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Easy Apple Strudel – if you need a fast and easy breakfast or dessert recipe THIS IS IT. With just two main ingredients you can make this pastry in minutes and it’s perfect for breakfast, brunch or dessert.

sliced strudel on parchment


Semi-Homemade Apple Strudel

Apple strudel is like apple pie made for breakfast. That’s the only way I can explain it. The outside is a pastry dough that’s a cross between pie crust and puff pastry and the filling is apple pie. Then it’s topped with a simple glaze – this is perfect with a cup of coffee for breakfast – or a scoop of ice cream for dessert.

Whenever I travel to any city, new or old, I always go armed with a list of bakeries to visit. Eating my way through a city is my way of getting to know it: through the food. This recipe is inspired by one I ate at Breka Bakery & Cafe in the Robson Street area of downtown Vancouver. As soon as I got home from that trip I knew I had to make my own – EASY – version.

Now, while I’m sure that Breka Bakery’s version of apple strudel is the real thing that took hours of hard work, mine is not. It’s an impostor that gives all the flavor and a fraction of the time.

Why you’ll love this recipe

My version only has 2 main ingredients and took me less than 15 minutes to assemble.

That’s right, my friends. Apple Strudel in the oven in less than 15 minutes. And it tastes amazing, like apple pie for breakfast. #win

sliced strudel on parchment

Apple Strudel Ingredients

My two main ingredients are two things I love:

You can use my homemade apple pie filling or buy a can from the store – your choice.

When it comes to the strudel dough, you can also make it with frozen puff pastry that has been thawed.

(I also love using crescent rolls to make Apple Dumplings!)

how to make apple strudel

How to assemble the Apple Pastry

I swear, it looks so hard but it’s really very simple.

  • Unroll your crescent roll dough and press the seams together. If you can find the Crescent Sheets, use those, but if not, the regular rolls will work fine.
  • Cut strips that are 1″ apart up and down both sides of the dough, leaving a gap in the middle for the filling. I like to use a pizza cutter for this step.
  • Fill the strudel dough with the apple pie filling and simply wrap up the cut pieces. You can even make them into a braid if you like. Pastry braids are all the rage. I, however, cannot braid hair (let alone food), so mine is more…rustic looking.
sliced strudel on parchment

Icing Glaze

You can skip the glaze (again, why would you do that?) but it’s simple and you probably have all the ingredients on hand already:

  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla
  • Apple juice or cider

That’s it! It makes a pourable and delicious topping for this easy apple strudel.

The trick is sharing it with others and not eating it all. Make it when you have company coming – they’ll think you’re a culinary genius and they’ll eat it all before you can.

sliced strudel on parchment

Strudel Recipe Tips and FAQ

What are the best apples for apple strudel recipes?

This recipe uses pie filling, but if you’re making it homemade I recommend Granny Smith apples.

How do you get your pastry golden on top?

I brushed it with egg wash to make it nice and brown.

Storing Apple Strudel

Store this in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Or you can freeze it unglazed for up to a month.

How do you serve apple pastry?

This is great warm or room temperature, served for breakfast with coffee, or add a scoop of ice cream for dessert.

sliced strudel on parchment

Apple Strudel Recipe

4.90 from 49 votes
This easy apple strudel has only 2 ingredients without the glaze! It’s fast and easy and so delicious.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Yield 10 servings
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

  • 1 can Pillsbury Crescent Rolls 8 rolls or use the Crescent Roll Sheet if you can find it
  • 1 ½ cups Apple Pie Filling or from a can, use about ¾ of a can
  • 1 egg
  • Granulated sugar for sprinkling
  • ½ cup (57g) powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanila
  • tablespoon apple juice
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Unroll Crescent Rolls onto a large sheet of parchment paper that will fit on a cookie sheet. Press the seams together.
  • Using a knife, cut strips 1” apart up and down both sides of the Crescent Roll rectangle, leaving about 3” of untouched space in the center for the filling. Place the pie filling up and down the center where there are no cuts. Wrap each slice up and over the filling, overlapping as necessary. Pinch the ends shut using the tines of a fork.
  • Brush the outside of the Crescent Roll with beaten egg and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Place parchment sheet with the strudel on a cookie sheet.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Cool completely before glazing.
  • To make the glaze: whisk powdered sugar, vanilla, and apple juice. Drizzle over strudel, slice, and serve. Optionally, top with drizzled caramel instead of glaze.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • To get a golden brown look, you can brush the pastry with egg wash.
  • This stores well in the refrigerator or you can freeze it for 2 months.
  • Use any flavor pie filling you like!

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 201mg | Potassium: 22mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 32IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American

My Easy Apple Strudel is a semi-homemade dessert that’s just as perfect for a sweet breakfast! It’s quick and only takes a few ingredients – including crescent rolls.

Favorite Apple Recipes

Last Updated on November 9, 2023



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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62 Comments

  1. This was absolutely delicious and easy. Finally I now make my Slovenian husband his favorite dessert. Thank you for sharing.

  2. Delicious. My partner said it was better than any store bought. I made the filling yesterday. I baked for the full 20 min and the dough was still a little doughy inside. Next time I’ll heat the filling beforehand. I also think I’ll use sanding sugar in place of the granulated sugar. I didn’t glaze it and thought it was perfect.

  3. I made this Apple Crescent Strudel yesterday for dessert and it was a Big Hit!! It was so easy and tasty!! Thanks for the recipe!! Your website is Wonderful and I’m glad I found you!!

  4. Thanks for this recipe….I used real apples with cinnamon and Demerara sugar ….it was gorgeous and the glaze makes it !!…I had a glut of apples from my in laws apple tree so will make a few of these to give away as so easy and delicious using chilled puff pastry 👍

  5. True apple strudel is made with thinly pulled dough. Now I use phyllo dough which is just as quick. I use freshly sliced apples, bread crumbs, a little sugar and raisins between buttered layers or cream cheese combined with egg and sugar. It’s how my Hungarian grandmother taught me.

  6. I made this apple strudel this morning. It’s super easy and super good!! We’ve been missing strudel since we left our old neighborhood where we lived next door to a Czech lady who baked & shared the most marvelous apple strudel with us so I decided to give this a try. So glad I did.

    1. When making homemade apple pie filling, what are the ingredients and quantities? I have a bunch of apple trees.