Cooking with Love

Apple Pastry Braid

Had to get rid of some fruit before it went bad (my mother taught me well). I had 4 small apples. Watched a video on making a pastry braid filled with apples. I tried to find it on YouTube, but no luck. So, I winged it. Came out pretty good.

This is what I used:

1 Pillsbury pastry sheet, stretched with rolling pin, not too thin.

4 small apples, peeled and cored, chopped

2 TBS butter in pieces

1 tsp corn starch

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup chopped pecans

Place all of the above excluding pastry dough, in a micro wave safe bowl. Place in microwave for 3 minutes on high.

In separate small bowl place the following:

4 oz cream cheese

1 tsp cinnamon

1 TBS brown sugar

Mash the cream cheese mixture until well blended. Set aside

Prepare your cookie sheet either greased or use a silicone sheet. Roll out dough to about 12x12 inch square.

Take sharp knife or kitchen shears. Cut fringe on both sides of dough (about 3 inches long). place the fringed dough in the prepared cookie sheet.

First, place cream cheese mixture on a line in center of dough. Too with apple mixture in one line. Carefully take end of one side and cover the edge of braid. At this point take one fringe at a time and place over apples until you use ever fringe. At bottom, do the same as the first top cover with dough.

Beat egg in small bowl with tsp of water. Paint the prepared braid all over. Top with sugar (optional).

Place in 375 degree oven in center of oven 20-25 minutes.

Your kitchen will smell like a bakery!