Pastries Recipes - Spiced Pear Strudel Recipe

Ingredients

SERVES 8

• 75g/3oz fresh white breadcrumbs

• 150g/5oz butter

• 50g/2oz brown sugar

• 50g/2oz sultanas

• 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 450g/1lb pears (peeled, cored and sliced)

• 4 large sheets of filo pastry

• 50g/2oz blanched almonds (toasted and chopped)

• Icing sugar for dusting

---

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas mark 5. Fry the breadcrumbs in 50g/2oz butter, stirring frequently until crisp and golden. Mix together the brown sugar, sultanas, mixed spice, cinnamon and pear slices.

2. Melt the remaining butter. Brush a sheet of filo pastry with a little of the melted butter. Cover with a second sheet of the pastry and brush with a little more melted butter.

3. Cover the pastry with half the fried crumbs, leaving a 5cm/2in border on all sides. Arrange half the pear mixture over the crumbs and sprinkle with half of the chopped almonds.

4. Fold the edges over the filling and brush with a little melted butter. Roll up, like a Swiss roll, starting from a long side. Place the strudel on a lightly greased baking tray and brush with melted butter.

5. Make a second strudel the same way using the remaining ingredients. Bake for 35 minutes until crisp and golden, covering with aluminum foil if necessary to prevent over-browning.

6. Brush halfway through cooking with butter from the baking sheet. Can be served hot or cold.