There is nothing quite like the scent of warm cinnamon and baking fruit wafting through the house to make a kitchen feel like home. This simplified version of a classic apple strudel uses flaky puff pastry and sweet apricot jam to create a dessert that tastes like it came straight from a professional bakery but requires very little effort. It is the perfect treat for a cozy weekend afternoon or a quick weeknight dessert when you want something impressive yet effortless.

Recipe Details

  • Yields: 6
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 40 min
  • Total Time: 50 min

Ingredients

  • Puff pastry
  • Apricot jam (about 300 g | 10 oz)
  • 3 apples
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Breadcrumbs / crushed cookies
  • Butter (optional)
  • Powdered sugar (optional)

Instructions

  1. Start by peeling the apples and slicing them into very thin pieces.
  2. Lay out your puff pastry and use a rolling pin to gently stretch and flatten it.
  3. Using the back of a spoon, spread the apricot jam across the surface of the pastry.
  4. Arrange your thin apple slices in an even layer over the top of the jam.
  5. Lightly dust the apples with ground cinnamon and a layer of breadcrumbs or crushed cookies.
  6. If you are using butter, cut it into tiny morsels and scatter them across the fruit.
  7. Carefully fold the edges of the puff pastry over the filling, ensuring the sides overlap to seal the strudel.
  8. Place the pastry in the oven and bake at 180°C (360°F) for approximately 40 minutes until it is beautifully golden.
  9. To finish, sift a light coating of powdered sugar over the warm pastry before serving.

Tips for Success

Using breadcrumbs or crushed cookies is a clever trick to ensure your pastry stays crisp; they help absorb the natural juices released by the apples during the baking process. If you prefer a more decadent flavor, opting for the crushed cookies adds a lovely hint of extra sweetness. For the best results, try to slice your apples as uniformly as possible to ensure they soften evenly while the pastry browns.

Serve this strudel warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for the ultimate comfort dessert.