Description
A comforting, flaky apple strudel made with store-bought puff pastry, spiced apples, and a rich vanilla cream. This recipe is designed to be quick, forgiving, and provide steady energy without a sugar crash.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 sheets puff pastry (thawed)
- 4 large firm apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith), peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water (for egg wash)
- 1 cup heavy cream (cold)
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 2 tbsp confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, toss sliced apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Let sit for 10 minutes to draw out moisture.
- Drain excess liquid from the apples.
- Roll thawed puff pastry sheets into 12×16 inch rectangles on a floured surface.
- Place rectangles on the baking sheet and prick the center with a fork, leaving a 1-inch border.
- Spread the drained apple mixture over the center of each pastry rectangle, leaving the border clear.
- Drizzle melted butter over the apples.
- Roll the pastry over the filling from the long side, tucking ends under to seal.
- Brush the top with egg wash and score lightly with a knife to allow steam to escape.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until deep golden brown and flaky.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.
- While strudel cools, whip heavy cream, vanilla bean paste, and confectioners’ sugar until stiff peaks form.
- Serve warm with vanilla cream.
Notes
Keep puff pastry cold until baking to ensure flaky layers. Always drain the apples to prevent a soggy crust. For a vegan option, use vegan puff pastry and coconut cream. For gluten-free, use gluten-free puff pastry and handle gently.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of Strudel
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 4
Keywords: apple strudel, puff pastry recipe, breakfast strudel, vanilla cream, autumn baking, easy strudel, comfort food