Only 3 ingredients in the dough (butter, cream cheese, flour) and no extra sugar added. It really doesn't take very long to make, and the logs can be refrigerated or frozen and sliced at a later date (wrap in saran, then put into a heavy zip-top baggie) ~ sprinkle with powdered sugar before you slice them later. ** This recipe can easily be cut in half if you only want 2 large logs. **
APPLE Butter CARAMEL TOFFEE STRUDEL Bites
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened............................................1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided...............................2 tsp. ground cinnamon
about 4 tsp. caramel syrup or ice cream topping
About 1-1/2 to 2 cups Apple Butter (the thicker the better)
2 cups Heath toffee or caramel bits (could substitute chopped nuts)
About 4 TB milk or cream....................................................Powdered sugar
***
Beat butter and cream cheese together in medium bowl with electric mixer. Add 2 cups flour (one cup at a time), until mixture forms a ball. Flatten dough into disk. Wrap with plastic wrap. Chill about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Sprinkle work surface with remaining 1/2 cup flour (and roll your rolling pin in the flour too). Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll one piece into about a 12x14" rectangle. Spread 1/4 of the apple butter over the rectangle (to about 1/4" from the edge). Evenly drizzle 1 tsp. caramel syrup over the apple butter, and sprinkle with about 1/2 cup of the Heath bits and some cinnamon.
Carefully roll filled rectangle into a log shape (seam side down) and tuck ends under. Put the strudel on the baking sheet (may be easiest to roll it onto the baking sheet). **NOTE: I roll the dough on a silicon mat, and can then just move the mat and ease the log onto the baking sheet** Repeat with the other pieces of dough. You can get 2-3 logs on a baking sheet, unless you make them long enough that they have to fit diagonally on there.
Bake them for 30 minutes, then brush with the milk or cream. Bake for another 5 minutes (or until lightly golden brown). Take the baking sheets out and let them cool on a rack. *DON'T PANIC if the filling has oozed out and baked onto the parchment paper! When it's cool, you can just slice next to the log, and the filling will come right up. It makes an excellent reward for the cook to enjoy! ** When they're cool, generously dust with powdered sugar and cut into about 1" slices.
This makes about 4 big logs (about 5 dozen slices).