Classic Apple Strudel
Author: 
 
This classic strudel is filled with tender apples, rum-soaked raisins, and nuts. Serves 10.
Ingredients
  • DOUGH:
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vinegar
  • ⅔ cup room temperature water
  • oil to coat dough
  • ******
  • FILLING:
  • ¼ cup raisins
  • ¼ cup rum (or apple juice)
  • 5 cups of peeled, cored, and chopped Granny Smith Apples
  • 1 small lemon (juice and zest)
  • ½ cup finely chopped walnuts
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅔ cup sugar
  • *****
  • FOR ASSEMBLY:
  • 1½ cup breadcrumbs* (See Instructions)
  • 6 tablespoons melted butter
  • ½ cup finely chopped or ground walnuts (optional)
Instructions
  1. DOUGH:
  2. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, butter, and vinegar. Slowly pour in while stirring, until well mixed.
  3. Knead by machine for 5 minutes, or by hand for 8 minutes. Dough should be soft and elastic, and slightly tacky. Repeatedly throw the dough against a hard surface for a minute or so to help the gluten develop. Form into a ball, generously coat with oil, and cover with plastic. Allow dough to rest (very important) for 1 hour.
  4. Once dough has rested, combine the chopped apples with lemon in a large bowl and set aside. Cover a table with a clean cotton sheet or tablecloth, and sprinkle with flour. Rub the flour into the fabric. Place dough on cloth and form into a rectangle. Using a rolling pin, roll dough out as thinly as you can.
  5. Using your hands, begin stretching the dough. Work slowly, lifting edges and pulling. Slide your hands under the dough and coax it thinner and thinner. Two people can make this go a lot easier, with both reaching into the middle from opposite sides and easing the dough outwards. The goal is to get a paper thin dough, approximately 24"x30", but I stop when the dough seems consistently thin and small holes are beginning to develop.
  6. Trim the thick edges away with a pizza cutter or scissors, and brush the top of the dough with melted butter. The easiest way I've found is to use a paper towel to lightly spread the butter.
  7. Sprinkle with 1 cup of fine breadcrumbs and ½ cup finely chopped nuts. (Nuts are optional.)
  8. With one of the short sides facing you, pour the remaining bread crumbs from one side to the other, leaving about 2 inches of plain dough closest to you (to help begin the rolling process) and about 1 inch of plain dough on either side .
  9. Add remaining filling ingredients to the apples and spoon evenly over the breadcrumbs.
  10. Using the cloth, lift the plain dough edge over the apples and roll to the end. Roll the strudel onto a piece of parchment, and use this to lift it onto a baking sheet. You may need to give it a curved shape to fit the pan.
  11. Pinch the ends firmly and tuck under the strudel. Brush generously with butter, and put in the refrigerator to chill for 45 minutes. This will let the butter firm up, helping to create flaky layers.
  12. Heat oven to 400 F. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the pastry is a rich golden brown.
  13. Score the top where the strudel will be cut, to allow some of the steam to escape, and sprinkle the top with powdered sugar. Cool until just warm, and serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
  14. *Breadcrumbs: You can use commercial crumbs, but for more taste, crumble 2 cups of stale bread and toss with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Bake at 375 F for 10 minutes. Crush into fine crumbs.
Recipe by The Rowdy Baker at http://www.therowdybaker.com/?p=4623