Strudel was the popular choice at the Midwinter Christkindel Christmas Market held at the Stony River Hotel Okato Taranaki.

The people had spoken at the Midwinter Christkindel Christmas Market at Stony River Boutique in Okato – and they wanted strudel.

Within 45 minutes of the market gates opening in the small town, 25 minutes south of New Plymouth, it had all sold out.

Austrian Stony River Boutique owner Renate Staudinger could be found in the kitchen furiously making more of the popular pastry.

GRANT MATTHEW/STUFF Apple strudel sold out in 45 minutes at the Midwinter Christkindel Christmas Market at Stony River Boutique Hotel.

"Last year we stretched it over two hours and this year is was 11am to 5pm and in 45 minutes they were gone, and I don't know how many litres of mulled wine."

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Christkindlesmarkt, organised by Staudinger, her husband Heimo and German national Belinda Lubkoll-Young of Ringcraft Moana, is a traditional Christmas market annually held in Nuremberg, Germany.

GRANT MATTHEW/STUFF Christkindel Angels Sheree Dowsing, Tracey Mitchell, Suzanne Jones and Zana Travis serve mulled wine.

Market-goers cars lined the surrounding streets and paddocks in Okato as more than 1500 people came out to get their bratwurst and mulled wine fix.

This was the second time the trio had hosted the christmas market. Last year the amount of people exceeded their expectations and Eftpos shut down, so this year a lot of stalls were cash only.

Staudinger said the hotel was fully booked for the weekend and they had fielded inquiries from right around the country, so a lot more planning and preparation had gone into it to cater for the large crowds.

GRANT MATTHEW/STUFF More than 1500 people showed up to the markets.

The market is not the only European-style event the organisers have been involved in. Earlier this year they put on the Taranaki Harvest Feast, which attracted more than 1000 people, as well as a weekly traditional Austrian Schnitzel Night.

The town was fast becoming the European capital of New Zealand, Heimo said.