There's nothing more cozy than the warm smell of this Apple Strudel Recipe filling your home! This classic dessert combines a homemade strudel dough wrapped around a sweet and spiced apple filling. Whether you serve it warm with powdered sugar and a drizzle of vanilla sauce, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this apple strudel is a show-stopping treat that everyone will love!
🔍 Quick Look: Apple Strudel Recipe
- 🕒 Ready In: 2 hours 15 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 8 servings
- 🔥 Calories: ~ per serving
- ⭐ Main Ingredients: Apples, cinnamon, raisins, breadcrumbs, butter, homemade dough
- 📖 Dietary Info: Vegetarian, low-sodium
- 👩🍳 Method: Baking
- ⭐ Difficulty: Intermediate
I've always had a soft spot for apple strudel, because it feels extra special being completely homemade. The dough is so simple to make, and I love how fun it is to stretch it out until it's paper-thin. For the filling, I like to use a mix of tart and sweet apples, cinnamon, and juicy raisins. And the best part is enjoying a warm slice fresh from the oven, dusted with powdered sugar, or served with whipped cream or ice cream.
If you love the warm flavor of apple recipes, you'll love my Slow Cooker Apple Butter and my Traditional Wassail Recipe too!
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❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Authentic and Homemade - From the homemade strudel dough to the warm spiced apple filling, this recipe gives you the classic German/Austrian experience without leaving the comfort of your home!
- Irresistible Texture -The golden, flaky crust perfectly complements the tender apples and juicy raisins for a dessert that no one will be able to resist.
- Show-Stopping Dessert - Whether you serve the strudel with powdered sugar, whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream, this is one fall dessert that always impresses guests!
🛒 Ingredients
- Apples: I love using a mix of tart Granny Smith and sweet Honeycrisp for the apple filling.
- Cinnamon: A sprinkle of cinnamon gives the strudel a lovely warm, spiced flavor.
- Raisins: I like adding raisins for little bursts of sweetness throughout the filling.
- Breadcrumbs: To keep the strudel from getting soggy, toast the breadcrumbs in butter first. They soak up the apple juices and add a light nutty flavor.
- Butter: Brushing the dough with butter makes the crust golden, flaky, and irresistibly rich.
- Homemade Dough: This is what makes the recipe truly authentic! Stretching the dough until it's almost see-through gives the strudel those delicate layers that bake up nice and crispy.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
🔄 Substitutions & Variations
- Apples: You can use a different variety of apples or even pears for a fun twist.
- Raisins: I use regular raisins, but golden raisins are also really good in this strudel. Or if you prefer, dried cranberries, cherries, or currants work well if you're not a fan of raisins.
- Butter: Swap with margarine or vegan butter to make it dairy-free.
- Homemade Dough: If you're short on time, you can substitute phyllo dough (layered with butter between sheets) or even puff pastry, though it won't be as traditional.
- Sugar: Brown sugar or coconut sugar can be used for a deeper, caramel-like sweetness.
🍎 How to Make This Apple Strudel Recipe
Step 1: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt with a spoon. Stir in oil, vinegar, and most of the water until a soft dough forms.
Step 2: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Step 3: Shape the dough into a ball, place in a medium bowl coated lightly with oil, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
Step 4: While the dough rests, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a small skillet.
Step 5: Add breadcrumbs and toast until golden and fragrant, then set aside to cool.
Step 6: In a large bowl, toss the apple slices with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, and vanilla.
Step 7: On a clean table, lay out a large cotton or linen towel and lightly flour it. Roll out the rested dough with a rolling pin, then carefully stretch it by hand from the center outward until almost transparent (about 2x3 feet). Trim off any thick edges.
Step 8: Brush the dough lightly with melted butter. Sprinkle the toasted breadcrumbs evenly over the dough, leaving a 2-inch border.
Step 9: Spread the apple mixture evenly over half of the breadcrumbs.
Step 10: Fold over the edges of the dough to keep the filling inside.
Step 11: Grab the towel on the short end of the strudel (the end with the apple filling.)
Step 12: Use the towel to gently roll the strudel into a log, the same way you would make cinnamon rolls.
