the strudel to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing, and serve each slice generously dusted with icing sugar. his strudel is best served the day it's baked, but can be stored, refrigerated for up to 3 days.

CROATIAN SOUR CHERRY STRUDEL (ŠTRUDLU S VIšNJAMA)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup lukewarm water, 1/2 teaspoon vinegar and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Place 2 cups all-purpose flour in a large bowl and cut in 1 tablespoon cold butter in as for pie dough. Add water mixture and stir by hand for about 5 minutes or until dough becomes smooth.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes, adding as little extra flour as possible. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes.
• Cover a large table with a clean cotton tablecloth (it will become stained from the fat in the dough, so use an old tablecloth). Sprinkle the cloth generously with flour. Place the dough in the center of the cloth and brush it with melted butter. Roll the dough to a 1/8-inch thickness.
• Begin stretching the dough either over the backs of your hands or palm-side up, whichever works best for you. Work quickly, continually lifting the dough and stretching it by pulling your hands apart until it is almost paper thin and drapes over the sides of the table. See our recipe for making Serbian Cheese Strudel to get the idea. Using kitchen shears, trim off the thicker outer edges of the strudel dough.
• Place rack in the middle of oven and heat to 400 F. Brush the stretched dough liberally with melted butter. Place the cherry filling along one long edge in a 3-inch-wide strip, 2 inches from the edges. Sprinkle ground walnuts over the filling.
• Use the tablecloth to roll the strudel away from you, jellyroll fashion, until it is completely rolled. Brush the top of the strudel with melted butter. Cut into sections that will fit your baking sheets and tuck in ends of strudel.
• Place parchment on baking sheets and transfer strudel sections to them, seam-side down. Bake 10 minutes, reduce heat to 375 F and bake 20 to 25 minutes more or until strudel is crisp and golden.
• Remove from oven, cool slightly and then cut on an angle into slices. Dust with confectioners' sugar. You may also cool completely to make the slicing easier and then rewarm in a microwave. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve as is or with a dollop of whipped cream or scoop of ice cream.

VIENNESE SOUR CHERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• Add all the ingredients to the bowl of your kitchen aid and knead with the hook attachment for about 5 to 7 minutes until you have a very soft, very smooth dough. Shape it into a ball and brush it with a generous amount of oil. Put the dough in a bowl and let rest in a warm place for 45 minutes.
• Put the 120 g of crushed graham cracker crumbs in a pan with cinnamon and 3 tbsp of butter and let them toast on medium heat for a couple of minutes. Set aside.
• Mix the cherries with all the other ingredients and add the buttered cookie crumbs.
• Once the dough has rested roll it out on a floured tablecloth or bed sheet until very thin. Yield at a roughly 10- by 12-inch rectangle. Now it's time to stretch the dough.
• Starting from the centre, reach under the dough and begin to gently pull out towards the edge. Since it's soft, the dough should stretch fairly easily. You can use your fingertips to pull or reach into the dough with the top of your hand to then pull it out in larger swatches. Now grab a magazine or a recipe and slide it under the dough. If you can read through it, you've made it! Using kitchen shears or a knife trim off the thick edges around the edges.
• Now brush the dough with your melted butter and sprinkle the 70 g of cookie crumbs on the lower half of the dough. Scoop the cherry filling onto the bottom portion of the dough in a narrow row that's about eight inches above the bottom edge and ends about three inches shy of either side.
• Fold the bottom and the sides of the dough over the filling and lift up the end of dough by using the tablecloth. Bring it over the entire cherry filling to cover and continue rolling. About halfway through, tuck in the sides like a burrito and continue to roll until it's all rolled up. Make sure your seam is at the bottom of the rolled up strudel.
• Now we need to transfer or strudel onto a big baking sheet.
• If your strudel does not fit perfectly just curve the strudel slightly to fit- you can even go full on half moon. Once it's sliced, nobody will know the difference.
• Brush the strudel with butter and bake by starting it at 180 Celsius for 45 to 60 minutes until golden brown!
• Let the cherry strudel cool down before slicing to allow the filling to set a bit.
• Serve it with a generous dusting of powdered sugar. If you want, you can add some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream! Enjoy!

CHERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• Partially thaw Puff pastry and preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Use both sheets of puff pastry, on top of each other, slightly roll out to make a bit thinner and larger. Lay on the parchment. Pour cherry pie filling in the middle of the dough. I cut slits down each side, and folded them over to create the little holes so the cherry peeked through. Then folded over the top and bottom to secure the filling. pinching together as you go. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until outside is golden brown. Remove from oven, cool slightly and drizzle with icing while still warm. To make icing: combine powdered sugar, and almond extract, adding a little bit of milk at a time, until you get desired consistency.

CHERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a large baking sheet and set aside. While the dough is resting, prepare the filling mixture.
• In a large bowl, combine fresh pitted cherries or canned, drain cherries. add white bread crumbs or sponge cake crumbs. Add sugar, cinnamon, and ground almonds. Toss all ingredients to make sure they are well combined. Note: you can grind the almonds in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Set aside.
• After 15 minutes, lay out a large pastry cloth and sprinkle it with flour. Roll out the dough onto the cloth into a rectangle and roll it as thin as you can. Brush the dough with the melted butter and spread the cherry filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/4 inch border. Roll the dough up neatly, into a roll, using the edges of the pastry cloth to help you ease it along. Tuck the ends under so no filling leaks out. Place on the greased baking sheet.
• Brush the top of the strudel with melted butter and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the strudel is golden brown. Let cool after removing from oven. Dust generously with Confectioner's sugar before serving.

CHERRY STRUDEL WITH PHYLLO DOUGH

Steps:

• For premade pastry: Prepare pastry according to package directions. Or for the pastry: Measure flour with salt in a mixing bowl, make a well in the center and add 2 tablespoons melted butter. Add egg yolks and mix everything, adding as much lukewarm water until a smooth dough forms. Knead until dough pulls away from edge of bowl. Dust a work surface with flour and knead dough by hand. Shape dough into a ball and brush with melted butter. Wrap in aluminum foil and let stand overnight. Place a large cloth on a work surface, sprinkle with flour, divide dough in half. For first sheet roll out dough as large as possible then brush with butter. Using the back of the hand, pull dough until it is very thin and covers the entire cloth.
• Mix cherries with powdered sugar. Divide in half and spread on the dough and roll up immediately. Treat second portion of dough in the same manner. Put dough on greased baking sheet with seam sides down. Bake at 220°C (approximately 425°F) for 35 minutes until golden brown then let it rest for 10 minutes. Slice, dust with powdered sugar and serve.

AUSTRIAN SOUR CHERRY STRUDEL (KIRSCHSTRUDEL)

Steps:

• Over medium high heat (8 out of 10) melt 3 tbsp of butter in a large skillet. Add bread crumbs and roast stirring frequently until toasted and golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Transfer to plate and let cool completely.
• In a medium size mixing bowl add water, oil, vinegar and half of the flour, mix together. Mix in the salt.
• Add the rest of the flour and mix by hand until you create a compact mass. Take it out on the counter and knead it vigorously for about 10 minutes. Throw the dough often at the counter and then roll it up using the palm of your hand. Keep repeating that process until you obtain a soft, non sticky dough. This will greatly help in developing proper gluten structure.
• Form the dough ball, lightly oil the ball, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let it rest for 30-90 minutes, at room temperature. The longer the rest the better.
• Prewarm the oven to 205ºC (400ºF), rack placed in upper 1/3 of the oven.
• Line large baking pan with parchment paper.
• Choose a work area that is accessible from all sides, either 36" round table or 23" x 48" rectangular table and cover with table cloth. Dust the cloth well with flour.
• Place the dough ball in the center of the floured table cloth. Using a rolling pin, gently roll out the dough as much as you can.
• Stretch the dough to the full size of the table and let it drape over the table edges (see instructions below).
• Using a silicone pastry brush spread remaining 3 tbsp of melted butter onto the stretched dough.
• Sprinkle toasted bread crumbs over the dough, most of the crumbs concentrated in a 6" wide strip, 3" in from the short side of the stretched dough rectangle.
• Sprinkle the almonds over the strip of bread crumbs.
• Spread the cherries over the same 6" wide strip area.
• Fold the short end of the stretched dough onto the filling.
• Roll the strudel on itself by using the table cloth, starting from the folded short side.
• Pick up and transfer the strudel (don't worry it is sturdy enough) to the baking pan. If necessary curve it into a horseshoe shape in order to fit. Tuck the ends under the strudel.
• Brush the top of the strudel with melted butter and bake until deep golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Cool for at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into thick slices.