Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Maple Apple Braid 1.0

It's pretty to look at and the bread was quite tasty, but I wasn't too happy with the overall result. I should have divided the dough into thirds instead of halves.  The bread to filling ratio was really off.  The apple filling was yummy....the apple filling mixed with the cream cheese I wasn't thrilled with.  Next time it's all fruit baby!

The maple flavoring in the dough and the frosting was quite nice.  It was a lovely, subtle flavor.

Definitely need a do over on this recipe though.


Maple Apple Braid 1.0

Dough:
3 cups unbleached flour (approx)
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup skim milk
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup tub margarine
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs, beaten lightly
2 tbls vital wheat gluten

Dissolve yeast in about 1/4 cup warm water.  Heat milk and margarine together until milk is warm and margarine is melted. I use the microwave to heat the milk instead of the stove top, but either works fine. Stir into dissolved yeast. Mix in maple syrup and salt. Add in a cup of flour and the vital wheat gluten. Stir in eggs. Work in enough flour to create a soft dough. Turn it out onto a floured surface and knead in remaining flour. Continue to work your dough for 8 to 10 minutes.

Place dough in covered bowl and let rise for an hour in a warm place. The microwave makes a great spot to rise dough. Take a glass of water and heat it to boiling in the microwave. Leave the glass inside and put the covered bowl inside and shut the door. It's a warm, steamy spot.

Turn dough out onto your board and divide in half.  Roll each portion of dough out thinly with a rolling pin into a rectangle. Spread a layer of filling down the center of the dough.  Use a pizza cutter to slice one inch wide strips in the dough surrounding the filling.  You want to slice the strips at a slight downward angle.

Tuck one strip of dough across the filling.  Bring a strip of dough from the other side across the top of the first strip.  Continue alternating strips of dough until you reach the bottom.  Think of shoelaces here.

Cover the braid and raise in a warm place for 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake at 375 for 25 to 30 minutes, or until braid is a lovely golden brown.

Drizzle frosting across the top with a spoon or fork.


Apple Filling:
2 Fuji apples or your current favorite
1 tbls sugar
1.5 tbls flour
1 tsp cinnamon
dash of salt
1 tbls lemon juice
1 tbls tub margarine

Peel and core apples.  Slice thin and then chop into cubes.  Combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt.  Toss the apples in the mixture.  Turn covered apples into a pan and top with lemon juice and margarine.  Bake at 375 for 30 mins or so stirring occasionally until apples are tender and cooked down.  Cool.

Cream Cheese Filling:
4oz reduced fat cream cheese
1 egg yolk
2 tbls sugar
1/2 tbls flour
1 tsp lemon zest

Mix everything together and combine with the apple filling.

Maple Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbls skim milk
2 tbls pure maple syrup

Mix everything together.  The icing will actually be too thick to drizzle at this point until you heat it for 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave to loosen it before drizzling across the hot bread.  Alternately you can thin it further with milk instead of heating it.

A few more pics....
Pretty...yes.  Too much bread and too little filling....I'm still a little cheesed off about that since I should have seen that coming.  I didn't think about the whole double in size bit in the final rise....how I could not think that through I do not know considering how much bread I bake....ehehehe.  The cream cheese baked into the bread as well which surprised me a bit. Honestly it looked like I only had a fruit filling going.

The nekkid braid.  I had one little flap sticking up on the tail end of both braids.  It was like the loaves were flipping me off.....too funny.  My bread was issuing it's own feedback.  ;)

An egg white wash right before baking would give the crust a prettier finished look, but honestly I knew I was going to cover it with frosting so I didn't worry about it.  Something to think about for next time.

I added this treat to the Sweet for Saturday #3 over at Sweet as Sugar Cookies.  So many wonderful treats over there to check out and drool over.

57 comments:

  1. Even though you weren't pleased, it sure looks gorgeous!!! I think I'd prefer all fruit, too, but I'd happily test your braid as is! Nice job!

