Cherry Strudel

Jul 10, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pastries doughnuts Vanilla: Extract Medium

A sliced cherry strudel dusted with powdered sugar, showing the swirl of filling and flaky layers

A delicate, thinly stretched dough filled with a sweet-tart cherry mixture, lightly spiced and enriched with vanilla and warm cinnamon notes, baked to golden perfection and brushed with buttery glaze.

Prep 40 min

Cook 30 min

Total 1 hr 30 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2.0 cups (240.0 g)all-purpose flour
½ tsp (3.0 g)fine sea salt
2.0 tbsp (30.0 ml)neutral oil (such as vegetable or canola)
¾ cup (180.0 ml)warm water (110°F/43°C)
4.0 tbsp (56.0 g)unsalted butter, melted, divided
½ cup (50.0 g)toasted fine dry breadcrumbs
3.0 cups (450.0 g)fresh pitted tart cherries
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
½ tsp (1.3 g)ground cinnamon
1.0 tbsp (15.0 ml)fresh lemon juice
1.0 tbsp (8.0 g)cornstarch
powdered sugar, for dusting

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the oil and warm water, mixing with a spoon or your hands until a rough dough forms.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it proof for 20 minutes at room temperature.
Meanwhile, prepare the cherry filling. In a medium bowl, toss the pitted cherries with sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Set aside to macerate.
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Clear a clean kitchen towel (about 30 x 40 inches) on your work surface and lightly flour it. Place the dough in the center and begin stretching it gently with your hands, working from the center outward. Continue until the dough is paper-thin and large enough to almost cover the towel, letting gravity and careful stretching do most of the work. Patch any holes gently if necessary.
Brush the entire surface of the stretched dough evenly with half of the melted butter.
Sprinkle the toasted breadcrumbs evenly over the buttered dough, leaving a 2-inch border all around.
Spread the cherry filling evenly over the breadcrumbs, again leaving the border clear.
Use the towel to carefully lift and roll the strudel dough lengthwise, enclosing the filling tightly. Transfer the rolled strudel onto the prepared baking sheet, seam side down.
Brush the top with the remaining melted butter.
Bake for 30 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before dusting with powdered sugar and slicing.
Serve warm or at room temperature, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Tips

For a stronger vanilla aroma, use 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped, in the cherry filling maceration instead of extract.
If stretching the dough is difficult, allow it to rest 10 minutes longer to relax the gluten before trying again.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make cherry strudel?

Plan on 40 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking, plus 20 minutes to rise. The recipe makes 1 large strudel (8 servings).

How should I store cherry strudel?

Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a low oven to restore crispness.

Can I make cherry strudel ahead?

Prepare the dough and cherry filling up to 1 day in advance; assemble and bake just before serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

297 Calories / serving

9.8g Fat

48.6g Carbs

4.3g Protein

20.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~2376 cal · 78g fat · 389g carbs · 34g protein · 162g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 297 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 56 min·3.3 mi·~6550 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 40 min·2.0 mi·~4000 steps
Moderate cycling 30 min·6.0 mi
Swimming laps 42 min
Jogging 29 min·2.4 mi·~4650 steps
Stair climbing 27 min·~2450 steps
Dancing 48 min
Bodyweight circuit training 30 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 69 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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