Festive Strudel Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add bratwurst and onion; cook and stir until onion is tender, 8-10 minutes. Stir in sauerkraut; cool slightly., In a small bowl, mix sour cream, mustard and 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds. Unfold one sheet of puff pastry. Spread with 1/3 cup sour cream mixture to within 1/2 in. of edges. Spoon 2-1/2 cups sausage mixture down center of pastry; sprinkle with 1/2 cup each Muenster and cheddar cheeses., Lightly brush edges of pastry with water; bring edges together, pinching to seal. Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet, seam side down; pinch ends and fold under. Repeat with remaining ingredients., Brush tops with water; sprinkle with remaining caraway seeds. Cut slits in pastry. Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat 75g of the sugar and the vanilla seeds in a medium, heavy-based frying pan over a medium-low heat for 5-8 mins, or until golden brown and caramelised. Add the apples, currants, sultanas, allspice, nutmeg and walnuts, then cook for 10 mins or until the apple is tender. Remove the apple mix from the pan with a slotted spoon and cool to room temperature.
• Line two baking trays with baking paper. Place a sheet of filo on one of the trays, then brush lightly with the melted butter. Sprinkle over 1 tsp sugar. Repeat the process until there are 3 layers of filo. Repeat with the remaining sheets of filo on the second tray.
• Divide the apple mix along the shorter edge of both pastry sheets and gently roll into 2 logs, tucking in the ends as you go. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle over 1 tbsp sugar. Can be made up to one day ahead, kept chilled. Bake for 25 mins, or until the pastry is golden brown and crisp. Let cool slightly, then cut each strudel into 6 diagonal slices. Serve two slices each with a dollop of crème fraîche on the side.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix the pudding, mascarpone and Baileys. Lay out a sheet of filo on a large flat baking tray, brush with some melted butter and lay another sheet on top. Repeat with more butter and filo until you have 4 layers.
• Place the filling in a log in the centre and brush the border with butter. Roll up to enclose the filling, then brush with the remaining butter. Can be chilled for 1 day until ready to bake. Bake for 20-25 mins until golden brown, dust with icing sugar and serve warm with cream or custard.