What does strudel mean?
A strudel is a pastry made by wrapping a filling in thin dough and baking it until crisp and golden. Sweet versions commonly contain apples, cherries, berries, or other fruit, while savory versions may use cheese, potatoes, or meat. The dough is stretched until very thin, producing delicate layers and a flaky texture, often served with sugar, powdered sugar, or cream. Although the pastry has strong associations with Central and Eastern Europe, especially Austria and Germany, strudel is now familiar in international cuisine. In English, it can refer both to the whole pastry and, more generally, to a filled piece or slice. The word also suggests a rustic, richly flavored bake, particularly when eaten warm as a dessert or snack.
nounA pastry made from thin sheets of dough that are filled with ingredients such as fruit, apple, cheese, or nuts, then baked until crisp and golden. It is especially associated with Central and Eastern European cuisine.
- A baked pastry with a thin, flaky or crisp dough surrounding a sweet or savory filling.
"We shared a warm apple strudel dusted with powdered sugar after lunch."
"The bakery sells apple, cherry, and savory potato strudel."
"She folded the warm strudel pastry around a forkful of apples and cinnamon."
The usual plural form is “strudels,” though the pastry is also frequently treated as a mass noun when referring generally to the food.
"The shop sells several strudels with different fruit fillings."
The word strudel comes from German, where it originally referred to a pastry whose filling was scattered or spread across the dough rather than neatly enclosed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does strudel come from?
The word comes from German Strudel, originally a shortened form of Streudel, a term associated with a pastry whose filling was scattered across the dough. German streueln, from which it developed, means to scatter or spread, and is related to English strew, as in “to strew fruit over a dish.” The pastry itself is linked historically to Central European baking traditions and became especially prominent in Austrian cuisine.
Related word forms
How strudel is actually used
Strudel is widely used in English, particularly in recipes and restaurant menus. It is most closely associated with Austrian, German, Hungarian, and other Central or Eastern European cuisines. When referring to the pastry as food, the singular form is often used even when discussing multiple portions: “a strudel” or “some strudel.”