Easy Apple Strudel / Apfelstrudel

Here's an easy version Apple Strudel using puff pastry.   I find puff pastry sheets are fun to work with and give nice finishing looks.  Also I can get them in almost every supermarket and that makes baking with puff pastry a lot easier and time saving.  I've omitted the raisins and use dry cranberries in this recipe.  For a beautiful finishing touch, dust some sugar powder on top.

 Ingredients:

1 puff pastry sheet (I use REWE 275g pastry sheet which is 25x42cm)

3 apples, peeled, cored and cut in small cubes

4 tbsp sugar

1 tsp water

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 cup dry cranberries

1 egg mix with 1/4 cup milk for egg wash 

To prepare:

1.  Preheat oven to  200C.  Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper.

2.  Place the puff pastry sheet on a working surface dusted with flour.  Cut two pieces (25x8cm) as the base and two pieces (25x13cm) as the top.  For the top portion, fold the pastry in half lengthwise.  Using a sharp knife, make some cuts on the folded edge at 2cm intervals.

3.  To make the filling, place apple, water, 1 tbsp sugar in a saucepan and cook for 5 minutes.  Drain the liquid and set aside to cool.  Add in ground cinnamon, 3 tbsp of sugar and dry cranberries and mix well. 

4.  Lay the base pastry sheet on the baking sheet.  Place the filling at the centre leaving about 2cm on both sides.

5.  Lay the slitted pastry sheet over the filling and cover the filling completely.  Press the sides with a fork.  Repeat the steps with the remain pastry sheets.  Egg wash the top.

6.  Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown on the bottom rack of the oven.