German Apple Strudel Recipes

GERMAN APPLE STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large saucepan, combine the apples, brown sugar and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the apples soften and breakdown, 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
• Meanwhile, combine the apple juice and raisins in a small bowl and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Combine the cinnamon, granulated sugar and pecans in a small bowl. Lay out a sheet of phyllo dough. Brush with butter, sprinkle with some pecan-sugar mixture and put another phyllo sheet on top. Repeat this process until all the sheets and pecan-sugar mixture are used up.
• Drain the raisins and stir them into the apples. On the last buttered sheet, put the apple mixture in a line across the sheet horizontally, leaving 1 inch on each side. Carefully roll the pastry away from you to enclose the filling, making a log.
• Close the ends with your fingers, brush the top with butter and sprinkle extra brown sugar on top. Transfer the strudel to the prepared baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned and crisp on top, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool. Slice with a serrated knife into 2-inch pieces and serve with whipped cream.

GERMAN APPLE STRUDEL (APFELSTRUDEL)

Steps:

• Combine the flour and salt in a stand-mixer. Using the paddle attachment, add in the water, oil, and vinegar while mixing on low speed until you get a soft dough. Change out the paddle attachment for the dough hook, then knead the dough on medium speed until a soft ball forms.
• Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and knead for 2-3 minutes, until smooth. Slam the dough onto the work surface a few times to enhance gluten development, then shape into a ball and transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, giving the dough a quick torn to lightly coat it in oil on top so it doesn't dry out. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 60-90 minutes.
• When the dough is almost done resting, heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the raisins in a bowl of hot water to soak. Peel, core, and slice the apples into thin slices. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together. Cover your kitchen table or large counter space with a clean tablecloth or sheet.
• To stretch the dough, first move it from the bowl to a clean, dry surface and cut it cleanly in half with a bench scraper, pizza cutter, or large knife. Set one half of the dough to the side. Shape the other half of the dough into a ball and roll it out as thin as you can.
• Gently lift the dough and transfer it to the clean, flat surface covered by the tablecloth. Working gently, lift and stretch the dough a little at a time. When you first start, you can use your knuckles (be sure to remove all jewelry first) underneath the dough to stretch it like a pizza with the back of your hands. Continue to stretch the dough by lifting gently from the thicker edges and wafting a little air under the dough as you pull away from the center of the dough. As it thins out, the weight of the dough will mostly hold it in place on the tablecloth while you stretch out one side, then the other, increasing the size of the dough and stretching it thinner and thinner each time. As you lift and gently pull, you will see areas where the dough is thinning out and you will know the dough is thin enough when you are able to see the pattern of the tablecloth through the dough.
• Continue to stretch and pull the dough until it is paper-thin and a large rectangular shape. If there is a thick band of dough around the edges, remove it by gently tearing it away or carefully tug on the band, stretching the dough even a bit further to thin that thick band of dough out.
• Using a your hands (or a very soft pastry brush, although I find that my hands work best), gently spread 1/4 cup of the melted butter over the entire surface of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Sprinkle half of the breadcrumbs over half of the dough, then place half of the sliced apples on top of the breadcrumbs. Cover the apples evenly with half of the raisins (and walnuts, if using) and half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
• Fold the short end of the dough over onto the filling, then fold the sides over as well to create a sort of envelope edge that will keep the filling in place as you roll the strudel. Grab the tablecloth close to the short, filled end of the strudel and lift it, allowing the strudel to roll or fold onto itself. Keep lifting the tablecloth, rolling the strudel into a log, making sure the filling stays tucked inside.
• Carefully transfer the strudel onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, seam side down. Repeat with the remaining half of the dough and filling ingredients, reserving 1/4 cup of melted butter. Both strudel should fit side by side on the same baking sheet with space between them. Brush the tops of both strudel with the remaining melted butter.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the dough is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow strudel to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

APPLE STRUDEL (APFELSTRUDEL)

Steps:

• If you want to use raisins in your Apfel Strudel, you need to soak them in 50 ml of apple juice or in some rum. If you don't have either, water will do, too.
• Prepare the dough by adding all ingredients into a large bowl.
• Knead for at least 5 minutes to give the dough enough elasticity.
• Put a little bit of oil into a smaller bowl, turn the dough in the oil to cover it, then put into the fridge to rest at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile prepare the apples: Remove the skin and apple cores.
• Cut the apples into small pieces.
• Squeeze the lemon and pour the juice into a bowl with the apple pieces.
• Add the sugar and Cinnamon to the apples and stir well, then set aside.
• Melt 50 g of butter in a pan and add the bread crumbs.
• Roast the bread crumbs for a little bit.
• When the dough has rested at least 30 minutes, it's time to roll it out. For that you put a clean kitchen towel onto the counter and sprinkle it with flour.
• Roll the dough on the towel, always rolling from the center to the edges.
• When you have rolled the dough as thin as possible, use your hands: With the back of the hands, move under the dough and pull it out (watch video!).
• Once the dough is very thin, melt some more butter and brush it onto the entire dough.
• Optional: cut of thicker edged of the dough.
• Now, add the roasted bread crumbs and spread them evenly onto the dough, leaving some space to the edges.
• Add the Apple slices, place them evenly onto the dough.
• If you have raisins: Remove them from the liquid, squeeze them a little, then place them evenly between the apple pieces.
• With the help of the towel, flip the sides of the dough inwards (see video).
• Starting from one end, lift the towel to slowly roll the strudel towards the other end.
• Place the strudel seam down on a baking sheet and brush with some melted butter.
• Bake in the oven at 190°C / 375°F for about 20 - 25 minutes.
• Finish with a thin layer of sprinkled confectioners sugar.
• Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or cold with vanilla sauce and whipping cream.

