Earlier this year I had the thrill of attending Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Aside from the beer, which I admittedly consumed in abundance, the annual festival also offered the chance to sample other German delicacies. My Russian and I filled our bellies with juicy German sausage, roasted chicken and other goodies. But the highlight for me was the berry strudel with warm vanilla sauce we enjoyed while huddled under an awning hiding from the rain the last day of the festival.

I loved this sweet treat so much that I wanted to recreate it once I returned home. With the holidays in full swing, I thought it was the perfect time to whip up this delicious dessert to share with friends and family. Below is the recipe for mixed berry strudel with vanilla sauce inspired by my trip to Munich. Enjoy!

 

 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

For the Strudel

• 1 cup fresh blackberries

• 1 cup fresh raspberries

• 1 cup whole cranberries

• 3 tbs granulated sugar

• 1 tbs brown sugar

• 1 tbs cinnamon

• 2 tsp ground nutmeg

• Zest from 1 orange

• 1 box of puff pastry (find it in the freezer section of your grocer)

For the Vanilla Sauce

• 1 cup water

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 2 tbs corn starch

• 2 tbs salted butter

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• ½ cup heavy cream

 

 

 

 

DIRECTIONS:

For the Strudel

• Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees

• Remove dough from freezer and let thaw for 30 minutes. If the dough is still too cold, microwave it at 10 second intervals until it softens enough to roll out

• In a bowl, combine rinsed berries, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange zest and mix until fully combined. Chill for 30 minutes

• Place one sheet of dough on floured surface and roll it until it doubles its original size

• Transfer the train rolled dough onto parchment paper

• Cut 2 inch strips along each side of the dough, leaving at least 4 inches in the center to place the berries

• Remove the berry mixture from the fridge and place it along the center of the dough

• Cover the berries by crisscrossing the slits of dough, beginning at the top and working your way down

• Seal the ends of the dough by dabbing with a bit of cold water and folding it closed

• Brush the top of the pastry with melted butter or an egg white wash (1 egg white and 1 tsp water whisked together)

• Sprinkle top of the strudel with sugar (optional) then place on baking sheet and bake 20-30 minutes or until golden brown

• Watch closely, as puff pastry can easily burn

• Removed finished strudel from oven and serve warm

For the Vanilla Sauce

• Start on the vanilla sauce while the strudel is baking

• Start by boiling the water over high heat

• In a bowl, add the corn starch and sugar and mix until thoroughly combined

• Add mixture to the boiling water, reduce heat to medium and stir until the mixture has thoroughly dissolved and thickened

• Once thickened, remove pan from the heat and add the butter and vanilla

• Whisk until butter is fully melted

• Gradually whisk in heavy cream until mixture turns a light beige

• Add additional salt or cream as needed to achieve desired color and flavor

• Serve over warm strudel!

 

 

 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have and can share it with loved ones this holiday season!

What are some of your favorite dishes you’ve tried abroad? What are your traditional holiday dishes? Share your comments below!

 

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