Autumn is sweet with South Tyrolean apple strudel following a recipe by Waltraud Runggaldier – Appartements Toni in Feldthurns Crunchy red, sweet with a golden sheen or bright green and juicy. Apples are not just any old fruit in South Tyrol. They are a passion, joy and livelihood. On top of that, they are healthy and a real treat for the tastebuds in the form of apple strudel. That's why we're going into the details of this mouth-watering dessert – with a delicious recipe to try at home.

The true core of the apple

Apples like it here, as the different varieties enjoy the perfect conditions for developing their taste to the full here in this alternating Alpine-Mediterannean climate. This bears fruit: eleven varieties may bear the 'South Tyrol Apple PGI' label and are recognised as a regional speciality thanks to this Protected Geographical Indication. This is a source of pride, of course. The varieties all have their own particular tastes and yet are the same in one respect: they taste good. So good, in fact, that the tractors slowing down the traffic at harvest time may be excused. :-)

The crème della crème

Good reason for the local cuisine to get inspiration for lots of recipes. Yet the traditional apple strudel remains the favourite, even if found in different variations. Both puff pastry and curd or filo pastry are suitable to give the apples a particularly tasty casing. However, in South Tyrol shortcrust pastry is preferred. Adorned with pine nuts and raisins – only optional if you're not a fan – and baked with love, it becomes a traditional treat.
South Tyrol's private landlords and landladies are perfectly familiar with local baking. That's why Waltraud Runggaldier from Appartements Toni has let us in on her recipe for you to take a piece of South Tyrolean flavour home with you. Enjoy!

For the dough:

100g sugar
125g butter
250g flour
1 egg
1 vanilla sugar
grated lemon zest
half a packet of baking powder

Work all the ingredients into a smooth dough, adding a little cream if too dry or some flour if too sticky.
Leave to rest in the fridge for at least half and hour.

For the apple filling:

500g-600g Golden Delicious cut into slices
60g sugar
60g breadcrumbs browned in butter
25g pine nuts
50g sultanas
grated lemon zest
vanilla sugar
cinnamon
a little rum
egg for brushing

1. Cut the apple into thin slices and mix with the sugar, breadcrumbs, sultanas, pine nuts, rum, vanilla sugar, cinnamon and lemon zest.
2. Preheat oven.
3. Roll out dough on a floured board and lay on a buttered baking tray.
4. Put apple filling on the dough and fold the dough over it.
5. Brush the strudel with the egg, decorate with remaining strips of dough and bake in the oven.
6. Dust with icing sugar and serve with whipped cream.

Oven temperature: 180 degrees
Baking time: 35 minutes