Apple Cranberry Braid Recipes

APPLE CRANBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Prepare my pie crust recipe through step 5.
• Stir the apples, cranberries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, orange zest, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Set filling aside as the oven preheats.
• Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
• On a floured work surface, roll out one of the discs of chilled dough (keep the other one in the refrigerator). Turn the dough about a quarter turn after every few rolls until you have a circle 12 inches in diameter. Carefully place the dough into a 9×2 inch pie dish. Tuck it in with your fingers, making sure it is smooth. Spoon the filling into the crust, leaving any excess liquid in the bowl (you don't want that in the filling- discard it). Dot the pieces of butter on top of the filling. Stick in the refrigerator until ready to cut the lattice.
• Remove the other disc of chilled pie dough from the refrigerator. Roll the dough into a circle that is 12 inches diameter. Using a pastry wheel, sharp knife, pizza cutter, or this fun ribbon cutter, cut strips 1 or 2 inches wide. Remove the pie from the refrigerator and carefully thread the pie dough strips over and under one another, pulling back strips as necessary to weave. Press the edges of the strips into the bottom pie crust edges to seal. Use a small knife to trim off excess dough. Crimp the edges with a fork, if desired. See recipe notes for making the braid or apple shapes! (Alternatively, you can simply cover the filling with the 12-inch pie dough circle. Cut slits in the top to form steam vents. Trim and crimp the edges. Or crumble topping (from apple crumble pie) or streusel topping (from peach pecan crisp) would be great as well.)
• Lightly brush the top of the pie crust with the egg wash mixture.
• Place the pie onto a large baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Keeping the pie in the oven, turn the temperature down to 350°F (177°C) and bake for an additional 30-35 minutes. After the first 20 minutes of bake time, I place a pie crust shield on top of the pie to prevent the edges from browning too quickly.
• Allow the pie to cool for 3 full hours at room temperature before serving. This time allows the filling to thicken up. Cover leftovers tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

APPLE CRANBERRY BRAID

Steps:

• Spray counter lightly with non-stick cooking spray.
• Combine rolls and roll into a 12x14-inch rectangle.
• With a clean ruler, gently mark a 4 inch strip lengthwise down the center.
• Spread butter on entire surface.
• Place apple pie filling down center of dough.
• Spoon cranberry sauce on top of filling.
• Top with 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.
• Make cuts from filling to dough edges at about 2-inch intervals.
• Fold bottom and top edges towards filling.
• Alternating sides, fold strips at an angle across filling.
• Finish by stretching last strip and tucking under bottom end.
• Using both hands, lift onto a sprayed baking sheet.
• Cover with sprayed plastic wrap and let rise for 20-30 minutes.
• Remove wrap and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Place on rack to cool.
• Drizzle with icing and sprinkle with additional chopped nuts.

APPLE DANISH BRAID

Steps:

• Place a large pot or deep skillet over high heat. Melt 3 Tbsp butter and stir in 1/4 cup sugar. Add sliced apples and stir until evenly coated. Add cranberries and let the mixture sit 3 min to caramelize before stirring. Cook apples and cranberries a total of 6-7 min, stirring 3 times or until apples are lightly caramelized. Transfer apples to a plate and let cool until just warm (not hot).
• Unfold thawed pastry over a lightly floured work surface and roll it in one direction to make it a total of 2 inches longer. The natural folds in the pastry will guide your process.
• Place the cranberry apple filling down the center of the pastry, keeping it in the middle third and leaving 1" of space at the top and bottom of the pastry.
• Cut away the top corners from the left and right thirds of the. Cut 8 equal 1" strips along each side, leaving 1/2" of space from the apples. Cut away excess dough at the bottom corners.
• Fold down top flap of dough and pinch the corners down to seal. Fold in the side strips, alternating from left to right. Fold up the bottom flap, pinching the corners to seal then finish folding in the last 2 side strips, pinching the corners to seal. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with silicone or parchment, brush with egg wash, sprinkle with coarse sugar, and bake at 400˚F for 18-22 minutes (mine was perfect at 20 min) or until top is golden brown.
• To make the glaze, stir together 1/3 cup powdered sugar with 1/2 Tbsp milk. Once the braided apple danish is at room temperature or just warm, drizzle with glaze, slice, and enjoy!

CRANBERRY APPLE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch baking pan.
• Stir together apples, sugar and oil. Add egg; mix well. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Stir flour mixture into wet ingredients, mixing just until dry ingredients are moist. Stir in cranberries and walnuts. Spread batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, until toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.

APPLE CRANBERRY BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt;. In a small bowl, whisk eggs and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened (batter will be very thick). Fold in apples, cranberries and walnuts. , Transfer to an 8x4-in. loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.