CHOCOLATE APPLE STRUDEL: National Apple Strudel Day!

Today is National Apple Strudel Day, so I thought I'd post this great recipe for Chocolate Apple Strudel from Hersheyland! I grew up with Hershey's Chocolate! When I was a child, we often stopped in Hershey, PA, on the way from Philadelphia to visit my aunt in Harrisburg. Oh, the aroma, as you grew near Hershey's. So I'm a sucker for anything Hershey. Of course you can substitute your favorite cocoa in this recipe, but I still love Hershey's Cocoa. I think the special dark cocoa is best for this recipe, but you always have a choice. Serve this Chocolate Apple Strudel warm with vanilla ice-cream or whipped cream!

Chocolate Apple Strudel 

Ingredients

1 sheet frozen puff pastry (1/2 of 17-1/2 oz pkg.) 

2 tsps water 

1 cup apple finely shredded 

3/4 cup ground pecans 

1/2 cup vanilla wafer crumbs (about 15 wafers, crushed) 

1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa 

1/4 cup butter, melted 

1/3 cup sugar 

2 eggs 

1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

Directions

Thaw puff pastry according to package directions. Heat oven to 425°F. Sprinkle cookie sheet with cold water. 

Stir together apple, pecans, crumbs, and cocoa in medium bowl. Stir together butter, sugar, 1 egg, and vanilla in small bowl; add to apple mixture, stirring gently until well blended. 

Roll out pastry on lightly floured surface with floured rolling pin to 12x10-inch rectangle. Spoon apple mixture lengthwise down center of pastry. Lightly beat remaining 1 egg and water. Fold one side of pastry over apple mixture; brush long edge with egg mixture. Brush long edge of remaining side of pastry with egg mixture; fold over filling. Press edges together to seal. Place, seam-side down, on prepared cookie sheet. Brush with remaining egg mixture. 

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool about 20 minutes. 

Prepare POWDERED SUGAR DRIZZLE and CHOCOLATE CHIP DRIZZLE; drizzle over strudel (you may have some left over. 

After Drizzling, cut into slices. 8 servings. 

POWDERED SUGAR DRIZZLE: 

Stir together 3/4 cup powdered sugar and 2 to 3 teaspoons milk in small bowl until smooth and of desired consistency. 

CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE:  ( Ok, here's where I make my own dark chocolate drizzle)

Place 1/4 cup of chopped chocolate bars, chocolate squares, or chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, custard cup, or glass measuring cup. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds or so, or until chocolate is soft enough to stir smooth.