German Apple Strudel

Submitted by Laura Bergman

German Apple Strudel

Ingredients
  

  • 3-3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup + 4 Tbsp. sugar divided
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. cinnamon divided
  • 4 lg. eggs well beaten
  • 3/4 cup + 3 Tbsp. butter divided
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3 lbs. (about 7-9) Granny Smith apples cored and sliced thin
  • 1 cup raisins

Instructions
 

  • For dough, mix 2 1/2-3 cups flour, 3 Tbsp. sugar, salt, baking powder, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 3/4 cup butter, and eggs to a soft consistency. Add flour a little at a time as needed until stiff but not sticky. Knead dough about 10 minutes. Do not over mix. Divide dough into 3 equal parts. Grease bowls and put a piece of dough in each bowl, turning to grease the top. Let set for about 1 hour covered. Peel apples. Butter 3 9x13-inch cake pans, any 3 pans as long as they have sides. (This strudel can be frozen for up to 3 months, baked or unbaked.) Mix milk, sour cream, vanilla, and 1 Tbsp. sugar together in a medium bowl until gravy thin. Set aside. Lay out a clean dish towel. Sprinkle with a bit of flour. Roll or stretch out 1 piece of the dough very, very thin (about 1/8 inch thick). Combine apples, raisins, 1 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp. cinnamon, and 1/2 cup flour, and mix well. Using a pastry brush, spread 1/3 of cream mixture on the dough. Using 1/3 of the apple mixture, spoon mixture on one long side of the dough. Drizzle on 3 Tbsp. melted butter. Roll up like a jelly roll. Tuck in ends. Place in one of the prepared pans. Brush top with cream mixture. Cut a few slits over top. Set aside. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake in 400 degree oven for 10 minutes then reduce to 350 degrees for about 45 minutes more.