The smell of warm apples and sweet caramel makes me smile right away. The flaky crust feels so soft, and the gooey filling melts in my mouth. It’s the kind of treat that pulls me back to cozy fall days.

I remember making this strudel when my friends came over. Everyone kept asking for seconds, and I felt so happy to share it. Little bites of apple with caramel made the whole room feel warm.

Now I can’t wait to show you how easy it is to make this at home. It’s simple, fun, and oh so tasty. Let’s bake this Caramel Apple Strudel together.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Perfect Balance of Sweet and Tart: The combination of apple pie filling, caramel, and cinnamon strikes a perfect balance between sweetness and tartness that’ll satisfy your cravings.
Easy to Make: Using store-bought Pillsbury Crescent Rolls as the base makes this recipe incredibly easy. It’s perfect for those last-minute dessert cravings or when you need something quick to impress.
Mouthwatering Caramel Drizzle: The caramel ice cream topping is the star of the show! You’ll drizzle this warm caramel over the freshly baked strudel to add a rich, sweet finish.
Family-Friendly: Whether you’re baking with kids or serving at a family gathering, everyone loves a warm, gooey apple strudel.
Customizable: Feel free to swap out ingredients to suit your tastes—use homemade apple pie filling, add nuts, or top with whipped cream.

Required Kitchen Tools

To make this Caramel Apple Strudel, you’ll need the following tools:

Baking Sheet: For baking the strudel.
Parchment Paper: To line the baking sheet and prevent the strudel from sticking.
Pastry Brush: For brushing the strudel with an egg wash for a golden finish.
Knife: To slice the apple and cut the strudel after baking.
Small Bowl: For mixing the cinnamon-sugar topping.
Measuring Cups & Spoons: To accurately measure ingredients.
Microwave-Safe Bowl: For warming the caramel topping.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need for this simple yet delicious Caramel Apple Strudel:

1 Tube of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls: This serves as the flaky, buttery base of your strudel, saving time without compromising flavor.
2 Cups of Homemade Apple Pie Filling (or about 16-20 ounces of canned apple pie filling): For the apples, I love to use homemade apple pie filling, but canned works just as well for a quicker option.
1/4 Cup Caramel Ice Cream Topping (plus extra for garnish): This is the key to that delicious caramel drizzle. It adds an extra layer of sweetness to the strudel.
1 Tbsp Cinnamon Sugar: A little cinnamon and sugar mixture sprinkled inside the strudel will enhance the apple flavor.
1 Egg (for egg wash): This will give the strudel a nice golden color as it bakes.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Caramel Apple Strudel

1. Prepare the Crescent Rolls

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Unroll the Pillsbury Crescent Rolls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Instead of keeping them in separate triangles, you’ll press them together into a rectangle shape by pinching the seams together. This creates a perfect base for your apple filling.

2. Prepare the Apple Filling

If you’re using homemade apple pie filling, make sure your apples are peeled and sliced, then mixed with cinnamon, sugar, and a little lemon juice. If you’re using canned apple pie filling, you can skip this step.

Place the apple filling in the center of the crescent dough, leaving about an inch of space on all sides for folding.

3. Sprinkle Cinnamon Sugar

Sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon-sugar over the apple filling. This adds a warm, cozy spice to your strudel and amplifies the flavor of the apples.

4. Fold the Crescent Rolls

Now, fold the edges of the crescent dough over the apple filling, making sure to overlap them slightly. If you’d like a more authentic “strudel” look, you can fold the dough over in layers, just as you would when making a traditional puff pastry strudel.

5. Create the Egg Wash

In a small bowl, beat the egg to create an egg wash. Brush the egg wash generously over the top of the folded crescent dough. This step will give your strudel a golden and glossy finish when baked.

6. Bake the Strudel

Place the prepared strudel in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the crescent dough is golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on it, as oven times can vary slightly.

7. Make the Caramel Drizzle

While the strudel is baking, heat up the caramel ice cream topping in a microwave-safe bowl for about 15-20 seconds or until it’s warm and pourable. This will make it easy to drizzle over the strudel once it’s finished baking.

8. Serve the Caramel Apple Strudel

Once the strudel is out of the oven, let it cool for a few minutes. Then, drizzle the warm caramel ice cream topping generously over the strudel, and serve immediately.

How to Serve Caramel Apple Strudel

This Caramel Apple Strudel is delicious on its own, but there are plenty of ways to elevate it:

Serve with Ice Cream: Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or cinnamon ice cream on the side for a decadent treat.
Whipped Cream: For an extra layer of richness, top your strudel with whipped cream.
Cinnamon Dust: Sprinkle a little extra cinnamon sugar over the top for a more intense flavor.
Chopped Nuts: For some texture and crunch, top the strudel with chopped pecans or walnuts.

Variations for Caramel Apple Strudel

Use Different Fruit: While apple is classic, you can experiment with other fruits like pears, peaches, or berries. Just adjust the filling accordingly.
Add Nuts: For extra texture and flavor, add chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds to the apple filling before baking.
Use Puff Pastry: If you’re looking for an even flakier crust, you can substitute the Pillsbury Crescent Rolls with puff pastry.
Make it Gluten-Free: You can make this dessert gluten-free by using a gluten-free crescent roll dough or puff pastry. Just ensure that the apple pie filling and caramel topping are gluten-free as well.
Vegan Version: For a vegan twist, you can use plant-based crescent rolls, dairy-free caramel, and whipped coconut cream instead of traditional ice cream and whipped cream.

Storing Caramel Apple Strudel

Leftovers: If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. To reheat, warm them in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes to restore the flakiness.
Freezing: If you want to make this strudel ahead of time, you can freeze it. Assemble the strudel without the caramel topping and freeze it before baking. When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven and bake straight from the freezer, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

Nutrition Information

While I can’t guarantee exact calorie counts without the full breakdown, here’s an approximation:

Nutrition	Per Serving
Calories	~250-300 calories
Carbs	~35g
Protein	~3g
Fat	~14g
Sodium	~150mg
Fiber	~2g
Sugar	~18g

Conclusion

This Caramel Apple Strudel recipe combines the best flavors of autumn in a quick and easy dessert that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re making it for a special dinner or just want something sweet to enjoy at home, this strudel will undoubtedly impress. You get the warm, comforting taste of apples, the richness of caramel, and the buttery flakiness of the crescent dough all in one bite. Plus, it’s so easy to prepare!

Remember, there’s always room to get creative. Add your own twist, play around with different fillings, or enjoy it with some extra indulgent toppings like ice cream or whipped cream. Either way, this Caramel Apple Strudel will quickly become your go-to recipe for fall desserts.