Quick & Easy 5-Ingredient Cherry Strudel: Your Ultimate Puff Pastry Dessert
Imagine a dessert or breakfast treat that comes together in mere minutes, requires only five basic ingredients, and tastes like it took hours to prepare. This Cherry Strudel is precisely that – a culinary delight designed for busy individuals who refuse to compromise on flavor. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, this recipe guarantees a delicious outcome with minimal effort, allowing you to savor every moment without being tied to the stove.
The beauty of this strudel lies in its simplicity and the vibrant burst of cherry flavor. It’s the perfect solution for those mornings when you crave something special, or an evening when you need a quick, impressive dessert. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can transform a few pantry staples into a golden, flaky masterpiece.
Are you searching for a delightful breakfast option that will bring smiles to your family’s faces without demanding all your precious morning hours in the kitchen? Look no further! This Cherry Strudel recipe is your answer. I personally adore cherry pie filling, which is why I’ve centered this recipe around it. Its sweet and slightly tart notes are simply irresistible, especially when encased in golden puff pastry. However, the versatility of this recipe means you can easily experiment with other fillings to suit your taste or what you have on hand. Imagine apple, peach, or mixed berry fillings – the possibilities are endless!
This effortless and impressive dessert is also fantastic for special occasions. Picture this strudel as a festive centerpiece for a holiday brunch, like a 4th of July weekend gathering. Its vibrant red filling and white glaze evoke patriotic colors, making it an ideal treat for celebrating with family and friends. It’s truly a recipe that tastes as good as it looks, and its simplicity allows you more time to enjoy the festivities.
The Recipe: Quick & Easy Cherry Strudel
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Cherry Strudel
Ingredients
- 2 sheets Puff Pastry
- 1 can cherry pie filling
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
Instructions
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Partially thaw Puff pastry and preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
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Use both sheets of puff pastry, on top of each other, slightly roll out to make a bit thinner and larger. Lay on the parchment.
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Pour cherry pie filling in the middle of the dough. I cut slits down each side, and folded them over to create the little holes so the cherry peeked through. Then folded over the top and bottom to secure the filling. pinching together as you go.
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Bake for 30-35 minutes or until outside is golden brown.
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Remove from oven, cool slightly and drizzle with icing while still warm.
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To make icing: combine powdered sugar, and almond extract, adding a little bit of milk at a time, until you get desired consistency.
Nutrition
Why You’ll Adore This Easy Cherry Strudel Recipe
This isn’t just another dessert recipe; it’s a testament to how simple ingredients can yield extraordinary results. Here’s why this 5-ingredient cherry strudel will quickly become a household favorite:
- Unbeatable Simplicity: With only five ingredients, grocery shopping is a breeze, and you won’t be overwhelmed by a long list of steps. It’s perfect for beginner bakers or those short on time.
- Speedy Preparation: From start to finish, this strudel can be ready in under an hour, making it ideal for impromptu guests or a spontaneous treat.
- Flaky Perfection: The secret weapon here is store-bought puff pastry, which does all the hard work for you. It bakes up into a delightfully airy, golden, and crispy crust that perfectly encases the sweet cherry filling.
- Irresistible Flavor Combination: The sweet and slightly tart cherry pie filling pairs exquisitely with the rich, buttery pastry. The almond extract in the icing adds a subtle, sophisticated note that elevates the entire dish.
- Versatile & Adaptable: While cherry is a classic, this recipe is a fantastic canvas for other fruit fillings, allowing you to customize it based on seasonal availability or personal preference.
- Impressive Presentation: Despite its ease, a beautifully baked strudel with a delicate icing drizzle looks incredibly elegant, making it suitable for any occasion, from casual family meals to more formal gatherings.
Key Ingredients for Your Homemade Strudel
Each of the five ingredients plays a crucial role in creating this delectable cherry strudel. Understanding their function can help you achieve the best results and even inspire creative variations.
- Puff Pastry Sheets: These are the backbone of our strudel. Available in the freezer section of most grocery stores, puff pastry is a marvel of French baking, creating hundreds of delicate, buttery layers when baked. It saves immense time and effort compared to making dough from scratch. Remember to thaw it partially; it should be pliable enough to roll without cracking but still cold to the touch to maintain its layers. Popular brands often come in convenient folded sheets.
- Cherry Pie Filling: This provides the luscious, fruity core of the strudel. Canned cherry pie filling is incredibly convenient and consistently delicious. Its thick consistency ensures it won’t make the pastry soggy. If you’re not a fan of cherries, or simply want to try something different, consider apple, blueberry, peach, or mixed berry pie fillings. You could even get creative with a cream cheese filling or a nutty chocolate spread.
- Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ Sugar): This is the base for our simple, elegant icing. Its fine texture dissolves easily, creating a smooth, lump-free glaze. It adds a touch of sweetness and a beautiful visual finish to the baked strudel.
- Milk: A small amount of milk is used to thin the powdered sugar into a pourable icing. You can use any type of milk – dairy or non-dairy – to achieve the desired consistency. Start with a tablespoon and add gradually until you reach a thick, drizzly glaze.
- Pure Almond Extract: This ingredient is the unsung hero, adding a depth of flavor that complements cherries beautifully. The subtle, nutty aroma enhances the fruit and gives the icing a gourmet touch. If you don’t have almond extract, vanilla extract can be used as a substitute, though the flavor profile will be slightly different.
