I grew up eating my mom’s homemade Apfelstrudel most Sundays. She peeled all the apples and made the dough from scratch. It was delicious, but it was also a lot of work - and by Sunday dinner, she was often tired and sometimes a little crabby! That was my inspiration to make this apple strudel with puff pastry for my family.
This easy apple strudel with puff pastry gives me those familiar apple-and-pastry flavors without spending the afternoon in the kitchen. Store-bought puff pastry and canned apple pie filling keep the prep to about five minutes, while the finished strudel still looks impressive enough to serve to guests.
Table of contents
Why I Love This Puff Pastry Apple Strudel
- Only five minutes of prep – Using puff pastry and canned apple pie filling makes this an exceptionally quick dessert to assemble.
- Just two main ingredients – The egg wash is optional, but it helps the puff pastry apple strudel bake to a beautiful golden brown.
- Beginner-friendly recipe – There is no homemade dough, peeling apples or complicated shaping involved.
- Beautiful presentation – A few slits in the pastry and a dusting of powdered sugar make this simple apple strudel look bakery-worthy.
- Easy to change – I have also made this puff pastry strudel with canned blueberry and cherry filling. Cherry is another favorite of mine!
Ingredients for Strudel with Puff Pastry
Only two main ingredients and an optional egg wash!
Puff Pastry sheets are usually in the dessert section of the freezer area. Follow the directions for thawing on the box (usually put it into the refrigerator overnight). These have never failed me in all the years I've used them!
Using canned apple pie filling makes this recipe even faster! If you have a favorite homemade apple filling recipe, by all means use it. I have also used other canned fruit including blueberry and cherry (the cherry is my other favorite).
The egg is purely for the egg wash so that the pastry browns beautifully in the oven. If you don't have one, the recipe will still be delicious!
How to Make this Easy Apple Strudel Recipe
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner or parchment paper.
Step 1
1 sheet of Puff Pastry (thawed in the refrigerator overnight) unfolded on a piece of parchment paper. Lightly flour it and roll it to make a 12-inch square.
Step 2
Spoon the canned fruit filling along the bottom ⅓ of the pastry, ensuring at least an inch around the edge does not have filling on it. Fold over the dough and tuck the ends under. You want both ends to be underneath. Also, tuck the sides underneath so the filling doesn't leak out.
Step 3
In a small bowl, beat egg with about 1 tablespoon of water. Brush a thin coat of the egg mixture on top of the strudel. Slice even slits across the top so filling can vent (and it makes these strudel look pretty).
Bake until golden brown, approx. 35 minutes. It's the color that tells you if it's done.
Allow to cool on a baking rack for 10 minutes.
How to Serve Puff Pastry Apple Strudel
To impress, leave the strudel in one piece. I sprinkle some icing sugar on top so it looks pretty.
Once it's time to eat, I usually help out by cutting into 6 even slices.
FAQs
Yes! I assembled it earlier in the day and kept it refrigerated. That way, you can bake it right before you want to serve it.
Of course! Whipped cream is another topping suggestion.
Yes. You can replace the apple pie filling with another canned fruit filling. I have made this puff pastry strudel with blueberry and cherry filling, and cherry is another favorite of mine.
Yes. Thaw the puff pastry according to the package directions. I normally place it in the refrigerator overnight so it is flexible enough to unfold and roll without cracking.
Storage
I leave on the counter for 2 - 3 days with plastic wrap lightly draped over the strudel. I find wrapping it can cause the puff pastry to get soggy.
To freeze, wrap well in plastic prior to baking and freeze. Add 12 minutes to baking time. You are baking from frozen.
Other Delicious Desserts
Apple Strudel with Puff Pastry and Canned Pie Filling
Equipment
- Parchment paper to roll out pastry on and make it easier to move onto baking sheet
- 1 baking pan or cookie sheet
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry ½ the contents of a Pepperidge Farm Puff pastry package.
- 20 oz apple pie filling
- 1 egg beaten with a tablespoon of water (to brush onto pastry prior to baking)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll 1 sheet of puff pastry into a 12 inch square. Doing that on parchment paper makes assembling and moving the strudel easier.
- Spoon the canned fruit filling along the bottom ⅓ of the pastry, ensuring at least an inch around the edge does not have filling on it. Fold over the dough and tuck ends under. Also, tuck the sides underneath so the filling doesn't leak out.
- In a small bowl beat egg with about 1 tablespoon of water. Brush a thin coat of the egg mixture on top of the strudel. Slice even slits across the top so filling can vent (and it makes this strudel look pretty).Bake until golden brown, approx. 35 minutes. It's the color that tells you if it's done. Allow to cool on a baking rack for 10 minutes.
Notes
Once it's time to eat, I usually help out by cutting into 6 even slices.
Nutrition (estimate)
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Janet L
Is it correct that the oven is set to 357?
Just wondering since it is an odd number.
Susan Moncrieff
Thanks for catching that. It is 375F
Terry
Looks yummy going to make it tomorrow I will diffently leave another note