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  2. You are definitely on to something wonderful. I cannot wait to see your final recipe.

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  3. The bread looked gorgeous...and yummy...!!!

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  4. It looks beautiful! I wish I had a piece right now with my morning coffee!

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  5. Wow your bread looks so amazing. Sounds so delightful, too :)

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  6. my mother would love this! she loves maple everything! this looks fabulous! thanks for sharing!

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  7. You. Are. Brave. And for that you shouldn't be so hard on yourself! I think the braid looks phenomenal!!!! Mmmm.... maple and apple! :D

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  8. Your bread is gorgeous! Thanks for giving us your suggestions, I really like the idea of an all-fruit filling!

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  9. Sorry to hear it didn't turn out the way you wanted. I hate when that happens!! It does look delicious though, so pretty!

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  10. That looks so good and it sounds delicious! Too bad it didn't all work out, but at least you know what to tweak the next time around.

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  11. It happened to me a few times too that the filling was too little for the bread but at least you know that the bread was good and the filling was good so you just need to change proportions. I think I would love it like this too. It looks amazing and the braid is so well done!

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  12. Don't be so hard on yourself! Looks divine to me anyway and so pretty.

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  13. This looks great! I am sure it tasted amazing too.. but, i know what you mean.. if it doesn't turn out the way you want it, it does piss you off!! Waiting for your next recipe

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  14. Sorry the ratio didn't work out, but it does look truly delicious! Especially with all that icing on top.... mmmmmm...

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  15. This is so pretty! I love the braid technique :)

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  16. Beautiful as you said! and I can only imagine how great it tasted! Awesome job!!

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  17. Sounds delicious, sad it didn't turn out exactly how you wanted. Yeast bread can be so fickle!

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  18. I know the frustration of working with yeast, but don't worry too long about it. It looks great and with baking we always get do-overs. Will you send me a slice please?

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  19. I think you are being too hard on yourself. Your bread looks WONDERFUL. Just look at that perfect braid and those delicious flavors!

    Btw, I really like your blog. So, I am passing my stylish blogger award to you. You can check out the details here: http://www.cakewhiz.com/CakeWhiz/post/Awards.aspx

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  20. I think it is a great start to many improvements your are more then capable of doing. I agree cream cheese in there a bit odd. Looking forward to version 2.0!

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  21. This looks gorgeous! But I can understand what you mean about the bread to filling ratio. I hope you make a newer and improved version soon!

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  22. Wow, it's so gorgeous I am sad to hear it didn't live up to expectations. Buzzed it anyway, it certainly looks the part!

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  23. I love how you braided your bread. It looks so pleasing to the eye and that maple apple in it sounds like it would make for a delicious bite. I really hope you'll link this up to Sweets for a Saturday this week.

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  24. Perfect and outstanding recipe looks like I need to make this one!

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  25. Looks absolutely fantastic!! So sad you weren't happy overall product but happy to know you can tweak it! Love the look of it, so pretty! YUMMY!

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  26. That came out perfectly! You are quite the artist.

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  27. Sorry it didn't work out how you had hoped. Quite a delicious undertaking. It still looks wonderful. The braids are so beautiful.

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  28. Mmm this looks fantastic! Maple and apple flavors must go together so well. Sorry the ratio was off and you didn't like the cream cheese though. I've actually made some almond apple cream cheese bars that were amazing, so I bet you could tweak the recipe without removing the cheese entirely even.

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  29. The braid looks lovely, and the maple flavor sounds delicious! I have lots of apples right now, and this looks like a great way to use them.

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  30. THis looks divine! I love the looks of the apple layers!

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  31. Gorgeous! Sorry the filling wasn't as you expected...but I would take a piece (or two)now with my coffee! Just lovely:)I love apple desserts.

