Floret Cheese Strudel Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), blend the cream cheese until soft and smooth. Add the farmer's cheese and continue to blend. Add the egg and mix. Add 1/2 cup of the sugar and the vanilla. Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip (or just set aside in a bowl).
• Transfer 1 sheet of phyllo to the prepared pan. Using a pastry brush, brush the phyllo with butter. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/3 of the ground walnuts. Repeat with the 2 remaining sheets of phyllo--reserving the some melted butter and nuts for the top, once rolled.
• Turn the sheet pan so that the phyllo is horizontal to your body. Two inches in from the left-hand edge of the phyllo, working from top to bottom and leaving 2 inches bare at the top and bottom, pipe or spoon a 3/4 inch thick line of cream cheese mixture.
• Alongside the cream cheese, pour the cherry pie filling. Turn the sheet pan a quarter turn and, starting at the edge the fillings are near, roll up the pastry to encase the filling. Keep rolling to form a log. Move the log to the center of the sheet pan and tuck the ends under to keep the filling from oozing out. Brush the surface with melted butter and sprinkle with remaining sugar and nuts.
• Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool 10 to 15 minutes on the pan. Using a serrated knife, cut carefully into sections and serve warm.

Steps:

• Defrost filo, following the package directions.
• Zest the lemon, mince and reserve. Carefully peel the lemon, removing all of the white pith. Thinly slice the peeled lemon with care, set aside. Lemon is easier to cut if first frozen.
• Combine the cheese, yolks, sugar and extract with an electric mixer or food processor. Blend until creamy.
• Fold in raisins if desired, and zest. Refrigerate.
• Heat oven to 375. Grease a baking sheet.
• Dampen a large cotton cloth, place on work surface.
• Remove first filo (phyllo) leaf from package and place on cloth. Brush the leaf quickly with melted butter. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs. Top with another filo leaf, butter and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs.
• Repeat with 2 more filo leaves.
• Working across only the bottom half of the short end of the prepared filo, spread half of the filling on the pastry, leaving a one-inch border acress the short end and halfway up both sides.
• Lay half of the lemon slices in a row across the filling.
• Fold the border over the filling, and using the cloth as a guide, loosely roll the pastry jellyroll fashion, taking care to keep ends tucked inches.
• Place rolled strudel, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet, brush with butter. Using a sharp knife, make seven slashes just through the top layer of filo leaves dividing the strudel into 8 equal servings. Repeat entire process with remaining filo leaves and filling to make a 2nd strudel.
• Bake 50-55 minutes, or until deep golden brown. Cool on wire rack for 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Steps:

• 1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350°F. Lightly brush a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish with a little of the melted butter.
• 2. Using a rubber spatula, work the cheese through a medium-meshed wire sieve into a medium bowl. Stir the bread crumbs and milk in another medium bowl.
• 3. Beat the room-temperature butter in a large bowl with a handheld mixer on high speed until creamy. Add the sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla and beat until light in color and texture, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time. Mix in the farmer's cheese, soaked bread crumbs, and sour cream.
• 4. In another medium bowl, using very clean beaters, beat the egg whites at high speed until they form stiff peaks. Stir about one fourth of the whites into the cheese mixture, then fold in the remaining whites. Fold in the raisins.
• 5. Place a filo sheet in the prepared pan, letting excess dough hang over the sides. Using a soft brush, lightly brush the filo as best as you can with melted butter. Layer 5 more filo sheets, buttering each layer. Pour in the cheese mixture and spread evenly. Layer with 6 more filo sheets, buttering each layer and the top. Tuck the excess filo into the baking pan.
• 6. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 1 hour. Cool for 30 minutes. Dust the top of the strudel with confectioners' sugar. Serve warm or cooled, with the vanilla sauce, if you wish.
• MAKE AHEAD
• The strudel is best the day it is baked.