The 90s Snack Gets a Homemade Makeover
Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 6 strudels
For generations, kids have loved the toaster strudel pastries from the freezer section of the grocery store. They adored the taste of the hot and flaky Danish filled with fruit, but the real fun came from drizzling the sweet icing on top of the warm pastry.
You won’t believe how easy it is to create your own homemade version of the prepackaged treat. You can still turn to the freezer section for frozen puff pastry sheets, and the filling can be made with your favorite flavor of jam or preserves. Kids can still enjoy piping the icing on top themselves.
Although these homemade toaster strudels are actually prepared in the oven rather than the toaster, parents will love that their kids can enjoy something homemade rather than prepackaged, without extra fillers or additives.
Can I Use Phyllo Dough Instead of Puff Pastry?
Although frozen puff pastry and phyllo dough are typically found side-by-side at the supermarket, they’re quite different and cannot be used interchangeably here. Not only are they made with different ingredients, but they bake up to different textures, so using phyllo dough won’t get you the buttery, flaky texture that’s a signature of toaster strudels.
What Is Toaster Strudel Icing Made Of?
The creamy sweet icing that came with each pastry was an integral part of the store-bought toaster strudel experience. In this recipe, the icing is made from a classic combination of powdered sugar and milk, but we also add a dash of almond extract for extra flavor.
Tips for Making Homemade Toaster Strudel
- Thaw the pastry properly—Frozen puff pastry typically needs to be thawed before use. Make sure to read the package and take the puff pastry out according to instructions.
- Adjust the consistency of the icing—To get the icing just right consistency for drizzling, additional powdered sugar can be added to thicken, or additional milk to thin out the mixture.
«Like most 90s kids, I have eaten my fair share of Pillsbury toaster strudels and love that they’re so easy to recreate at home using this recipe. Frozen puff pastry is easy to find and work with. I used a pizza cutter to cut the pastry into rectangles. The raspberry jam filling is delicious and I can definitely see myself making these again with a different flavor.» —Patty Lee
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients
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1 (17 1/3-ounce) box puff pastry sheets, thawed according to package directions
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2/3 cup raspberry jam
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2 teaspoons cornstarch
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1 large egg, beaten
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1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
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2 teaspoons milk, plus additional if needed
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1/8 teaspoon almond extract, optional
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
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Place one sheet of the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut into 6 rectangles.
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In a medium bowl, combine the raspberry jam and cornstarch until smooth.
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Place the puff pastry rectangles on the prepared baking sheet. Evenly divide the jam among the 6 rectangles. Spread out the jam, leaving about a 1/2-inch rim around the edges.
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Brush the beaten egg around the edges of each rectangle.
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Cut the second sheet of puff pastry into 6 rectangles and place each on top of the jam-coated puff pastry rectangles.
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Use a fork to press the edges to seal.
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Brush the tops of each assembled strudel with the remaining egg. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
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Remove to a wire rack and cool slightly while preparing the drizzle.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract, if using. Add more milk or powdered sugar as needed to achieve the desired drizzling consistency.
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Spoon the icing into the corner of a small resealable plastic bag and twist the end. Snip a small piece off the tip with scissors and drizzle over each strudel.
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Serve warm.
How To Store Leftover Toaster Strudels
Store leftover toaster strudels in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days. Reheat them in a toaster oven.
Recipe Variation
- Use a different jam—Swap out the raspberry jam for your favorite flavor, like blueberry, blackberry, strawberry, or boysenberry.
- Flavor the icing—You can use different extracts or flavorings in the icing. Alternatively, crush up freeze-dried fruit, such as strawberries, into a fine powder and stir it into the icing for even more fruit flavor.
- Make cute shapes—Use large cookie cutters to cut out puff pastry dough into cute shapes instead of rectangles. You can brush puff pastry scraps with egg and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar for a tasty snack and no waste.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 6 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 589 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 32g | 41% |
| Saturated Fat 5g | 24% |
| Cholesterol 31mg | 10% |
| Sodium 231mg | 10% |
| Total Carbohydrate 67g | 25% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 6% |
| Total Sugars 23g | |
| Protein 7g | |
| Vitamin C 3mg | 16% |
| Calcium 21mg | 2% |
| Iron 2mg | 14% |
| Potassium 91mg | 2% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
