Apple and Dried Cherry Strudel

Traditional strudel dough is rolled and stretched paper-thin by hand. To save time, use frozen phyllo dough, which is completely prepared and easy to use. Thaw phyllo overnight in your refrigerator for best results when making strudel.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried tart red cherries
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 cups thinly sliced peeled cooking apples (about 1 pound)
• 10 to 12 sheets frozen phyllo dough (about 18 x 12 inch rectangles), thawed
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Pour enough boiling water over dried cherries to cover; let stand 20 minutes.
2. Drain cherries.
3. In a large mixing bowl combine brown sugar, flour and cinnamon.
4. Add apples and dried cherries; toss gently to mix. Set cherry mixture aside.
5. To assemble, cover a large surface with a floured bed sheet; unfold phyllo dough. Stack 2 layers of phyllo on the floured bed sheet, brushing between layers with some melted butter. Arrange another stack of 2 layers on the bed sheet, brushing between and overlapping stacks slightly. Add 3 or 4 more stacks, brushing and overlapping, forming a rectangle about 40 x 18 inches (stagger stacks so all seams are not down the middle). If necessary, trim to a 40 x 18 inch rectangle. Brush with melted butter.
6. Beginning 4 inches from one short side of the dough, spoon filling in a 4 inch wide band across the dough. Using the bed sheet underneath as a guide, gently lift the 4 inch piece of dough and lay it over the filling. Slowly and evenly lift the bed sheet and roll up the dough and filling, jellyroll style, into a tight roll. If necessary, cut excess dough from ends to within 1 inch of filling. Brush top with remaining butter; sprinkle with granulated sugar. Fold ends under to seal. Carefully transfer strudel roll to a lightly greased 17 x 14 inch baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden. Carefully remove strudel from pan.
7. Cool on a rack.

Attribution

Posted by Chyrel at Recipe Goldmine 1/25/2002 7:01 pm.