My Grandma’s Apple Strudel

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My Grandma’s Apple Strudel: A Timeless Recipe Filled with Warm Memories

There are some recipes that go far beyond food—they carry stories, traditions, and the comforting feeling of home. My Grandma’s Apple Strudel is exactly that kind of dessert. With its delicate, paper-thin pastry wrapped around tender apples, warm spices, and buttery crumbs, this classic strudel is both rustic and elegant. Passed down through generations, it’s a dessert that rewards patience and care with incredible flavor and texture.

Below is a detailed, step-by-step guide to recreating this treasured apple strudel in your own kitchen.

What Makes This Apple Strudel Special?

Unlike shortcuts that rely on store-bought pastry, Grandma’s strudel uses a traditional handmade dough stretched until nearly transparent. The filling is simple but perfectly balanced: sweet-tart apples, cinnamon, sugar, and buttery breadcrumbs that soak up the juices and keep the pastry crisp.

This is slow baking at its best—unrushed, comforting, and deeply satisfying.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Strudel Dough

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons neutral oil (or melted butter)
About ¾ cup warm water

For the Filling

5–6 apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
½ cup sugar (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup butter
¼ cup raisins (optional but traditional)
1 teaspoon lemon juice

For Assembly

¼ cup melted butter (for brushing)
Powdered sugar, for dusting

Step-by-Step Method

Step 1: Prepare the Strudel Dough

In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Add the oil and warm water gradually, mixing until a soft dough forms. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8–10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.

Shape the dough into a ball, brush it lightly with oil, cover it with a bowl or plastic wrap, and let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This resting time is essential—it relaxes the gluten and allows the dough to stretch without tearing.