Apple Strudel Made EAsy

Flaky apple strudel with phyllo pastry topped with icing sugar cut open.

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5 from 1 vote

Phyllo pastry and a few tricks lighten up traditional strudel.

Prep Time30

Cook Time35

Total Time1 5

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: slices

Calories: 285kcal

Author: Carolyn Hetke

Ingredients

⅓ cup raisins
2 Tbsps brandy can substitute water
¼ teaspoon almond extract
3 cups apples peeled, cored and rough chopped
⅓ cup sugar
3 Tbsps flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 Tbsps butter melted (set aside 2 tsps to brush the top)
2 Tbsps canola oil see note below if you want to lighten up with cooking spray.
6 sheets phyllo pastry

Topping

2 Tbsps sugar
2 tsps melted butter (reserved from above)
pinch of cinnamon
icing sugar for dusting

Instructions

Add raisins, brandy (or water) and almond extract to a small bowl. Microwave 2 minutes and let sit for at least 5 minutes.
Prepare filling by mixing the ⅓ cup sugar, 3 Tbsps flour, cinnamon, raisin mixture and apples together.
Preheat oven to 350°. Make a sheet of parchment paper to line a baking sheet. You will use the parchment as your work surface to form the strudel and then transfer it to the baking sheet.
Mix the butter and canola oil, reserving 2 tsps. Position a sheet of phyllo on your parchment paper. (Keep remaining sheets covered with a damp, clean tea towel so it doesn't dry out.) Lightly brush the sheet with the butter mixture. Repeat with the other 5 phyllo sheets. See note below if you want to lighten it up with cooking spray.
Spread apple mixture evenly over the strudel leaving a 2" edge all the way around.
Fold the short ends in over the filling. Gently roll up the long edge using the parchment paper to help roll if necessary. Finish with the strudel roll seam side down. Brush with the reserved 2 Tsps of butter. Sprinkle the top with the 2Tbsps of sugar and the pinch of cinnamon.
Bake at 350° for about 35 minutes. Pastry should be golden brown.
Remove from oven and dust with icing sugar just before serving. Cut into 6 even slices and serve.

Notes

Note: If you want to further lighten the recipe use only 2 Tbsps of melted butter and replace the canola oil by spraying every 2nd phyllo sheet with cooking spray.

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