Thursday, May 3, 2012

Crunchy Aromatic filled Apple Strudel


Introduction about Apple Strudel :

Apple Strudel is a traditional Viennese strudel,a popular pastry in Austria. A strudel is a type of sweet or savory layered pastry with a filling inside.  It consists of an oblong or any shaped strudel pastry with an apple filling inside.
The filling is made of thinly sliced cooking apples (Winesap apples) ,sugar,cinnamon,raisins and bread crumbs.
Apple Strudel dough is very thin,elastic dough made with flour,butter or oil and salt.Its difficult process and its being kneaded again and again till it gets smooth After kneading,the dough is rested for about 2 hours at-least, then rolled out on a wide work surface mostly on round or rectangle table and stretched until the dough reaches a thickness.
The filling is arranged in a line and spread evenly on a small section of dough. Lift the table cloth at the short end of the dough so that the strudel rolls and reaches the end of the dough. Transfer the strudel to the prepared baking sheet by lifting it carefully and brush the melted butter on the top with pastry brush. The strudel is then oven baked and served warm.Its traditionally served in slices sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Baked it :)

Yummy Apple Strudel :)
               

Ingredients:

For the Strudel Dough :

  • 1 1/3 cup unbleached flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup warm water or depends.
  • 2 Table spoon Olive oil or Vegetable oil plus additional for coating the dough.
For the Strudel Filling :

  • 2 to 3 Cooking Apples(Green Apple) peeled,cored and cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
  • 1/4 cup Raisins or handful
  • 1/4 Tsp ground cinnamon or 1 inch cinnamon stick roast and powdered.
  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted.divided.
  • 1 1/2 cup bread crumb
  • 1/2 or 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 Tablespoons  Rum(optional)  ( if omit,can use apple juice or equal amount of water)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400 Degrees F or 200 Degrees C.Line a baking sheet using parchment paper greased with butter on the top of the paper and set aside.

Method:

For the Strudel Filling :

  • In a frying pan or large skillet,heat 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter on a medium heat ,add the bread crumbs and roast till golden brown.It will take exact 2 to 3 minutes.Let it cool completely.
  • Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl.
  • Mix the rum or juice or water and raisins in a bowl.
  • Keep the apples aside.
Fillings :)
                             
Making the dough : Use an electric mixer if u have or else use it by your hand.

Electric Stand mixer :

Using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment,combine the flour and salt into it.Add oil and water on low heat till it turns out to be soft dough.Make sure that it does not dry.Add water if needed.Take the dough out from the mixer

Change the attachment into dough hook, put the dough back and knead on medium speed until you get soft dough ball.

Take the dough out from the mixer and knead by your hand on an unfloured work surface.Knead for about 2 minutes.Take out the dough and pat/throw it down hard on the work surface.Shape the dough into a ball and transfer into bowl/plate. Apply oil on the top of the dough gently. Cover it with plastic wrap or damp cloth to cover and allow it to rest for about 2 hours least.

By using hand:

Take a big bowl,add flour,salt,oil and mix gently with warm water.Knead more and more on an unfloured work surface till you get more soft dough without sticking your hands.
Take out the dough and pat/throw it down hard on the work surface.Shape the dough into a ball and transfer into bowl/plate. Apply oil on the top of the dough gently. Cover it with plastic wrap or damp cloth to cover and allow it to rest for about 2 hours least.

Working on the dough for making super thin & elastic :)

If you have dining table or table top surface,then cover your working area with a table cloth (fabric one)dust it with flour and rub it on the fabric cloth.Put your dough ball in the middle.
Flour well and roll it out as much as u can.




 
                     

Pick out the dough by holding it by an edges and stretch it out gently by using back of your hands.Use some weight to hold the side and then continue stretching the other side by using your hands gently.Leave the thicker edge of the dough.Stretch and pull gently till u get very thin tissue as shown in my work out dough photo.


Spread with bread crumbs and walnuts


Rolled beautifully without sticking it :)
                
Before Baking :)


Ready to slice it :)
               
Filling it on the dough :

Spread the melted butter over the thin dough evenly by using your hands gently or with pastry light brush.

Sprinkle the buttered bread crumbs and chopped walnuts evenly on the dough.

Mix the apples with raisins rum mixture and the cinnamon and sugar.Also make sure the filling is without any liquid.If u mix apples with cinnamon sugar mixture,then it will ooze out the liquid.After making thin elastic dough then mix the apples with cinnamon sugar mixture and raisins mixture.

Spread the apple filling mixture evenly into a line on the side of the dough.

Fold the short edges of the dough onto the filling

Lift the tablecloth on the short end and allows the dough to roll again and again till it forms the end without sticking it on the table cloth.

Carefully lift the strudel slowly by using both hands or wide spatula to transfer on the baking sheet.

If u made long dough then u can curve it into horse shoe to fit.press the ends under the strudel.

If short then press the ends under the strudel.

Brush the top of the strudel with the remaining melted butter.

If you want an egg wash,then take 1 small egg.Mix it with little water and brush the top of the strudel.

Bake the strudel for about 30 minutes or till golden brown.


Sliced :)

Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww What an aromatic smell at my home while baking :)

Allow it to cool for about 30 minutes before slicing or serve warm after being sliced  if you can't wait :)

Sprinkle it with powdered sugar if you want.

Its the best day to eat as its baked today.

Serve it with tea or coffee as an accompaniment or as an snack!!! :)

Also can be served it on the top of whipped cream,vanilla ice cream or custard sauce

Enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

Awaiting to hear your comments if u had tried :)

Happy Baking :)



Linking this entry to Valar's Simple &Yummy Recipes and Raven's Cookeatdelicious event













2 comments:

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