Relish in the flavors of summer with a flaky and sweet peach strudel recipe that reminds you of blue-ribbon winners at county fairs. No baking experience? No problem! Even beginners can master this simple dessert.
Little does anyone know that this exquisite peach puff pasty dessert is extremely simple, thanks to the phyllo dough. Even the steps to make braided strudel are a breeze after you do it once. Serve for a breakfast treat or as dessert for your next cookout or BBQ.
Table of contents
Peach Breakfast Strudel
If you love apple strudel, then you will really enjoy this puff pastry peach strudel. It's a sweet way to start your day or a showy dessert to serve for brunch. The juicy peaches caramelize perfectly as it bakes, giving you a dessert with exquisite texture.
I love making desserts with fresh, summer fruits. This puff pastry with peaches is as delicious as my summer berry trifle with sweet strawberries. If you have a bunch of peaches to cook, then save some for an easy peach cobbler. Or go extra fancy and make a no-bake peach cheesecake - the choice is yours!
Just looking at it makes you want to dig into this puff pastry strudel! It's so beautiful that you might want to show it off first. Those golden brown braids covered in sugar are just too lovely not to share.
Why You'll Love This Puff Pastry with Peaches Recipe
- Easy strudel recipe. Since the puff pastry is pre-made, you just have to mix the filling and braid the dough around it!
- Flaky crust. This is the best thing about puff pastry - all those flaky layers.
- Easy to freeze. Prepare it, freeze, and save it for later!
- Made with juicy peaches. You don't have to add much sugar because they are naturally so sweet already.
- Tastes like peach and pecan pie. The peach and sugar mixture coats the pecans so it's like two desserts in one flaky crust.
Braided Peach Strudel Ingredients
- Puff Pastry
- Light Brown Sugar
- Ground Cinnamon
- All-Purpose Flour
- Fresh Peaches - fresh are best but frozen can also be used. Drained canned peaches can be used in a pinch.
- Pecans (optional)
- Vanilla Extract
- Egg
- Water
- Coarse Sugar - Turbinado, Decorating, or White Sanding
Ingredient Substitutions
- Peach Strudel with Phyllo Dough - use 5 sheets of thawed phyllo dough instead of the puff pastry.
- Peach Strudel with Canned Peaches - be sure to drain them well.
- Peach Strudel with Frozen Peaches - thaw and drain them before using.
How to Make Peach Strudel
Preparing peach filling
- In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour.
- Place peeled and sliced peaches in a medium bowl. (check recipe notes for a simple way to peel peaches)
- Add vanilla extra to peaches.
- Sprinkle in chopped pecans.
- Sweeten with sugar mixture.
- Stir well.
How to make braided strudel
- Thaw puff pastry sheets at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes. You want them to still be cold but pliable so they don't split when unfolded. Roll each sheet into a rectangle of about 12x14-inches.
- Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, make cuts about 1" apart along both sides of the pastry sheet, leaving the center uncut. Each cut is approximately 2" long.
- Lay peach filling down the center of the pastry, leaving ½"-1" on either end.
- Fold both ends over filling.
- Starting with one of the strips, bring it up and over the filling at a slight angle. Next, bring a strip on the other side up and over filling and the first strip.
- Continue until all strips are covering the peach filling. Carefully lift the strudel off the wooden board using a long spatula or two spatulas and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Whisk egg with a little water then brush over the top of the puff pastry.
- Sprinkle generously with coarse sugar.
- Bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees until nicely browned. Let cool on a wire rack then move to a long platter for serving. Garnish with mint leaves.
This braided peach strudel is a delicious treat for breakfast but I like to serve mine warm topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect summer dessert. It is best served soon after baking but will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days. Believe me, this easy treat will soon become your new go-to summer dessert.
Recipe Variations - Other Fruit
This is a versatile strudel recipe and can be used to make lots of different fruity strudels. Simply substitute the peaches with other fruit to make apple, apricot, blueberry, cherry, mango, mixed berry, mixed fruit, pear, pineapple, or raspberry strudel.
Can peach strudel be made ahead?
Yes! Make the strudel as directed a day in advance. See freezing instructions if you want to make it more than a day or two in advance.
How to Store Peach Strudel
Place the baked strudel in an airtight container or cover it completely with plastic wrap. Store it on the counter. It does not need to be refrigerated.
How long does peach strudel last?
When stored properly, peach strudel will last up to 3 days at room temperature. Refrigerating it does not extend the shelf life.
How to Freeze Peach Strudel
- Assemble the strudel but do not bake it.
- Place it on a baking sheet and freeze.
- Once frozen, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil.
- Keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Thaw the unbaked strudel in the refrigerator overnight.
- Bake and serve.
Can you freeze strudel after baking?
Yes, make sure the strudel is cooled completely before freezing it. Wrap it with both plastic wrap and aluminum foil or put it in a freezer-safe airtight container.
Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. Note it may not have the same texture and become soggy. It's best to freeze homemade strudel before baking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Strudel is a sweet or savory pastry with filling. Sweet strudel has fruit and nut fillings and is served for breakfast or dessert. Savory strudel has meat and vegetable fillings and is served as a main dish.
Puff pastry is a pastry dough with layers of pastry and butter. It becomes light and flaky when baked. You can find puff pastry in your grocery store's freezer section.
More Recipes with Peaches
- Peach Lemonade
- Georgia Peach Vodka Cocktail
- Peach Fruit Salad
- Summer Peach Burrata Salad from My Every Day Table
- Peach Smoothie
Find lots of delicious breakfast recipes here on 2CM!
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Peach Strudel with Puff Pastry
Ingredients
- ½ pkg frozen puff pastry thawed
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 4-6 fresh peaches thinly sliced, peeled
- ½ cup chopped pecans optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoons coarse sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- On a wooden cutting board, roll the pastry out so it is flat with no creases to a size about 12x14-inches.
- Cut strips about 1" apart and 2" long on both long sides of the puff pastry.
- Mix together the sugar, cinnamon, and flour.
- Toss peaches with vanilla extract and pecans, if using. Add sugar mixture and mix well.
- Place the fruit in the center of the puff pastry, leaving about ½ inch clear at both ends.
- Fold over the ends then bring up each of the strips of pastry and cross over on top.
- Using a large spatula, move the strudel to the prepared baking sheet.
- Whisk an egg with a little water and brush across the top of the strudel. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
- Serve for breakfast as is or warm with a topping of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Notes
Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. Note it may not have the same texture and become soggy. It's best to freeze homemade strudel before baking.
