My grandma's recipe for perfect phyllo apple strudel is a sure winner! It's a delicious, tart pastry that makes a stellar dessert with a huge dollop of vanilla date ice cream. Plus, it's super easy to make with pre-made phyllo dough and a few simple ingredients.
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🍎 What is Strudel?
A strudel is a traditional Viennese pastry, often served for dessert. It features thin pastry sheets wrapped around a fruit filling like apple, cherry, or apricot. it makes for a delicious and easy phyllo dough dessert recipe.
🍴What's the difference between strudel and streusel?
While easy to confuse due to their similar names, strudel and streusel are different desserts. A strudel has thin sheets of pastry wrapped around the filling, while streusel is a crumbly sweet topping of sugar, flour, and butter that is layered over pies and cakes.
🌟 Why Phyllo Apple Strudel Works So Well
🧾 Ingredients in this recipe
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
👩🍳 How to Make Apple Strudel
✨ Pro Tip
Cover your unused phyllo dough with a damp towel between uses so it doesn’t dry out.
✨ Pro Tip
The phyllo pastry browns better when brushed with egg wash, but butter is a great egg-free option. The phyllo pastry will not brown as much, but it will flake and crunch wonderfully.
🍏 Phyllo Apple Strudel FAQs
For the best tart taste, I like to use Granny Smith apples or Braeburn apples. Their flavor marries really well with the sweet, flaky pastry and the cinnamon.
You can keep apple strudel in the fridge, but it doesn't last as long or stay as tasty as when it's freshly made. I prefer to keep apple strudel covered on the counter overnight if you are eating it the next day. If you plan to keep it longer than that, then refrigerate or freeze it.
If you're making it in advance or in bulk, apple strudel can absolutely be frozen. It is best to freeze the strudel before you bake it. Assemble as you would normally, then cover and freeze the strudel before the final baking step. Wrap it in parchment paper and freeze it in an airtight container or bag. You can then bake when ready by defrosting overnight in the refrigerator or 45 minutes at room temperature and it'll taste as if it's been freshly made.
To reheat already baked strudel, place it on a baking sheet and pop it in the oven on low heat for around ten minutes. You'll get a much better result than microwaving it. A toaster oven works great, too.
Easy Apple Strudel
Ingredients
- 2 apples tart apples like Braeburns or Granny Smith
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 stick butter
- 6 sheets phyllo dough
- ¼ cup apricot jam
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 ¼ teaspoon cinnamon separated into 1 teaspoon & ¼ tsp
- 1 egg optional
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice the apples. Toss in a bowl with the juice of half a lemon.
- Melt the stick of butter.
- Preheat to 350F.
- Prepare your surface with a clean towel. Take one sheet of phyllo dough, place it on the towel, and brush with melted butter. Cover the unused phyllo with a damp towel between use.
- Top with another sheet of phyllo dough, and brush with melted butter. Repeat until you have 6 sheets stacked.
- Add ¼ cup of apricot jam to the bottom 4-inches of the phyllo dough. Stack the apple slices across the bottom of the phyllo dough on top of the jam.
- Top with 3 tablespoon brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Using the towel, roll the phyllo until you have a closed parcel. Transfer to your baking tray lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat seam side down.
- Cut slits across the top ~1 inch apart. Brush with egg wash. Mix 1 tablespoon sugar with ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle on top.
- Bake 30-35 minutes until golden brown and flakey.
Deb
I don't buy apricot jam, and would like to use what I have on hand. Which do you think would be better, lemon curd or raspberry jam?
Candice
Raspberry jam would work great. I am worried that the cure will run.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
I have only ever bought apple strudels, I have never even thought of making these. Just made it and was much easier than I thought! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Candice
I am so happy to hear it, Cathleen...Thanks for sharing!
Jenni LeBaron
This apple strudel is out of this world delicious, Candice! I adore that this is your grandmother's recipe and I totally agree that Granny Smith apples make the best choice for a sweet bake like this. I love this recipe because it works perfectly for dessert or a sweet and fancy brunch dish!
Candice
That makes me so happy to hear, Jenni!! Thank you!
Debbie
I had some granny smith apples that needed to be used and I am so glad I found your Easy Apple Strudel . It was so easy and delicious! We served our tonight with some homemade whipped cream but I am sure it is equally as good with ice cream . Thanks for a yummy recipe!!
Candice
I am so happy to hear it, Debbie. Glad it was easy for you and sounds delicious with some whipped cream!
Femi. O
I can't wait to make this Apple strudel recipe again with my wife. She is absolutely in love with Apple strudels and cinnamon an d these are really nice and easy to make!
Candice
I'm so happy to hear it, Femi.. Thank you for sharing!
kita
I havent had a bite of strudel in too long before this! This recipe is perfect, flakey and delicious.
Candice
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it, Kita!
Aleta
There is nothing I would have liked more than to reach through this screen and steal your apple strudel! Luckily for me, your how-to photos were super easy to follow along with - thanks for sharing! It came out great!
Candice
You are too kind, Aleta! Glad it was easy to follow and you enjoyed the deliciousness!
Paula
I love that you use phyllo sheets and that it's your grandmother's recipe! I once made apple strudel dough, and boy, so laborious to get right. Love this idea of using phyllo. It is so easy, so inviting and perfect for an afternoon cup of coffee. Thanks for sharing! Will be making it again.
Candice
I'm am so happy to hear it, Paula... thanks for sharing!
Ben
GET IN MY BELLY! This recipe is so good, and I love that it's not a huge commitment in the kitchen to make. Winner.
Candice
Awesome! Thanks for sharing, Ben.
Salima
This strudel made my entire house smell like heaven! A must have recipe.
Candice
That makes me so happy, Salima... thanks for sharing!