Pumpkin and Pecan Strudel

⏱ 115 mins 🍽 Serves 6 🌶 german ✅ More effort 🏷 Dessert

This German dessert blends the flavours of pumpkin pie with the delicate layers of a filo pastry strudel. A spiced pumpkin and almond filling is rolled in buttery pastry sheets with chopped pecans, then baked until crisp. After a brief rest, it is sliced and served warm, ideally drizzled with maple syrup and accompanied by cream or custard. It serves six people and takes just under two hours to prepare and bake.

Pumpkin and Pecan Strudel

Ingredients

  • 1kg/2lb 4 oz pumpkin or butternut squash (peeled weight- 1 medium pumpkin or 1 large butternut squash), deseeded and cut into large chunks
  • 2 tsp vegetable oil
  • 140g soft light brown sugar plus extra for sprinkling
  • 100g ground almond
  • 100g fresh white breadcrumb
  • 1 large egg beaten, 1/2 tbsp reserved for glazing
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • good grating nutmeg
  • 6 sheets filo pastry
  • 85g butter melted
  • 100g pecan chopped, 1 tbsp reserved for the top
  • maple syrup to serve
  • cream or custard to serve (optional)

Method

  1. Set your oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Coat the pumpkin chunks with oil on a baking tray. Roast for 45 mins until completely soft, then allow to cool.
  2. Place the cooled pumpkin in a food processor and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the sugar, ground almond, breadcrumb, beaten egg and spices until combined. You can prepare this mixture up to 2 days in advance.
  3. Reduce the oven temperature to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Stack the filo pastry sheets, brushing melted butter and scattering a little sugar and chopped pecans between each layer. Spoon the pumpkin mixture along one long side of the pastry in a log shape, leaving a 2.5cm border at each end. Fold the ends over, then roll up the strudel, sealing the edge with egg.
  4. Place the strudel on a baking tray with the seam underneath. Brush with the reserved egg, pour over any remaining butter and top with the reserved pecans and extra sugar. Bake for 40 mins until golden and crisp. Let it stand for 10 mins before cutting into slices. Serve with maple syrup and optional cream or custard.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories609 kcal
Fat36 g
Saturates10 g
Carbs61 g
Sugars32 g
Fibre6 g
Protein12 g
Sodium280 mg

Recipe details

Skill levelMore effort
CategoryDessert
Cuisinegerman