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Recipes from my Lincolnshire kitchen

apple and sultana strudel biscuits

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… last Monday I did a little bit of filming for Taste Kitchen, a series of little shorts that can be found on the Aldi website.  The theme for one of the films was celebrating European Christmas Markets and whilst I was looking through my blog for recipes and inspiration I came across an old recipe for mums apple strudel cinnamon biscuits which I thought would be perfect for that pre-christmas, warming, spicy tastes and aromas of the markets that I love… we have a growing and really lovely Christmas market close to our home in the town of Louth.  It started as quite a small affair a few years ago, taking over the town square but now there are stalls running down most of the main roads and they even have a stage with choirs singing carols.  Louth is such a beautiful old town with its Georgian and Victorian architecture, walking around the town is like walking through an old Dickens novel and particularly so at Christmas with its traditional street lights and Christmas trees.  One of the highlights of the market is a visit by Father Christmas himself as well as a local St Bernard breeder who dresses his adorable dogs up in christmas gear and walks them around to meet people.  I remember the year there was a new litter of fluff-balls and I have to say the combination of christmas magic and big fluffy puppies was potentially one of the cutest things i’ve ever seen.  The food at the market is pretty special too.  All the local producers take a stall so there’s a wide variety of treats on offer plus there’s always a few inspirational independent bakers and makers of the finest treats.  This years Louth Christmas Craft Market is on November 29th and I cannot wait for a bit of christmas cheer.

St James’ Church ‘Louth in the Snow’ by Paul Thompson Photography



apple and sultana strudel biscuits

these are quite frankly the easiest things to make in the world and my mum would normally knock them up when she’s got any left-over pastry, which sometimes I think she engineers just so she can make these little beauties… they’re sticky and sweet but the grated apple adds just that touch of sharpness that rounds them off beautifully… you can whip up a batch of these in mere minutes but I warn you, they’ll be gone just as quickly.  They make an excellent gift if you’re off doing the rounds prior to Christmas and they won’t set you back much more than an old penny or two… oh just go and make them already!
for the sweet shortcrust pastry
200g plain flour
100g ground almonds
185g butter – room temperature
2 tablespoons golden caster sugar
cold water (roughly 4 tablespoons)

for the filling
2 local apples of any variety – finely grated
100g sultanas
a handful of almond slithers
2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 or 3 tablespoons of jam or marmalade of your choice

makes roughly 20 strudel biscuits

start with the pastry by tipping the flour and ground almonds into a large bowl and rubbing in the butter with your fingers.  Keep them light and quick to ensure there’s plenty of air, then once you have the consistency of breadcrumbs stir in the sugar.

add the water and using a knife, stir together.  Once it starts to form a ball, get in with you hands and bring it all together to form a solid ball

pat the pastry out to a thick flat disk and wrap in clingfilm, then pop in the fridge for at least half an hour

once you’re ready to make the strudel, turn the oven on to 160C and prepare two baking sheets with parchment or greaseproof paper

divide your pastry into two and place one back in the fridge, then flour your work surface liberally and roll out the pastry to as thin as you dare, trying to keep it in a rough oblong shape – this really doesn’t matter too much as the little biscuits should have a rough and ready look to them.  Ensure the pastry is loose underneath before you start to add the toppings

spread 2 tablespoons of jam or marmalade onto the pastry, trying to go as close to the edges as possible, then evenly spread out the grated apple, sultanas and sprinkle on the almond slithers and cinnamon

carefully roll up the pastry, starting from the edge nearest you… try and roll it as tight as possible but again this isn’t a huge issue… then cut the sausage shape into biscuits roughly 1 and 1/2 inches wide and place them on the baking sheet with a gap between each one

repeat with the second piece of pastry, then brush the top of each one with an egg wash and then bake for at least 20 minutes or until golden and sticky… allow to cool on a rack before scoffing

these lovely petite autumnal biscuits are being linked up to treat petite hosted by Cakeyboi and The Baking Explorer

i’m also linking to credit crunch munch founded by Fab Food 4 All and Fuss Free Flavours and hosted this month by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary, because this little biscuits are superbly cheap and cheerful

because i’m using left-over pastry i’m linking this recipe to the brilliant no waste food challenge founded by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary and hosted this month by It’s Not Easy Being Greedy

of course this being my mums recipe i’m linking it to inheritance recipes hosted by Coffee and Vanilla and Pebble Soup


eat and of course, enjoy!

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Comments

  2. Sammie says

    These look absolutely scrummy. I tried something a month ago but cooked each puff pastry bun in a muffin tin. They ended up soggy, delicious but soggy! These are perfect, the same flavours, ooh and I love the use of ground almonds in the pastry. Definitely giving these a go. Thanks to your mum and you for sharing. Sammie http://www.feastingisfun.com

  4. Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla says

    Thank you for sharing these beauties with Inheritance Recipes, I need to make them right now… never had a proper strudel biscuits in my life!
    I also really enjoyed ready story of the Christmas market… especially the part about the puppies 🙂

  5. Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

    Not sure I'm quite ready for Christmas! But hey…. maybe with a little festive fun, I will feel more enthusiastic. These little biscuits are definitely full of seasonal flavours though….. I love apple and cinnamon together!
    Enjoyed the little Asda clip…. looking forward to the festive favourites!

  6. Baking Addict says

    Counting down to Christmas and these would be perfect to start the festive eating. I love apple strudel and this looks absolutely divine. Christmas magic and big fluffy puppies is a definite winner!

  15. Elizabeth says

    Mmm yum! These sound absolutely fantastic and perfect with a cuppa on these cold days. Thank you for sharing with Credit Crunch Munch and the No Waste Food Challenge! 🙂

  16. Tracy says

    So festive and pretty – thanks so much for sharing with the no waste food challenge – the write up is now live, very sorry for the delay. Once my kitchen is sorted I'll be making some!