origin of Apfelstrudel

Apple strudel (Apfelstrudel) is a traditional Viennese strudel, a popular pastry in Austria and in many countries in Europe that once belonged to the Austro-Hungarian empire (1867–1918).

A strudel is a type of sweet or savoury layered pastry with a filling inside, that gained popularity in the 18th century through the Habsburg Empire (1278-1780). Austrian cuisine was formed and influenced by the cuisines of many different peoples (Turkish, Swiss, Alsacian, French, Dutch, Italian, German, Bohemian-Moravian, Hungarian, Polish, Croatian, Slovenian, Slovakian, Serbian, and Jewish cuisines) during the many centuries of the Austrian Habsburg Empire's expansion.

Strudel is related to the Ottoman Empire's pastry baklava, and came to Austria via Turkish to Hungarian and then Hungarian to Austrian cuisine."Strudel," a German word, derives from the Middle High German word for "whirlpool" or "eddy".

Strudel is most often associated with the Austrian cuisine, but is also a traditional pastry in the whole area formerly belonging to the Austro-Hungarian empire. In these countries, apple strudel is the most widely known kind of strudel.Apple strudel is considered to be the national dish of Austria along with Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz.Apple strudel in Hunggarian is called Almásrétes;the word "Apfelstrudel" is German for strudel with apple.

The oldest Strudel recipe is from 1696, a handwritten recipe housed at the Wiener Stadtbibliothek.