This warm, crisp and flaky spiced cranberry apple strudel recipe is a real crowd-pleaser! Tender puff pastry is braided and filled with cinnamon apples.
1tablespoonall-purpose flour, plus 1 teaspoon more
1largeegg, plus tablespoon water, whisked, for egg wash
2tablespoonsgranulated sugar, plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon for sprinkling
2tablespoonsturbinado, or coarse sugar for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Thaw both sheets of frozen puff pastry at room temperature according to manufacturing instructions. Meanwhile, make the apple filling.
In a small bowl soak the cranberries in brandy or apple juice for at least 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Add drained cranberries and 1 tablespoon of the liquid from the soaking bowl. Allow apple mixture to sit for 15 minutes, and then add flour and combine.
Working one at a time, roll out the puff pastry onto a piece of parchment paper. If the dough is slightly wet, lightly dust the paper with flour, and then roll out the pastry. The pastry will be about 9.5-inch by 9.5-inch.
Lightly score the puff pastry in 3 vertical columns or use the folded seams as a guide. The middle column should be about 3.5-inches and the two outer columns 3-inches. Cut slits on both sides of the center column to 1-inch wide and 3-inches long, these will be the strands for the braid.
Place 2 cups of the apple mixture evenly in the middle column then drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of the syrupy liquid from the bowl over the apples.
Fold the top of the pastry down, about 1-inch of the middle column. Pull the dough strands from one side to another, alternating the dough strands. Make sure that the ends reach the edge of the filling.
Brush egg wash on top and sprinkle with ½ to 1 tablespoon of turbinado sugar if using, and then about 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on a baking sheet for 10 minutes before slicing.
Repeat process with second pastry sheet and the remainder of the apple filling.
Notes
Enjoy warm, or can be covered in an airtight container and enjoyed the next day.