Classic Cherry Strudel Food

CLASSIC CHERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• For the cherry filling, bring the cherries up to a simmer with the sugar and cinnamon sticks, and simmer for 10 minutes. Whisk the cornstarch in a small bowl with a little cold water and add this to the cherries, stirring until the juices have thickened and the cherries are glossy. Set aside to cool before using. For the strudel dough, blend the all-purpose and bread flours with the salt in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the water, oil and vinegar and mix on low speed until the dough comes together and then increase by one speed and knead for 2-3 minutes (the dough will seem sticky). Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and continue to knead the dough until it seems a smooth but elastic texture. Place the dough in a covered bowl and set aside to rest at room temperature for at least an hour. To assemble, preheat the oven to 375 F. Lay a clean tablecloth out over your work surface and dust it evenly with flour. Place the strudel dough in the middle of the tablecloth and with your hands or a dusted rolling pin; spread the dough out as far as you can. Now switch to only using your hands (and keep them dusted with flour) and pull and stretch the dough from underneath, using the back of your hands, until it is almost transparent (it's alright if a hole pops up here or there). Once stretched as far as it can, brush the entire surface of the dough gently with butter (or spread it with your hand). Sprinkle the dough with breadcrumbs, then spoon the cool cherry filling over one end of the strudel. Trim away the end pieces of dough and, using the tablecloth for leverage, lift and roll up the strudel dough loosely and quickly. Use the tablecloth to lift it onto a parchment-lined baking tray (you can curve it, if it is bigger than the tray) and pinch the edges to ensure the strudel is sealed. Brush the top with egg wash and bake for about 45 minutes, until it is a rich golden brown. Allow the strudel to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing, and serve each slice generously dusted with icing sugar. his strudel is best served the day it's baked, but can be stored, refrigerated for up to 3 days.

EASY CHERRY STRUDELS

Steps:

• Drain cherries, reserving 1/3 cup juice. In a large saucepan, combine the cherries, sugar, cranberries and butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through. Combine cornstarch and reserved juice and add to the pan. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes longer or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in walnuts. , Unfold one pastry sheet and cut in half. Mound half of the cherry mixture on one pastry half to within 1/2 in. of edges. Top with remaining pastry half; pinch edges to seal. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling. , Place on a greased foil-lined baking sheet. With a sharp knife, cut diagonal slits into tops of strudels; brush with egg. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

SOUR CHERRY STRUDELS

Steps:

• Bring cherries (with any juices), 3/4 cup sugar, and cornstarch to a boil in a 2 1/2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan, stirring occasionally, then simmer 2 minutes. Transfer filling to a bowl and cool completely.
• While cherry filling cools, arrange 3 phyllo sheets in 1 layer on a work surface and let dry 15 minutes. Keeping 12 remaining sheets stacked, halve crosswise, then stack halves. Cover stack with a piece of plastic wrap and a dampened kitchen towel. Finely crumble 3 dried phyllo sheets into a bowl.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Arrange 1 piece of phyllo on work surface with a short side nearest you (keep remaining sheets covered) and brush with some butter. Top with 3 more phyllo pieces, brushing each with butter.
• Sprinkle 2 tablespoons crumbled phyllo over lower third of buttered phyllo, leaving a 2-inch border along bottom and sides, then top with a rounded 1/3 cup filling. Fold bottom edge of phyllo up over filling and fold in sides to enclose filling completely, then roll up phyllo to form a strudel, about 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches. Transfer, seam side down, to a buttered baking sheet. Brush top with some butter, then sprinkle lightly with 1/4 teaspoon sugar. Cut 2 (1-inch) vents diagonally across top of strudel, about 1 1/2 inches apart, with a paring knife. Make 5 more strudels in same manner.
• Bake strudels in middle of oven until golden brown and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a rack and cool 30 minutes.
• We used IFQ (Individually Quick Frozen) cherries from Friske Orchards (231-599-2604), in Charlevoix, Michigan.

CHERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• To prepare filling:.
• Mix granulated sugar, brown sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan.
• Add in cherries, water, lemon zest and vanilla.
• Cook over medium heat until thickened then reduce to low heat.
• Add spices,continue cooking for 15 minutes.
• Stir occasionally.
• Remove pan from heat and cool completely.
• Grease baking sheet.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Prepare pastry:.
• Open folded phyllo sheets to lie flat.
• Stack 4 sheets on a plastic wrap.
• Brush top sheet with 1 tbsp melted butter.
• Spread half filling along a short side of top pastry sheet.
• Starting with short side and using plastic wrap as a guide, roll up pastry.
• Fold ends under.
• Place strudel, seam side down on baking sheet.
• Brush with 1/2 tbsp melted butter.
• Repeat process with balance of ingredients.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes until golden.
• Transfer baking sheets to a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes.
• Cut when completely cool.
• Sprinkle confectioner's sugar for deco.

