Snow-capped Pie, Cherry on Top!

If you were a customer at my pastry shop, Gesine Confectionary, you'll know my strudel well 

(no, that's not a euphamism).  

If you never had the chance to experience my strudel (get your mind out of the gutter!), this is your chance to recreate it in your own home but in a pleasing pie shape.

What makes it so special?  Well, the bottom crust is a sweet tart dough.  Inside is a mixture of apples, pears, yummy pastry cream and cake bits.  This might sound a bit odd but what it manages to create is a luscious and creamy-fruity symphony.  The outside is a crispy layer of puff pastry topped with a sweet glaze.  

And, of course, a cherry on top.

If you are like me, you'll want to make the puff, the cake crumbs and the pastry cream yourself.  But since it's the holidays, I created this recipe for Better Homes and Gardens with the busy elf in mind and made totally legitimate substitutions to keep it fast AND delicious.  You can buy the puff pastry in your grocer's freezer section.  You can use instant vanilla pudding in lieu of homemade pastry cream.  And a frozen pound cake, grated with a cheese grater, makes quick work of the cake crumbs.

For my recipe in Better Homes and Gardens, click on THIS LINK.

If you prefer to make these elements yourself, here are links for the individual parts!

For the Puff Pastry (this is quick puff):  Click on THIS LINK

For the Pastry Cream:  Click on THIS LINK

For the Cake Crumbs (you can half the recipe and freeze what's left over for your next strudel!):

Click on THIS LINK