Spiced Apple Strudels

Apples and spices just belong together. Roll them into some puff pastry and you have a satisfying treat! I decided to make these spiced apple strudels with both cinnamon and cardamom for a slightly different flavor combination than what is typically together. The result is very delicious!

This recipe is quite simple to make. You do not have to be a pastry chef, I’m definitely NOT. All you need is gluten-free puff pastry, which thankfully does exist and I will name the brand I use in the recipe instructions below. The filling contains a few basic ingredients and just a little prep time. The end product is sweet, wonderfully spicy, flaky, and it melts in your mouth! These strudels make a very good option for a special breakfast or even dessert. Eat them with a cup of tea or coffee and I know you will be happy.

Ingredients You Will Need

– 1 package of Schar gluten-free puff pastry dough

– 2 medium sized sweet apples

– butter

– coconut sugar

– ground cinnamon

– ground cardamom

– salt

– corn starch

Other recipes similar to this one to try is my Irish Apple Pie recipe.

How to Make Spiced Apple Strudels

First, follow the directions on the gluten-free puff pastry package. If using Schar brand, make sure to thaw the dough at room temperature for a minimum of 4 hours before filling.

Then we will start with the filling. Peel and dice 2 medium sized apples or just enough so that you have 1 1/2 cups. I specify with sweet apples because my recipe is lower on sugar since I prefer the natural sweetness to come through for the most part. I usually use varieties such as Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp, but any sweet apple will do. Set the apples aside.

Next, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium size saucepan over the stove on medium-low heat. Then add in the diced apples, coconut sugar, ground cinnamon, ground, cardamom, salt, and corn starch. Use a large spoon to stir all ingredients together and allow it to simmer on the stove for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove the saucepan from the stove and allow it to cool for 20-30 minutes.

The Pastry Dough

Next, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place parchment paper on a cookie sheet that can withstand that temperature. Roll out one of the pastry dough rolls on a flat surface. Use a knife or a pizza cutter and equally divide the dough into 4 squares. You may have to use your hands to mend some of the dough back together if there are any cracks. This is an important step to ensure that the filling stays inside the dough as much as possible.

Then scoop out about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the apple filling, spreading it in the center of each square. Make sure to leave space around the edges and try not to fill it with too much of the juice to avoid the pastry from getting soggy and messy. There usually is a little leftover juice after filling 8 strudels.

Now, gently fold the dough in half over the filling. Pinch the dough all around the open edges until it is sealed. Use a knife to cut 2 slits at the top of each pastry, enabling steam to escape while baking.

Finally, place the strudels on the baking sheet and bake them on the middle oven rack for 25 minutes or until they are a nice golden-brown. Fill and bake the other roll of pastry dough the same way, but make sure you only fill it if it is ready to bake so that the dough does not become soggy. This recipe makes 8 spiced apple strudels.

Lastly, allow the strudels to cool for about 5 minutes before using a spatula to transfer them to a cooling rack. Once they are completely cool, you can dust them with some powdered sugar, if preferred. I used powdered date sugar in the ones pictured.

Storage Tips and Notes

– These strudels store best in a sealed container at room temperature for 2-3 days

– The apple filling can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to fill and bake the pastry dough