Easy Apple Strudel With Cinnamon Icing

If you have a sweet tooth, you’re going to love this easy Apple Strudel Recipe! They’re perfect for breakfast or dessert.

I really struggled with what to call these. Maybe mini apple pies (they’re actually pretty huge, so that was a no), or apple hand pies, but they’re kind of a cross between a strudel and a hand pie, so I landed on strudel. Authentic strudel police, I mean no offense, so please don’t come after me.

The outside is buttery, flaky, and topped with a cinnamon icing and the inside has chunks of gooey apple pie filling. Basically, if you like apple pie, you’re really going to like these.

These are great year-round but are even better during the holidays since you can bake these up the night before, and they’re still great the next morning.

🍽️ Why This Recipe Works

Super Easy – You can make this recipe in around 45 minutes, and there aren’t any hard steps either. It’s very simple and impressive.

Pleases Your Sweet Tooth – Are you in the mood for something sweet and yummy? You are in luck, because this will fit the bill perfectly!

Frugal Dessert – Most likely, you have a lot of the ingredients in your home right now! Even if you do have to head to the market, you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank.

🍎 Ingredients

Crescent Roll Dough – It’s a game-changer that you can use pre-made crescent roll dough. It’s flaky and makes the perfect crust.

Apple Pie Filling: To save on time, I used a store-bought apple pie filling. If you have a go-to homemade apple pie filling recipe, go for it! Cherry pie filling would be a good alternative.

Egg & Water: Making an egg wash is a great tip for making the crust a gorgeous golden brown color. It is the perfect finish.

🥧 Instructions

Step One: On a parchment-lined surface, roll out two cans of crescent roll dough. Pinch the seams and edges together to create one continuous sheet. These will become the bottom pieces. Repeat again with two more cans of dough to create the top pieces. You should have two large, separate sheets of dough.

Step Two: Use a pizza roller or knife to cut out 8 to 10 rectangles from each sheet. I cut out 8, and mine were about 5” long and 3” wide. Cut off the excess dough and set aside.

Step Three: Place four rectangular pieces on each parchment-lined cookie sheet (they’re easier to pick up if you roll them slightly from the bottom into your hand). Leave about two inches of room between each one, so you have room to crimp the sides in the final steps.

Note: Use any excess dough to patch up any rectangles with holes or misshapen edges.

Step Four: Scoop one or two spoons of apple pie filling into the center of each piece of dough. Leave about 1/4” inch unfilled around the edges to seal the pies.

Step Five: Cover this with another rectangle of the crescent roll dough and crimp edges together with a fork. Use a knife to clean up any extra-long crimped edges. Make three small diagonal slits on top of each pie to allow the steam to escape while cooking.

Step Six: In a small bowl, beat egg and water together. Brush this lightly over pastry (most of this mix will be left over; we just want a light coating over each piece to help it brown in the oven).

Step Seven: Bake for 13 to 15 minutes at 375F. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool completely.

Make the Cinnamon Icing

Step One: The icing is really simple. In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon together until it is smooth and thick. Add a bit more powdered sugar if it’s too runny.

Step Two: Use a fork to drizzle the icing over the strudels. As you can see, I made a huge mess, but it is easy to clean up after it hardens.

📌 Expert Tips

• Be sure to line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat to prevent sticking. Otherwise, they may stick to the pan and tear when you try to remove them.
• Go wild and swap out the apple pie filling with peach, blueberry, strawberry, or cherry pie filling. They are all pretty yummy options.
• It’s important not to over-bake this or it will dry out and won’t be as good.
• This is best served warm. Prior to serving, microwave it for about 15 seconds. It goes great with coffee or tea!

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