Low-Calorie Apple Strudel: Just 90 Calories per Slice
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Strudel is a classic Central European dessert, usually filled with apples cooked in generous amounts of butter and wrapped in layers of phyllo baked with—you guessed it—more butter.
Unlike plenty of other classic desserts, this lighter, vegan version is genuinely easy to make at home.
You get a delicious dessert with a reasonable calorie count, and you'll even have room for a scoop of vanilla ice cream. No guilt required.
Because hey, all we're talking about here is apples cooked with a little coconut sugar and coconut oil, wrapped in a grand total of 3 sheets of phyllo!
So if you're firmly in the "I need a giant, over-the-top chocolate dessert" camp, this probably isn't your recipe.
But if you're craving something sweet and satisfying without blowing your calorie budget, you're in the right place.
A Few Notes on This Low-Calorie Apple Strudel
- I use Granny Smith apples, which are tart and work beautifully in desserts. But use whatever apples you have. Pears would work nicely here, too. (Other fruits? I'd have to test those.)
- I sweetened the filling with coconut sugar, which adds a deep, slightly nutty flavor—and comes with a pretty hefty price tag. You absolutely don't have to use it. Go with whatever sweetener you prefer. Feeling adventurous? Skip the sugar altogether – just don't expect a particularly sweet dessert.
- I cooked the apple slices in a little coconut oil and used it to brush the dough, too. If you're not a fan of coconut oil's flavor, don't worry: you really can't taste it in the finished strudel. And if you'd rather use another oil, go for it!
- I used phyllo dough, a particular favorite of mine because the kind I use has no added fat at all. (And definitely no margarine!) Just flour and a little salt. Don't confuse it with puff pastry. This entire recipe uses only 3 (!) sheets of phyllo. That's very little dough!
Low-Calorie Apple Strudel Nutrition
One 90 g (3.2 oz) slice, when the strudel is cut into 10 slices, contains:
- 90 calories
- 1 g protein
- 20 g carbohydrates
- 1 g fat
A scoop of plant-based vanilla ice cream adds about 100 calories.
Low-Calorie Apple Strudel
Ingredients
- 3 sheets phyllo dough 105 g (3.7 oz)
- 4-5 whole Granny Smith apples 740 g (1 lb 10 oz)
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar 30 g (1.1 oz)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil 20 ml (about 4 US teaspoons)
- 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar
Instructions
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Thaw the phyllo in the refrigerator according to the package directions.
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Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
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Peel, core, and slice the apples.
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Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a skillet and add the apples.
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Toss well to coat the apples evenly with the oil.
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Add the sugar and stir well.
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Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
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Cook the apples for about 8-10 minutes, until caramelized and tender.
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Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
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Stack 2 sheets of phyllo on your work surface.
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Lay the remaining sheet across the lower half of the stacked sheets, creating a 50% overlap (see the video).
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Spoon the apple filling into the center of the phyllo.
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Fold the sides of the phyllo inward, then fold up the edge closest to you.
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Roll the phyllo into a log (see the video).
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Brush with a little coconut oil.
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Bake for about 20 minutes, until golden brown.
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Remove from the oven and let cool.
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Before serving, cut into 10 slices and dust with a little confectioners' sugar.
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Serve with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream, if you'd like.