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  32. Wow. Gorgeous braid! The filling looks so good; but I hear you on the all-fruit filling. Wish I had a piece of this right now--beautiful job!

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  33. This certainly looks wonderful. Your braids are gorgeous and will soon make it from your kitchen to mine. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  34. MMM I love anything apple-related!

    Sere

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  35. Hi.....Please visit my blog an award is waiting for you ..... :)

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  36. I think it's gorgeous! I like the thought of one fruit filled and one cream cheese filled and then you don't have to choose...you could have one of each ;). And yes, I love the maple in the dough, as well.

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  37. this is beautiful! i think i would actually prefer the less filling... the combination of maple, apple and cream cheese sounds so decadent!

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  38. you are being too hard on yourself, it sure does look and sound good to me.
    love the addition of the maple in the bread, gives it a special flavor
    thanks for sharing, hope you'll have a wonderful rest of the week

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  39. It sure looks tasty. I hate when the ratios seem off. I like a lot of filling myself. I would have eaten it anyways though. Hope you have having a great week.
    -Gina-

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  40. Oh the trials and tribulations of the cook!!! The bread actually looks wonderful, but I can relate to your notes for next time... While my family is eating I am usually making notes and adjusting ingredients in the recipe! I think you are on to a winner!

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  41. Well it certainly looks amazing :) I love cream cheese fillings in pastry, but maybe fruit and cream cheese separately? I do not get to taste this beauty so I have to guess :)

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  42. Oh my goodness... even though it didn't turn out how you wished... it is just stunning! Beautiful job - I am looking forward to the next one! - Megan

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  43. Thanks SO much for linking this up to Sweets for a Saturday. Have fun looking at all the other sweets.

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  44. It looks beautiful as well as delicious. I'm sorry to learn you weren't happy with the results though. By the photo it looks perfect.

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  45. I love braided bread. They are pretty and delicious, especially with fillings. Yours looks wonderful. I just made some today (individeal braided buns though) and will share the recipe and post in a day or two. Hop over if you are interested.
    http://utry.it

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  46. YUM! This looks amazing. At first, I thought it was like a babka, but then I saw the cream cheese filling. Nothing with those ingredients can taste bad:)

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  47. This looks so big and delicious! Dang, I hate when there's not enough filling, too. Especially when it's a labor of love.

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  48. That is gorgeous, perfect with a big cup of coffee I'll bet :) I am having my first give away, hop of to enter.
    mickey
    http://monstermama-monstermama.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-first-give-away.html

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  49. Gorgeous! Even though you weren't pleased, I wouldn't push it off my plate, for sure!

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  50. Maybe I need new glasses, but your braided loaf looks like perfection to me! This is only version 1.0... can't wait to see what the next version will be like. Bet it'll look and taste even better than it already is!

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  51. That looks beautiful! I have got to add this to the 'to try' list!

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  52. OMG, this Maple Apple Braid is gorgeous!! I wish I could taste it right now :))

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  53. What a delicious recipe. It reminds me of our Greek tsoureki that we usually bake for Easter. Thanks for sharing!

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  54. This looks amaaaaaaaaaazing! I love braided breads. I'm surprised that the apple + cream cheese combination wasn't great. I love cream cheese with everything. I made as similar bread to this with lemon curd and cream cheese (or was it cream cheese + sour cream). Mmm.

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  55. what a shame because it does look amazing.... but, you're right ...a do-over might be the way to get it right. All apples all the way... how I love a fruited dessert.

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  56. hello! thanks for visiting my blog! i am looking at all your bread recepies now, i wana start baking bread again; i've never been very successful! but one day i hope i will be, in Singapore, most commercial bread have preservatives! they are yummy tho, and i eat them everyday...

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  57. hello! thanks for visiting my blog! i am looking at all your bread recepies now, i wana start baking bread again; i've never been very successful! but one day i hope i will be, in Singapore, most commercial bread have preservatives! they are yummy tho, and i eat them everyday...

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