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Sliced strudel di mele altoatesino on a wooden board, cinnamon apple filling visible, dusted with powdered sugar under window light.

Classic South Tyrolean Apple Strudel with Rum Raisins

Hand-stretched strudel dough rolled around cinnamon apples, toasted breadcrumbs, and rum-soaked raisins, baked until deep golden.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian (Northern Italy)
Calories: 313

Ingredients
  

Dough
  • 250 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg large
  • 60 ml lukewarm water
  • 30 ml sunflower oil
  • 1 pinch salt
Filling
  • 1 kg apples peeled, cored, sliced 4 mm thick
  • 60 g raisins
  • 30 ml dark rum
  • 80 g dry breadcrumbs
  • 50 g butter for toasting breadcrumbs
  • 80 g granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 lemon zest lemon
  • 1/2 lemon juice lemon
  • 40 g walnuts, chopped optional
Finishing
  • 30 g melted butter for brushing
  • powdered sugar for dusting

Method
 

Prep the filling and dough
  1. Combine the raisins and dark rum in a small bowl. Set aside to plump for at least 20 minutes.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, egg, lukewarm water, sunflower oil, and salt. Knead 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball, wrap, and rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  3. Melt the 50 g butter in a 20 cm / 8-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and toast, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes until deep golden. Set aside to cool.
  4. Toss the sliced apples with sugar, cinnamon, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Let sit while you stretch the dough.
Stretch, fill, and roll
  1. Heat the oven to 180 C / 355 F and line the sheet pan with parchment.
  2. Lay a large clean kitchen towel on your counter and dust with flour. Roll the dough out as thin as you can with a rolling pin, then use the backs of your hands to stretch it gently from underneath until it's paper-thin and roughly 60 x 40 cm. Patch any small tears with a scrap of dough.
  3. Brush the stretched dough with a little melted butter. Scatter the toasted breadcrumbs over the bottom two-thirds of the dough.
  4. Drain the raisins and scatter them, along with the walnuts, over the breadcrumbs. Spoon the apple mixture on top, leaving a 3 cm border on all sides.
  5. Using the towel to help lift and guide, roll the strudel tightly from the filled end, tucking the sides in as you go. Transfer seam-side down to the lined sheet pan.
Bake and serve
  1. Brush the top of the strudel with the remaining melted butter. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the crust is deep golden brown and the apples feel tender when pierced through the seam with a knife.
  2. Cool on the pan for 15 minutes so the filling sets. Dust with powdered sugar, slice, and serve warm.

Notes

  • Rest dough at least 30 minutes before stretching.
  • Toast breadcrumbs until deep gold, not pale.
  • Patch dough tears with a scrap piece rather than starting over.
  • Slice apples to 4 mm thickness for even cooking.
  • Cool 15 minutes before slicing so the filling sets.