Oma's Apfelstrudel ~ German Apple Strudel Recipe

➤ by Gerhild Fulson

This German Apple Strudel recipe, aka Apfelstrudel, is one of those quick and easy dessert recipes that I really love. It brings the classic apple strudel taste to my table without all the work.

The secret to this quick and easy apple strudel? Frozen puff pastry. 

Just try this German Apfelstrudel recipe and you'll be convinced. This really is the easiest way to make an absolutely wonderful and traditional German dessert.

Serve the strudel with a fresh cup of coffee and a big dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Or, serve it Southern Germany style with a warm homemade vanilla sauce.

Perfect for the holiday season and other special occasions, or a simple afternoon snack.

Strudel Tips ...

Frozen puff pastry makes a great alternative to making homemade strudel dough - a long and somewhat difficult process of stretching the dough thin enough to read through and big enough to cover a table. Do read what Oma Says below!

Just as with other recipes with apples, the type of apple to use depends on what you like. I like using a tart apple.

Great ones to use are Boskoop, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith. The raisins are optional.

I don't recall Mutti ever making a traditional German apple strudel recipe. It wasn't part of her upbringing.

Since then though, I've found out it seems to be something that is handed down from generation to generation.

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• Apfelstrudel is actually not of German origin; the oldest known recipe dates back to 1697 in Vienna and gained popularity throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the 18th century. The strudel is said to have other cultural influences as it is reminiscent of the Turkish baklava with its thin layers of dough
• Not only is Apfelstrudel a popular dessert in Austria and Germany, but also throughout Central Europe, including the Czech Republic
• The German word "Strudel" means "whirlpool" or "eddy" and describes the flaky crust surrounding the delicious filling
• The traditional strudel dough is rolled over a large work surface (often a kitchen or dining room table) and pulled and stretched using the back of your hands until it is so thin that a newspaper can be read through it
• The most popular type is the apple strudel, but there are many other fillings, including sweet and savory ones. Spinach, sauerkraut, and cabbage strudels are common, as are meat ones

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Making a Traditional Strudel ...

Years ago, I met a really nice elderly German lady at church who took pity on me when she realized that I didn't know how to make strudel recipes.

Her feeling was that every German girl needed to learn this skill. She came over to teach me. I was surprised when she asked for a large table and tablecloth. Then I realized what was involved.

The dough was stretched into a thin rectangle over my big dining room table. We covered the stretched dough with small pieces of apples. We rolled it. Baked it. Devoured it. Oh, it was so good.

But, I never made it myself. I appreciate all the hard work that goes into making a traditional Viennese apple strudel recipe. But, you see, I discovered one can use frozen puff pastry or frozen phyllo dough instead. So much easier and just as delicious!

Oma Says, ... Frozen phyllo?

I mentioned my homemade apple strudel on my Facebook page and was so thrilled at Dorie Bochantin-Neuhaus's comment. I asked her permission to copy it here. I think you'll like this:

"I learned to make it the old way - with the big table and tablecloth, pulling all the dough. My father-in-law, a master baker from Germany, came for Christmas one time years ago, and caught me doing the old way. He said I was nuts and that current bakers use the phyllo dough. He showed me how and I've never made it the old way again.

I don't make the phyllo dough. I buy it in the freezer case at the store and work quickly. The store bought stuff can dry out quickly so you have to keep it moist and work quickly. I have all of my filling stuff and the melted butter ready to go before I even open up the dough."

Who would have guessed that some (or many or all?) the bakeries are now using the phyllo dough for this authentic German recipe! So, the apple strudel mentioned above is actually really more similar to the bakery apple strudels you can buy in Germany!

My Favorite - Use Puff Pastry!

Not one to give up trying to come up with an even easier way to make a traditional Apfelstrudel recipe, I started to use store-bought frozen butter puff pastry and found that it's even easier to use than the phyllo dough!

What's so great is that one can even buy a vegan puff pastry dough. Actually, I've discovered that many brands of puff pastry dough are vegan. This is great if you want to make a strudel suitable for vegans.

Here, below, I'm making a strudel with a pear and apple filling using thawed puff pastry. I'm trying out a silicon baking sheet liner for this. It worked great. No sticking at all.

How to Make Easy Apfelstrudel

Core, peel, and cut one pound of apples into thin slices. Combine apples with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, a quarter cup sliced almonds and a quarter cup raisins. (Almonds and raisins are optional.) Set aside.

Roll out thawed puff pastry into a large rectangle, about 12x16 inches.

Spread the apple mixture evenly over the bottom half of the long side of the puff pastry. Leave a 1-inch border around the outside edge.

As pictured below, fold in the short sides of the dough, then roll up the strudel like you would a jelly roll.

Place the strudel, seam side down, on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Or, line your baking sheet with a silicon baking mat.

In a small bowl, mix a large egg with one tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Brush the egg wash over the strudel.

Cut one-quarter-inch-deep slashes diagonally into the dough.

Place the strudel in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

Let it cool before dusting with some powdered sugar.

Serve with some whipped cream, ice cream, or vanilla sauce. Lecker!

Ready to make this traditional apple strudel recipe?

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