Apple Cinnamon Brunch Braid

What to do with the second half of my dessert dough from the King Arthur Flour baking demo? I did what they said, I froze it. And then I wanted to eat it. They taught us how to do this at the demo, too, so I made an apple filled braid. First, GO HERE for the basic sweet bread dough instructions. This is Larry?s idea of breakfast heaven ? fresh baked, apple and cinnamon stuffed, sugar drizzled carbs. I agree.

As you see, I defrosted the dough on top of the range ? but don?t use any fire! This lets air go all around. To get the dough out, turn the baggie inside-out and let it just fall; because it?s a little sticky, you might have some residue in the bag, but it should plop out in one good wad.

Apple Cinnamon Brunch Braid

Adapted from recipe by King Arthur Flour

In a small bowl, toss apple slices together with cinnamon and sugar, amounts to your taste.

On a flour-dusted surface, roll the dough into a 10? x 15? rectangle. Gently press two light lines on the rectangle, lengthwise, to divide dough into three equal sections (I used the edge of my dough scraper). Move the dough at this point to a baking sheet prepared with non-stick spray.

Fill the center section with apple slices, leaving 1? of clear space at either end. Cut 1? ?wide strips from the edge of the filling to the outer edge of the dough. Fold the ends up over the filling. Bring the dough strips across the filling on a diagonal., alternating from side to side.

Cover the loaf in plastic wrap and a clean towel, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 35 to 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Brush the top of the loaf with egg wash (I sprinkled some decorative sugar on top). Bake 25 to 35 minutes, or until a rich, golden brown. Once cool, drizzle with sugar icing if desired.  Makes one 15-inch loaf, 4 to 6 servings.

SUGAR ICING

Mix together in a small bowl, spread on cooled baked braid.

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Like braids? The Frugal Girl made a Cheese-Infused version, yum.

Better With Butter blog went NUTS baking, here is here post.

Another beautiful way to bake apples into a dough is shown here by Use Real Butter blog for apple galette.