Apricot Almond Twist

 

Recipe By     :

Serving Size  : 16   Preparation Time :1:00

Categories    : Dessert

 

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method

--------  ------------  --------------------------------

   7      Oz            Dried Apricots -- diced

     3/4  C             White Chocolate Morsels

     1/2  C             Sweetened Dried Cranberries

   3      Tbsp          All-Purpose Flour

     1/2  Tsp           Almond Extract

   1      Tbsp          Water

  22      Oz            Refrigerated French Bread Dough

   1                    Egg White -- lightly beaten

     1/3  C             Almonds -- sliced

                        Powdered Sugar -- optional

 

1. Preheat oven to 375F.  Dice apricots.  Place apricots, chocolate morsels, cranberries, flour and amond extract in bowl; mix well.  Add water; mix well.

 

2. Place bread dough, seam sides up, on smooth side of cutting board.  Using bread knife, slice each loaf lengthwise, end to end, cutting halfway through to center of loaf; spread open flat.  Lightly sprinkle additional flour evenly over dough.  Using rolling pin, roll dough crosswise to a 4-inch width, crating a well down center of each loaf.

 

3. Spoon half of the apricot mixture down center of each load.  Gather up edges over filling, pinching firmly to seal.  Place loaves, seam sides down, in an "X" pattern.  Crisscroos ends of dough to form a large figure "8", keeping ends of dough 1 inch from edge of stone and leaving two 1.5 inch openings in center of twist.

 

4. Lightly brush egg white over dough using pastry brush.  Cut a 3-inch slit in each of the top sections of the twist to reveal filling.

 

5. Sprinkle almonds evenly over dough, pressing gently.  Bake 30-32 minutes or until deep golden brown.  Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.  Cut into slices.  Serve warm.