GERMAN APPLE STRUDEL

Steps:

• Place flour in a mixer bowl; beat in 1/4 cup oil (mixture will be slightly crumbly). In a small bowl, slowly whisk warm water into beaten egg; add to flour mixture, mixing well. Beat in remaining oil until smooth. Transfer to a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rest in a warm place, about 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. Spread bread crumbs into an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Cool completely., Tape a 30x15-in. sheet of parchment onto a work surface; dust lightly with flour. Divide dough in half; place 1 portion on parchment and roll to a very thin 24x15-in. rectangle. (Keep remaining dough covered.) Remove tape from parchment., Sprinkle 3/4 cup bread crumbs over rectangle to within 1 in. of edges. Starting 3 in. from a short side, sprinkle 3 cups apples and 1/4 cup raisins over a 3-in.-wide section of dough. Mix sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle half of the mixture over fruit. Drizzle with half of the melted butter., Roll up jelly-roll style, starting at fruit-covered end and lifting with parchment; fold in sides of dough as you roll to contain filling. Using parchment, transfer strudel to a 15x10x1-in. baking pan; trim parchment to fit pan., Bake on lowest oven rack 45-55 minutes or until golden brown, brushing top with sour cream 2 times while baking. Repeat with remaining ingredients., Using parchment, transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.

APPLE STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl; set aside 3 tablespoons mixture. Peel and core apples; cut into quarters, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces. Toss with lemon juice; stir into sugar mixture with apricots and breadcrumbs.
• Brush 1 sheet phyllo with butter, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon reserved sugar mixture. Top with remaining 5 sheets phyllo, layering with butter and sugar mixture. Scatter filling on phyllo, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Starting with a long end, roll up to enclose filling; place strudel, seam side down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush top with remaining butter; sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Cut into slices; serve warm with whipped cream.

OLD VIENNA APPLE STRUDEL

Steps:

• Combine apples, sugar, cinnamon, and raisins in a medium saucepan. Add 1/4 cup water and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cover and let cook for about 5 minutes. Uncover, increase heat to high, and cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Pour filling into a baking dish and stir in the walnuts; let cool to room temperature.
• In a small saute pan, melt 5 tablespoons butter and add breadcrumbs. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until toasted and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool. Wipe pan clean and melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter; set aside to cool.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack positioned in the middle of the oven. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with a double thickness of parchment paper.
• Lay a large, clean cloth or sheet (at least 3 feet long and wide) on a work surface, and sprinkle well with flour. Remove strudel dough from bowl without folding it over on itself and set it in the center of your work surface. Use the palms of your hands to flatten the dough. Dust dough lightly with flour and roll it in all directions, as well as rolling over the edges, making it as thin as possible. Lightly brush entire surface with oil.
• Slide both hands, with slightly curved palms facing down, under dough toward the center. Holding this position, lift the dough off the cloth with your knuckles, and begin stretching from the center out to the edges until it is too large to stretch easily with your hands. Carefully set dough back on cloth, spreading it to smooth out any wrinkles or folds. Starting in the center again, continue to stretch out the dough in all directions, maintaining a rectangular shape, until the dough is almost translucent everywhere except the edges, which should be thicker. If the dough tears while stretching; you will be able to patch any holes with some of the excess stretched dough.
• Once dough is stretched, let dry for 10 minutes.
• Using a pizza wheel or kitchen scissors, trim all the thick edges until the dough is approximately 24-by-30-inches. With the 24-inch edge facing you, scatter the breadcrumbs on a 12-by-4-inch rectangle of dough centered about 3 inches in from the 24 inch side so the 16 inch side of filling is parallel to the 24 inch side of dough. Scatter the cooled filling on the same space.
• Use a brush to drizzle the remaining 3 tablespoons of cooled butter all over the unfilled portions of the dough, reserving a little to brush the strudel with once it has been rolled.
• Roll strudel by folding 3 inches of dough from the 24-inch side of dough over the filling, then fold the unfilled dough in from each side. Lift the cloth and roll the strudel, stopping to fold the edges inward as you roll. Transfer to prepared pan, seam side down, positioning diagonally if necessary.
• Brush the top of the strudel with remaining butter, and snip vent holes in with sharp scissors.
• Place strudel in oven. Bake, rotating pan halfway though, until deep golden brown and crisp, about 30 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool for at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut on the diagonal into slices. Dust lightly with confectioners' sugar and serve with lightly sweetened whipped cream.

APPLE-CRANBERRY STRUDEL (GERMAN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• In a large bowl, mix together apples, cranberries, lemon rind, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, flour and walnuts; set aside.
• In a small saucepan, melt 1 1/2 cups butter.
• In a medium skillet, melt 1/2 cup butter. Stir and cook bread crumbs with butter until lightly browned. Remove from heat.
• Place one phyllo leaf on a dry kitchen towel and brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with bread crumb mixture.
• Place a second leaf on top of first phyllo leaf, brush with butter and sprinkle with crumb mixture. Repeat until five leaves have been used.
• Mound approximately 1 cup of the filling in a 3-inch strip along the narrow end of the phyllo, leaving a 2-inch border. Do not mound too thick, as the filling will spill out the ends of the phyllo once rolled up.
• Lift towel, using it to roll leaves over apples in a jelly roll fashion.
• Carefully place strudel on a large cookie sheet with raised sides, allowing space for five more strudels.
• Brush top of strudel with butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs.
• Repeat entire procedure for remaining five strudels.
• Bake strudels for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Allow to cool for at least two hours. Cut each strudel into halves or thirds and serve.