When I spoke at a women’s gathering in Aurora, Nebraska last night, I had no idea of what was in store for everyone attending. The lovely surprise went way beyond the rosy glow cast by the cold sore beneath my nose. That’s a special feature not often part of the speaking package. The real treat was the little known pastry served for dessert .
Apple preshka. Ever heard of it?
I hadn’t, and apparently, neither has google. Lack of internet presence withstanding, one bite of the delicacy – imagine the perfect combination of the best attributes of apple dumplings, apple turnovers, and apple pie – and I was in love.
Seriously in love.
So madly, obsessively in love, I asked the table hostess if an extra apple preshka was averrable for me to take home to photograph and blog about. And to slowly taste test and analyze with a good cup of coffee , once the photo shoot was finished. All with the objective of concocting my own apple preshka recipe, as part of my bigger goal to make the world a better place.
Something apple preshka has the potential to do.
Of course, I may not have the potential to recreate this little known traditional German pastry. Our table hostess said a Mennonite woman from near Henderson, Nebraska made the last night’s dessert. Not only that, she makes the best apple preshka anywhere.
And I believe her.
So the challenge could be insurmountable. But, apple season around the corner, and with the memory of sweet-tart, cinnamony apple filling surrounded by thin, flaky pastry rendered crisp and crunchy with an almost imperceptible drizzle of sugar syrup still tingling my pallet, I’m ready to give it a try. And if I fail, oh well. Hiram and I will have a whole lot of fun taste-testing my efforts!
Apple preshka, I’m in love.


I was born in Henderson and lived there until I was six. I have a lot of family there yet too. My grandmother used to make Apple Preshka all the time. It is one of my most found memories of my childhood. I have the recipe that I can send you if you like. I have yet to try and make them myself. We actually order them from the lady you mention in your story. We just ordered 15 dozen for an event we are doing and for the holidays. They keep in the freezer beautifully and then all you do is put the sugar glaze on top and bake. They are fantastic! Anyway, let me know if you want me to send you the recipe.
Hooray! I would love to have the recipe, Traci. I’ll send an email off the blog, and you can send it that way.
Hi I am from Milford Nebraska which is another Mennonite community, and I come from a Mennonite family and I am a baker..actually going to school for culinary at the moment, If anyone can find a recipe that meets the quality of your photo that would be awesome! I get them at the MCC sale every year in Aurora
Is there a chance of also getting that recipe please?
Alas, there is not. They were served as dessert at a function I attended years ago. They weren’t homemade. Sorry!
My family still makes this and it’s one of my favorite desserts they I can never make properly. I’ll see if I can find the recipe and add it.
That would be wonderful William! If you find and send the recipe I’ll give it a go and write a post about it!