Step 13: Carefully transfer the strudel to the prepared baking sheet. Lift the strudel up with the towel, place it on part of the baking sheet, and gently slide it over seam-side down.
Step 14: Generously brush the strudel with the remaining melted butter.
Step 15: Bake the strudel for 30-40 minutes or until it looks golden brown and crisp.
Step 16: Let cool for 10 minutes, then dust with powdered sugar. Slice and serve warm with vanilla sauce, whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream.
🌟Expert Tips
- Use an apple cutter. I used this apple peeler slicer (affiliate link) to make preparing the apples much quicker! Plus, the twisty apples are so fun!
- Gently stretch the dough. This part takes patience, as you'll have to work carefully. The dough should be so thin you can almost read a newspaper through it, but don't worry if it tears a little! You can patch it together if you need to.
- Use a towel or large linen. The towel makes rolling the strudel so much easier and helps keep it tight without pulling on the delicate dough.
- Toast the breadcrumbs well. Don't skip this step! Golden, buttery breadcrumbs keep the filling from leaking as much juice and making the dough soggy.
- Serve it warm. Apple strudel is definitely served best fresh from the oven with a dusting of powdered sugar. Pair it with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or classic vanilla sauce for an authentic touch.
- Slice it with a serrated knife. This keeps the delicate layers intact without squashing the strudel as you cut it.
💭 FAQs
Apple strudel is made with thin sheets of pastry dough that are wrapped around a filling. Streusel is a sweet crumbly topping made up of sugar, flour, and butter that is often used to top muffins and quick bread. They sound similar, but the two are very different!
I recommend using a mix of tart and sweet apples, like Granny Smith with Gala or Honeycrisp. This gives the best balanced flavor.
The toasted breadcrumbs are key! They soak up the apple juices and help keep the dough crisp.
🍁 More German Recipes to Try
📋 Recipe
Apple Strudel Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Strudel Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ⅔ cup warm water
- ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Filling
- ¼ cup unsalted butter for breacrumbs
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
- 2 Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, thinly sliced
- 2 Honeycrisp apples peeled, cored, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup raisins soaked 10 minutes in water and drained
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted, for brushing
- powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt with a spoon. Stir in oil, vinegar, and the water until a soft dough forms.2 cups all-purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, ⅔ cup warm water, ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Shape the dough into a ball, place in a medium bowl coated lightly with oil, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
- While the dough rests, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a small skillet.¼ cup unsalted butter
- Add breadcrumbs and toast until golden and fragrant, then set aside to cool.½ cup plain breadcrumbs
- In a large bowl, toss the apple slices with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, and vanilla.2 Granny Smith apples, 2 Honeycrisp apples, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ½ cup raisins, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- On a clean table, lay out a large cotton or linen towel and lightly flour it. Roll out the rested dough with a rolling pin, then carefully stretch it by hand from the center outward until almost transparent (about 2x3 feet). Trim off any thick edges.
- Brush the dough lightly with 2 tablespoons of the melted butter. Sprinkle the toasted breadcrumbs evenly over the dough, leaving a 2-inch border.¼ cup unsalted butter
- Spread the apple mixture evenly over half of the breadcrumbs.
- Fold over the edges of the dough to keep the filling inside.
- Grab the towel on the short end of the strudel (the end with the apple filling.)
- Use the towel to gently roll the strudel into a log, the same way you would make cinnamon rolls.
- Carefully transfer the strudel to the prepared baking sheet. Lift the strudel up with the towel, place it on part of the baking sheet, and gently slide it over seam-side down.
- Generously brush the strudel with the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter.
- Bake the strudel for 30-40 minutes or until it looks golden brown and crisp.
- Let cool for 10 minutes, then dust with powdered sugar. Slice and serve warm with vanilla sauce, whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream.powdered sugar
Notes
- Storage Info: Keep loosely covered at room temp for up to 1 day if you plan to finish it quickly or store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat slices in 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes to crisp the crust back up.
Ashley Amundsen says
If you're looking for a good fall dessert, this is it! It is time intensive, but the results are so worth it! I can guarantee you won't be able to resist that crispy strudel dough and spiced apple filling.