Delicious Valentine's Day Desserts
Apple Strudel
Valentine’s Day is about hearts and sweets. So many luscious desserts to choose from: some chocolate and some lemony, lavendery and fruity. Make your favorites for a special someone, your family or friends. All the desserts can be prepped ahead of time and frozen.
A most elegant dessert is Apple Strudel. Unlike when my grandmother rolled dough transparently thin on her dining room table, I used prepared puff pastry, which makes this dessert easy and delicious. Substitute other fruits, drizzle jam on top and be sure to make extra to freeze and enjoy again!
Bring all the hostages home.
Foodie Lit
This need to prove oneself, author Bettina Szedlak told me, is an incredibly fitting theme for the YA genre. She blends Biblical and Classic Mythical symbols with her imagination to develop images of good and evil, of conflict and of guiding forces. The young character often goes on a quest, fights the dark, gains allies, confronts pain and succeeds in growing towards maturing, finding strength along the way.
Transformation in times of challenge is always inspiring. There is no doubt that Annie’s Sky will capture the imagination of young and more mature adults. Even in maturity, humans continue to be challenged and how we meet those trials determine our journeys and our destinations.
Apple Strudel
Puff pastry
1 Strudel is about 12 pieces
Apple Strudel
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed but still cold
1/2 cup golden raisins
2 tablespoons amaretto or other liqueur
2-3 large apples peeled, cored and diced (depends on size)
1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons breadcrumbs, finely ground
Eggwash
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk of choice, such as Almond Milk
GLAZE
1/3 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons milk of choice
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Thaw puff pastry in refrigerator for 2-3 hours. It should be defrosted but cold.
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Mix raisins and amaretto in small bowl. The amaretto should cover the raisins. Soak until raisins are plump, about 15-20 minutes or longer. Drain amaretto from raisins but don’t waste!!
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Place peeled, cored and chopped apples in bowl. Drizzle lemon juice over apples and stir gently to cover pieces. This keeps apples from browning. Add drained raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Fold into apples.
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Preheat oven to 400 F.
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Tear a piece of parchment paper large enough to lay each unfolded puff pastry on top. The parchment is both for rolling out and for baking.
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Preheat oven to 400F.
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Unfold thawed puff pastry and place on parchment paper.
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With a rolling pin, smooth the folds and creases in the puff pastry and roll gently to make a bit thinner.
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Sprinkle breadcrumbs in the center of each sheet where you will place the apples. This helps absorb any extra liquid from the apples. (My Nana’s procedure.)
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Place the apple mixture evenly across the puff pastry, leaving 1” margin around all edges.
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Roll up as a jelly roll, moistening your fingertips with water to close the seam.
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Place the strudel seam side down on the parchment paper. Use the parchment paper to move the strudel to an oven proof sheet, keeping the strudel and parchment paper on the baking sheet.
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In a small bowl, beat egg and milk of choice. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the eggwash over the strudel.
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With a sharp knife, make a cut every 3/4” that goes about halfway down the strudel, but not all the way.
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Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack. Cool before applying glaze.
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In a small bowl, stir confectioner’s sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over strudel.
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To freeze: Bring strudel to room temperature. Wrap in parchment paper that you backed with or with plastic wrap. Then wrap again in aluminum foil. Label! I then put the wrapped strudel into a plastic bag. This insures that there will be no freezer burn. Keeps in freezer for up to 3 months.
#dessert #dairy free #fruit
TIP: If you want to defrost both puff pastry sheets, either make a double portion of the filling for the strudel or for a quick recipe, make a deli roll. Very quick and so delish!! Deli Roll
Expandthetable suggestions
Alcohol free: Use warm water to plump raisins, if you don’t want to use alcohol.
Cinnamon and Nutmeg: Some people do not like the taste of these spices. Omit if you prefer. You may try mace as a substitute.
Jam Glaze: Omit confectioner’s sugar glaze. Warm the marmalade, apricot jam or other jam of choice. Brush over cooled strudel for a pretty and sweet taste.
