Ribbon Apple Strudel

Sep 8, 2025 | Dessert

Here’s a charming twist on classic apple strudel—Ribbon Bowtie Apple Strudel 🎀🍎🥧. It’s visually playful and surprisingly easy, using puff pastry and apple rings to create a bowtie effect. Here’s how it’s done:

🎀 Ribbon Bowtie Apple Strudel Recipe

🧂 Ingredients:

  • 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
  • 1 Honeycrisp apple, sliced into ½-inch thick rings
  • 1 tsp pumpkin spice seasoning*
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

 

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

  1. Prep the Apples
    • Slice the apple into ½-inch thick rings.
    • Use a small round cookie cutter to remove the core/seeds from each ring.
  2. Make the Syrup
    • In a bowl, mix lemon juice, brown sugar, and pumpkin spice.
    • Toss the apple rings in this mixture until well coated.
  3. Shape the Pastry
    • Cut the puff pastry sheet into 4 equal squares.
    • On each square, make symmetrical 90° cuts from each corner toward the center (don’t cut all the way through).
  4. Assemble the Bowties
    • Place one apple ring in the center of each pastry square.
    • Fold each corner of the pastry inward, pressing gently into the center of the apple ring to create a bowtie shape.
  5. Finish & Bake
    • Brush the pastry with egg wash.
    • Drizzle a little of the leftover syrup into the center of each bowtie.
    • Bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 20 minutes, or until golden and puffed.
  6. Serve
  • Top with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or a dusting of powdered sugar.

 

🍂 DIY Pumpkin Spice Substitute

Blend (makes ~1 tablespoon):

  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • Optional: ¼ tsp allspice for extra depth

Just mix and use as a 1:1 replacement for pumpkin spice seasoning.

 

🧭 Quick Fixes (if you’re missing ingredients):

  • Only have cinnamon + nutmeg? Use ¾ tsp cinnamon + ¼ tsp nutmeg per teaspoon of pumpkin spice.
  • Apple pie spice works well too—it’s similar but leans sweeter and may include cardamom.
  • Just cinnamon? It’ll give warmth, but lacks complexity. Still better than skipping entirely.

Adapted from a TikTok recipe by Misha’s Kitchen, and it’s perfect for parties or cozy fall evenings.