strudel

American  

[strood-l, shtrood-l] / ˈstrud l, ˈʃtrud l /

noun

1. a pastry, usually consisting of a fruit, cheese, or other mixture, rolled in a paper-thin sheet of dough and baked.

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strudel British  

/ ˈʃtruːdəl, ˈstruːdəl /

noun

1. a thin sheet of filled dough rolled up and baked

   apple strudel

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Etymology

Origin of strudel

1925–30; < German: literally, eddy, whirlpool

Explanation

Strudel is a delicious, flaky pastry. Most strudel has a sweet, fruity filling, and it's often dusted with powdered sugar. Strudel comes from German-speaking Austria, and the word itself is also German—Strudel literally means "whirlpool or eddy," from the Old High German stredan, "bubble, boil, or whirl." In Vienna, the most common kind of strudel is Apfelstrudel, or "apple strudel." Other fillings include cherries, cheese, plum, and even sauerkraut. The pastry used to make strudel is traditionally rolled and stretched so thin that you can see through it.

Example Sentences

Although she has performed "quite a few times on stage", Betsy has never been abroad before, and she said she was looking forward to spending time with her dad and "having some apple strudel".

From BBC • May 16, 2025

Corned beef sandwiches and cheese strudel were on the menu for us at the famous Katella Bakery, Deli & Restaurant.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2023

The orchard’s apples reportedly filled his scrumptious strudel.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 13, 2022

The menu features an Austrian flatbread with bacon and onions, Berlin currywurst, open-faced Viennese sandwiches, slow-roasted beets with Alpine cheese, classic wiener schnitzel, spaetzle, and apple strudel.

From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2022

The turkey potpie wasn’t half bad, and the cherry strudel turned out to be surprisingly tasty.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Related Words

• bread
• cake
• croissant
• doughnut
• phyllo
• pie