Plum Strudel with Cinnamon Glaze for the Break in the Fast

(Barely adapted from Quick Plum Preserves at Epicurious)


Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ripe read plums
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste

• De-pit and chop plums.
• Place plums in a medium saucepan and add sugar, water and vanilla bean paste.
• Stir together and simmer, stirring every once in a while for about 1 hour.
• When mixture has reduced and thickened, remove from heat and let cool completely.

For the Strudel:
(Barely adapted from Plum Strudel from Saveur)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces.
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 eggs lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup ice cold water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla bean paste
• 1 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Plum preserves
• 1 egg lightly beaten

• Place first 5 ingredients in a food processor and process until they reach a crumb texture. If the mixture is still too powdery, break it up the butter pieces further by rubbing the mixture between your hands.
• Add 2 beaten eggs, ice water and vanilla bean paste and pulse until a dough forms.
• Wrap in plastic film and chill in the fridge for one hour.
• In the meantime grind the walnuts and remaining 1/4 cup of sugar together in the food processor and set aside.

• Process the plum preserves until smooth. Set aside.

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Line a baking pan or sheet with parchment paper.
• Remove dough from fridge and divide evenly into three pieces.
• Roll each piece out into a 11″x7″ rectangle.
• Place one of the rectangles in pan or sheet and spread half of the plum preserves over it, then sprinkle one third of the walnut sugar mixture over the preserves.

• Repeat with the second rectangle. 

• Place the final rectangle on top and poke holes in it with a fork.
• Brush remaining beaten egg over the top and sprinkle the remaining walnuts over the top.

• Bake for 30 minutes until the tops is golden.
• Remove from oven and immediately make the glaze (recipe below).

For the Cinnamon Glaze:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

• Place sugar, cream and cinnamon in a small saucepan.
• Heat over a low setting stirring until combined and melted.
• Drizzle over the strudel.
• Slice when cooled completely.