CHEESE AND CHERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), blend the cream cheese until soft and smooth. Add the farmer's cheese and continue to blend. Add the egg and mix. Add 1/2 cup of the sugar and the vanilla. Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip (or just set aside in a bowl).
• Transfer 1 sheet of phyllo to the prepared pan. Using a pastry brush, brush the phyllo with butter. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/3 of the ground walnuts. Repeat with the 2 remaining sheets of phyllo--reserving the some melted butter and nuts for the top, once rolled.
• Turn the sheet pan so that the phyllo is horizontal to your body. Two inches in from the left-hand edge of the phyllo, working from top to bottom and leaving 2 inches bare at the top and bottom, pipe or spoon a 3/4 inch thick line of cream cheese mixture.
• Alongside the cream cheese, pour the cherry pie filling. Turn the sheet pan a quarter turn and, starting at the edge the fillings are near, roll up the pastry to encase the filling. Keep rolling to form a log. Move the log to the center of the sheet pan and tuck the ends under to keep the filling from oozing out. Brush the surface with melted butter and sprinkle with remaining sugar and nuts.
• Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool 10 to 15 minutes on the pan. Using a serrated knife, cut carefully into sections and serve warm.

CLASSIC CHERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• For the cherry filling, bring the cherries up to a simmer with the sugar and cinnamon sticks, and simmer for 10 minutes. Whisk the cornstarch in a small bowl with a little cold water and add this to the cherries, stirring until the juices have thickened and the cherries are glossy. Set aside to cool before using.
• For the strudel dough, blend the all-purpose and bread flours with the salt in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the water, oil and vinegar and mix on low speed until the dough comes together and then increase by one speed and knead for 2-3 minutes (the dough will seem sticky). Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and continue to knead the dough until it seems a smooth but elastic texture. Place the dough in a covered bowl and set aside to rest at room temperature for at least an hour.
• To assemble, preheat the oven to 375 F. Lay a clean tablecloth out over your work surface and dust it evenly with flour. Place the strudel dough in the middle of the tablecloth and with your hands or a dusted rolling pin; spread the dough out as far as you can. Now switch to only using your hands (and keep them dusted with flour) and pull and stretch the dough from underneath, using the back of your hands, until it is almost transparent (it's alright if a hole pops up here or there).
• Once stretched as far as it can, brush the entire surface of the dough gently with butter (or spread it with your hand). Sprinkle the dough with breadcrumbs, then spoon the cool cherry filling over one end of the strudel. Trim away the end pieces of dough and, using the tablecloth for leverage, lift and roll up the strudel dough loosely and quickly. Use the tablecloth to lift it onto a parchment-lined baking tray (you can curve it, if it is bigger than the tray) and pinch the edges to ensure the strudel is sealed.
• Brush the top with egg wash and bake for about 45 minutes, until it is a rich golden brown. Allow the strudel to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing, and serve each slice generously dusted with icing sugar.
• This strudel is best served the day it's baked, but can be stored, refrigerated for up to 3 days.

CHERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix cherries, vanilla, allspice, and cinnamon. Set aside.
• Unfold one pastry sheet and smooth out with wet fingertips. Brush top with 1/4 of melted margarine.
• Spread 1/2 of filling along a short side of pastry sheet. Slowly roll up from short side, jelly-roll style; fold ends under.
• Place strudel, seam side down, on non-stick baking sheet. Brush with 1/4 of melted margarine.
• Repeat using other pastry sheet, remaining cherry mixture, and margarine.
• Bake 15-20 minute at 400 degrees until golden.
• Set baking sheet on wire rack to cool 15 minute.
• Transfer strudels to serving platter to cut and serve.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

CHERRY-CHEESE STRUDEL

Steps:

• Line a sieve with 2 layers of cheesecloth and place over a bowl. Place the yogurt in the sieve and refrigerate until the liquid has dripped out of the yogurt, several hours or overnight. Discard the liquid.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the cherries and 2 tablespoons of the sugar. Let stand for 10 minutes. Drain well and set aside. Place the almonds, bread crumbs and 2 tablespoons of the sugar in a food processor and pulse until the almonds are finely ground. Set aside.
• Place the yogurt in a mixing bowl and whisk in the egg yolks, lemon zest, vanilla extract and the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Beat the egg whites by hand or with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold the beaten whites into the yogurt mixture.
• Lightly butter a baking sheet and set aside. Place a kitchen towel on a work surface and place 1 sheet of the phyllo on the towel, with the long side facing you. Keep unused phyllo sheets covered with a damp towel as you work. Brush the phyllo lightly with butter and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the crumb mixture. Repeat with 5 more sheets of phyllo. Top with the last phyllo sheet.
• Leaving a 1-inch border, spread half of the yogurt mixture in a 3-inch-wide strip along the side nearest you. Combine the remaining crumb mixture with the cherries and place on top of the spread filling. Spread the remaining filling over the cherries. Fold the sides of the phyllo in over the filling. Starting from the bottom, roll the strudel up like a jelly roll. Place, seam side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with the remaining butter. Make 4 short diagonal slices through the phyllo for steam vents. Bake until crisp and golden brown, about 40 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, cut into quarters and serve.