This is a wonderful desert and it smells so good when you are baking it!
If you are having a dinner party, or inviting friends and family over for tea or coffee, this is the perfect desert to serve with.
The cream cheese glaze gives it the prefect kick!
The Bread Dough -
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups bread flour ( I use better for bread flour)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup raisins
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon instant yeast (I prefer bread machine Instant Yeast)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons vegetable oil
* If using a bread machine -
Mix all of your dry ingredients first then mix in the water and oil
Run it on the dough course and let it sit in the machine to rise.
* If using a food processor -
You will do the same thing, except when the dough is mixed together, you will need to take it out, knead the dough and then put in a lightly oil bowl to rise. Be sure to cover your bowl with a moist and warm towel. Let rise in warm spot for 1 hour.
* If by hand -
In large bowl, add the warm water. Slowly stir in dry yeast. Continue to stir until yeast is dissolved. Add the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, brown sugar and raisins.
Turn dough out onto floured board and knead, adding small spoonfuls of flour as needed, until the dough is soft and smooth, not sticky to the touch.
Put dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turn dough over so that the top of dough is greased. Cover and let rise in warm spot for 1 hour.
While the bread is rising, now it's time to make the Apple filling.
Apple Filling
Ingredients:
3 medium-size Granny Smith apples or 5 regular sized Red apples. peeled, sliced and cut into chunks.
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1 cup of raisins
2 teaspoons lemon juice ( I used fresh squeezed lemon)
In a medium bowl, toss the apple pieces with the sugar, brown sugar, raisins, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
Bake the apple filling in an 8-inch square baking pan for 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool.
Start preparing the dough
Take your dough from the bread machine or bowl and put on a lightly floured counter.
Roll your dough out into a large rectangle, about 12-inches by 16-inches in size. Lift onto a greased baking sheet.
Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut each side into strips about 1-inch wide down each side.
If you are having a dinner party, or inviting friends and family over for tea or coffee, this is the perfect desert to serve with.
The cream cheese glaze gives it the prefect kick!
The Bread Dough -
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups bread flour ( I use better for bread flour)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup raisins
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon instant yeast (I prefer bread machine Instant Yeast)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons vegetable oil
* If using a bread machine -
Mix all of your dry ingredients first then mix in the water and oil
Run it on the dough course and let it sit in the machine to rise.
* If using a food processor -
You will do the same thing, except when the dough is mixed together, you will need to take it out, knead the dough and then put in a lightly oil bowl to rise. Be sure to cover your bowl with a moist and warm towel. Let rise in warm spot for 1 hour.
* If by hand -
In large bowl, add the warm water. Slowly stir in dry yeast. Continue to stir until yeast is dissolved. Add the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, brown sugar and raisins.
Turn dough out onto floured board and knead, adding small spoonfuls of flour as needed, until the dough is soft and smooth, not sticky to the touch.
Put dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turn dough over so that the top of dough is greased. Cover and let rise in warm spot for 1 hour.
While the bread is rising, now it's time to make the Apple filling.
Apple Filling
Ingredients:
3 medium-size Granny Smith apples or 5 regular sized Red apples. peeled, sliced and cut into chunks.
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1 cup of raisins
2 teaspoons lemon juice ( I used fresh squeezed lemon)
In a medium bowl, toss the apple pieces with the sugar, brown sugar, raisins, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
Bake the apple filling in an 8-inch square baking pan for 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool.
Start preparing the dough
Take your dough from the bread machine or bowl and put on a lightly floured counter.
Roll your dough out into a large rectangle, about 12-inches by 16-inches in size. Lift onto a greased baking sheet.
Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut each side into strips about 1-inch wide down each side.
Take your apple filling and scoop it out make sure you leave and inch at the top and at the bottom.
Fold strips of dough into the center, crisscrossing the filling by alternating strips from each side. Lightly press ends to seal, and straighten out the braid with your hands, if necessary, to straighten.
Bake the braid in the oven for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the braid cool for several minutes.
Cream cheese Glaze
While the bread is cooling, time to make the cream cheese glaze!
Ingredients:
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 tablespoons milk
Preparation:
Beat cream cheese until very creamy. Beat in powdered sugar. Stir in vanilla. Add 3 tablespoons milk. Totally combine. Add more milk to get desired consistency for drizzling this Cream Cheese Glaze.
When your bread has cooled enough to pick it up, put on cooling rack and pour glaze on top of bread. I put it back onto the baking sheet to catch the glaze as it pours over the bread.
Make sure your cheese is room temperature other wise you will end up with bumps.
Bake the braid in the oven for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the braid cool for several minutes.
Cream cheese Glaze
While the bread is cooling, time to make the cream cheese glaze!
Ingredients:
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 tablespoons milk
Preparation:
Beat cream cheese until very creamy. Beat in powdered sugar. Stir in vanilla. Add 3 tablespoons milk. Totally combine. Add more milk to get desired consistency for drizzling this Cream Cheese Glaze.
When your bread has cooled enough to pick it up, put on cooling rack and pour glaze on top of bread. I put it back onto the baking sheet to catch the glaze as it pours over the bread.
Make sure your cheese is room temperature other wise you will end up with bumps.