Festive apple strudel made with phyllo dough and served with a cranberry sauce laced with kirsch.

Apple Strudel with Cranberry Sauce

Sauce:
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
3 tablespoons kirsch (clear cherry brandy)

Strudel:
1/4 cup raisins
1 1/2 tablespoons kirsch
3 medium tart green apples, peeled, cored, chopped coarsely 1/2 cup plus 9 teaspoons gingersnap cookie crumbs 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 9 sheets fresh phyllo (filo) pastry or frozen, thawed
Powder sugar

For Sauce:

Combine cranberries, sugar, water and kirsch in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium and cook until most of berries burst, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly.
Transfer mixture to food processor or blender and puree until smooth.

For Strudel:

Combine raisins and kirsch in small bowl. Let stand 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Combine apples, 1/2 cup crumbs, 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and raisin mixture bowl.
Brush large baking sheet with some of melted butter.
Place 1 phyllo sheet on work surface with 1 long side parallel to edge of work surface (cover remaining phyllo with plastic and damp towel). Brush phyllo with melted butter. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon gingersnap crumbs over. Top with second phyllo sheet. Brush with butter; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon gingersnap crumbs. Repeat with remaining phyllo sheet, melted butter and gingersnap crumbs.
Spoon apple mixture in 3-inch-wide log along 1 long side of phyllo, leaving 2-inch border at long and short edges. Fold bottom long side over filling, then fold in short sides and roll up jelly roll style. Carefully transfer strudel to prepared baking sheet, seam side down. Brush top of strudel with butter.
Bake strudel 15 minutes. Brush with remaining butter and continue to bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Cool on baking sheet.
Lightly sift powdered sugar over strudel. Cut strudel crosswise into thick slices. Transfer slices to dessert plates; spoon sauce around strudel and serve.

Makes 6 servings.