Traditional Apple Strudel Recipe

Ingredients

• For the dough:
• 150g plain flour
• 60ml warm water
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• Pinch of salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten (optional, for brushing)
• For the filling:
• 800g tart apples (e.g., Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 100g caster sugar
• 60g raisins (soaked briefly in rum or warm water)
• 50g breadcrumbs
• 50g butter
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Icing sugar (for dusting)

Instructions

1. Make the Dough:
2. In a bowl, combine flour, salt, warm water, and oil. Mix into a soft dough.
3. Knead vigorously until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Shape into a ball, cover, and rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
4. Prepare the Filling:
5. Melt butter in a pan, add breadcrumbs, and toast lightly until golden. Let cool.
6. In a bowl, mix sliced apples, sugar, raisins, cinnamon, lemon zest, and toasted breadcrumbs.
7. Assemble the Strudel:
8. Preheat oven to 190°C (170°C fan). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
9. Place dough on a floured cloth. Carefully stretch the dough by hand until extremely thin, almost transparent.
10. Spread apple filling evenly across two-thirds of the dough, leaving edges clear.
11. Using the cloth, gently roll dough into a log, tucking in ends to seal. Transfer to the baking tray, seam-side down.
12. Brush the top with beaten egg (optional).
13. Bake:
14. Bake in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes until golden and crisp.
15. Allow to cool slightly, dust generously with icing sugar, and serve warm.