This flaky cherry strudel is crisp on the outside, warm and full of sweet cherries on the inside, and so easy to make with just three simple ingredients. The braided puff pastry looks beautiful as it bakes, creating a rustic dessert that tastes homemade without any extra work. You'll learn how to make a quick fruit-filled pastry that's great for brunch, holidays, or weeknight treats. Pin this recipe now so you'll always have an easy cherry dessert ready to share!
Why is this the best puff pastry cherry strudel recipe
This cherry strudel with puff pastry is delicious! Warm, bubbling cherries with a golden brown crust and sweet dusting of powdered sugar: it's the ultimate cozy dessert.
This is truly a simple cherry strudel recipe. A few ingredients, straightforward steps, and it looks and tastes like you spent hours on it.
Warm cherry strudel sprinkled with sweet powdered sugar is culinary magic. The contrast in texture is irresistible.
It's a crowd-pleaser, whether at a casual family dinner or a holiday gathering. People rarely say no to a cherry-strudel puff pastry.
This recipe makes a perfectly flaky puff pastry. The layers puff up beautifully, giving the strudel an irresistible buttery crunch. Each bite has a light, airy texture that only puff pastry can deliver.
The ingredients for this easy recipe are common and easy to find. You probably have most of the simple ingredients to make this easy cherry dessert already in your pantry. A quick trip to any grocery store or Amazon will allow you to grab anything you're missing.
Just like an old-fashioned cherry strudel that Grandma used to make, this recipe features straightforward and honest ingredients.
What you'll need to make the cherry strudel recipe
Equipment
- Rolling Pin-evenly roll out the puff pastry so it bakes evenly.
- Baking sheet-this pan ensures even baking for your cherry strudel.
- Parchment paper prevents the puff pastry from sticking to the baking pan.
Ingredients
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutritional information.
- Puff pastry - We used one sheet of puff pastry (17.3 ounces) for this recipe.
- Cherry pie filling - You will not be using the full can so be sure to measure it.
- Butter - We recommend unsalted butter, but salted or unsalted will be fine. It should be completely melted.
- Powdered sugar - This is not entirely necessary, but it elevates the flavor and look of the strudel.
How to make cherry puff pastry dessert
- Preheat the oven to 400℉.
- Roll the pastry sheet out to 11 inches by 12 inches and gently mark it into three 4-inch sections. Cut the outer two sections into about 1-inch strips, away from the center, as shown in the photo below.
- Sprinkle the center section with powdered sugar.
- Place the cherry pie filling into the center third of the puff pastry.
- Fold the strips up and over the cherry pie filling and press them down into the puff pastry on the opposite side, slightly stretching the dough to fit over the filling and crisscrossing the ends as shown.
- When you get to the last strips, fold them over and underneath the dough. Be sure to close off the ends with the first and last strip to prevent cherry juice from leaking out on the ends of the strudel.
- Brush the butter over the dough.
- Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden.
- Let cool slightly, then dust with the powdered sugar and enjoy!
Do not underbake the strudel. It should be golden and flaky when done, not cream colored and not slightly soggy. It may require the full 30 minutes or more depending on your oven.
Instead of dusting with powdered sugar, you can sprinkle raw sugar or turbinado sugar on top of the melted butter before baking. Use the same amount (2 tablespoons).
Substitutions & variations
Instead of this delicious cherry strudel, you can swap cherries for your favorite pie filling and make apple strudel, peach strudel, strawberry strudel, raspberry strudel, or blueberry strudel. (Add a bit of lemon juice to blueberries or raspberries, and they will be perfectly flavorful.)
Instead of melted butter, you can do an egg wash: whisk an egg with a splash of milk or cream. It will give your puff pastry sheet a golden top that's slightly shiny.
Top the sifted powdered sugar with slivered almonds, or sprinkle them over the cherries before braiding the pastry.
Mix a teaspoon of almond extract into the cherry pie filling.
Sprinkle a small handful of chocolate chips over the cherries before closing the strudel.
Spread cream cheese or Nutella over the center third of the puff pastry before adding the cherries.
Sprinkle lemon zest over the cherries to brighten the flavor.
Storing leftovers
You can keep the cherry strudel on the counter for up to 24 hrs at room temperature.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days, reheat in the microwave or air fryer, until warm.
Freezer: baked strudel: cool completely to avoid sogginess from condensation. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and foil. Freeze up to two months. Reheat at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until crisp.
Check out more delicious cherry recipes
- Cherry Fluff Salad
- Easiest Cherry Pie Ever
- Cherry Pie Cookies
- Cherry Cheesecake Brownies
- Dark Chocolate Cherry Fudge
- Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
- Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
- Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Recipe
Recipe
Puff Pastry Cherry Strudel
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- 1½ cups cherry pie filling
- 2 tablespoons butter unsalted, melted
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉.
- Roll the pastry sheet out to 11 inches by 12 inches and gently mark it into three 4-inch sections. On the outer two sections, cut into about 1-inch strips, away from the center, as shown in the photos above. Sprinkle the center section with powdered sugar.
- Place the cherry pie filling into the center third of the puff pastry.
- Then fold the strips up and over the cherry pie filling and press them down into the puff pastry on the opposite side, slightly stretching the dough to fit over the filling and crisscrossing the ends as shown. When you get to the last strips, fold them over and underneath the dough.
- Brush the butter over the dough, and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden. Let cool slightly, then dust with the powdered sugar and enjoy!
Rose says
This was so easy and everyone loved it!