Tips for Success: Mastering Your Cherry Strudel
While this recipe is incredibly forgiving, a few tips can ensure your cherry strudel turns out perfectly every time:
- Proper Puff Pastry Thawing: Do not over-thaw your puff pastry. It should be cold and pliable, not warm and sticky. If it gets too warm, the butter layers can melt, resulting in a less flaky crust. If it feels too soft, pop it back into the fridge for a few minutes.
- Even Rolling: When rolling out the two sheets together, aim for an even thickness. This ensures consistent baking and a uniform golden-brown crust. Don’t roll it too thin, or it might tear under the weight of the filling.
- Strategic Filling Placement: Keep the cherry pie filling in the middle of the dough, leaving ample border space on all sides. This makes it easier to cut the slits and fold the pastry securely.
- Secure Sealing: Pinching the edges of the pastry firmly after folding is crucial. This prevents the filling from oozing out during baking. If a little filling escapes, don’t worry, it’s still delicious!
- The “Slit” Technique: Cutting slits down the sides and folding them over not only creates a beautiful, rustic look but also allows steam to escape, preventing the pastry from becoming soggy and ensuring the filling cooks evenly. It also gives tantalizing peeks of the vibrant cherry filling.
- Golden Brown Perfection: Keep an eye on your strudel while it bakes. Ovens can vary, so the 30-35 minute cook time is a guideline. Look for a rich, golden-brown color on the pastry for optimal flakiness and flavor.
- Icing While Warm: Drizzling the icing over the strudel while it’s still slightly warm allows the glaze to melt slightly and adhere beautifully to the pastry, creating a lovely sheen. However, let it cool enough so the pastry doesn’t completely collapse.
Creative Variations & Flavor Customizations
This basic cherry strudel recipe is wonderfully adaptable. Don’t hesitate to personalize it with these exciting variations:
- Different Fruit Fillings:
- Apple: Use apple pie filling, perhaps with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
- Peach: Canned peach pie filling creates a summery delight.
- Mixed Berry: A blend of raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries would be fantastic.
- Lemon Curd: For a zesty twist, spread a layer of lemon curd.
- Spiced Fillings: Enhance any fruit filling by stirring in a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or even a tiny dash of cardamom for a warm, aromatic touch.
- Nutty Additions: For added texture and flavor, sprinkle chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds over the filling before folding the pastry.
- Cream Cheese Layer: For a richer strudel, mix 4 oz (half a block) softened cream cheese with 2 tablespoons of sugar and a dash of vanilla extract. Spread this mixture over the pastry before adding the fruit filling.
- Alternative Glazes:
- Vanilla Bean Glaze: Use vanilla extract instead of almond extract in the icing.
- Lemon Glaze: Substitute some of the milk with fresh lemon juice and add a teaspoon of lemon zest for a bright, tangy topping.
- Chocolate Drizzle: Melt some chocolate chips and drizzle them over the cooled strudel for a decadent touch.
- Sugar Topping: Before baking, brush the top of the strudel with an egg wash (one egg beaten with a tablespoon of water) and sprinkle with coarse sugar for an extra crunchy, sparkling finish.
Serving Suggestions for Your Delicious Strudel
This versatile cherry strudel can be enjoyed in many ways, making it perfect for any meal or occasion:
- Breakfast or Brunch: Serve warm or at room temperature alongside a cup of coffee or tea for a luxurious start to your day.
- Dessert Delight: Elevate it to a decadent dessert by serving warm slices with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of crème anglaise.
- Afternoon Treat: It’s wonderful as a mid-afternoon snack with a warm beverage.
- Holiday Gatherings: A beautiful and crowd-pleasing addition to any holiday table, from Christmas morning to Independence Day celebrations.
A Brief History of Strudel
The word “strudel” is German for “whirlpool,” which aptly describes the traditional rolled layers of dough with filling. While often associated with Austria, especially Vienna, the origins of strudel can be traced back to Turkish and Byzantine baklava. The thin, elastic dough technique likely traveled through the Ottoman Empire to Hungary, and then to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The oldest known strudel recipe dates back to 1696, a handwritten recipe for a milk-cream strudel found in the Vienna City Library. Over centuries, strudel became a beloved pastry, evolving into various sweet and savory forms enjoyed across Central Europe and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cherry Strudel
- Can I use homemade pie filling instead of canned?
- Absolutely! If you have a favorite homemade cherry pie filling recipe, it will work wonderfully here. Just ensure it’s thick enough so it doesn’t make the pastry soggy. A slightly thicker consistency is always better for strudel.
- Can I prepare this strudel ahead of time?
- You can assemble the strudel up to a day in advance. After assembling, cover it loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate. When ready to bake, remove it from the refrigerator about 15-20 minutes before baking to let it come closer to room temperature, then bake as directed. The icing should always be made fresh and drizzled just before serving.
- How should I store leftover strudel?
- Leftover strudel should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It can be gently reheated in a warm oven (around 300°F/150°C) for about 10 minutes to crisp up the pastry again.
- Can I freeze the strudel?
- Yes, you can freeze the baked strudel. Once it has completely cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in the oven until warmed through and crispy. You can also freeze the assembled, unbaked strudel, but you might need to add a few minutes to the baking time.
This Cherry Strudel is more than just a recipe; it’s an invitation to create something truly special with minimal fuss. Whether it’s for a weekend breakfast, a holiday brunch, or a simple craving for something sweet and satisfying, this puff pastry strudel delivers every time. Enjoy your Independence Day, or any day, with this fantastic treat! Here’s to the RED, WHITE & BLUE, and to delicious, easy baking!