What says fall more than apples!

 I decided to make an Apple Braid for dessert.  It smelled so good cooking and it warmed up the house as well as the soul!

Braided bread looks like it is hard to do, but it is really very easy–so let’s get started.  You will need on loaf of bread dough.  I used frozen Rhodes Bread, but you can use your own homemade recipe, or you can even buy scone dough at a lot of your bakeries.

Roll the dough out a little bit , then place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. With your fingers, spread the dough out into a rectangle on the baking sheet.  You kind of have to work with the dough to get it to stretch out.

Using a 4″ putty knife, cut the dough into 1 inch slits like this.

You read that right!  I use a regular putty knife (a new one, not one I used to scrap paint with!)  I learned this trick in a bread class that I took a few years ago!  Just just go to the hardware store and buy a plastic 4″ putty knife to keep in your kitchen drawer!

(Sorry about this picture, I was in a hurry and only took one pic, and this was it!)

 For the filling, I used this canned apple pie filling.  You could make your own filling, just make sure that you cook that apples part way before filling the braid.  You could use any kind of fruit, that you would use for a pie!  Another version that is good is a cinnamon crumb with nuts added to it!

 Spread the filling down the center of the braid.  Then start braiding.  Fold the first strip over the top of the filling on a diagonal to the second strip. Go back and forth like this all the way down.  Tuck the ends in to secure.

 This is what it will look like.  Cover the pan and let it raise for about 20-25 mins.

 Bake at 375 degrees F  for 25-35 minutes, until golden brown.  I learned at that same bread class that you can tell when bread is done by looking at the bottom.  If it is a golden brown on the bottom, the bread is done.

Let the braid cool for 15-20 minutes and then drizzle with a glaze of: 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 c. softened butter, 1/2 tsp almond extract, mix this together then add 1-2 TBLS of milk, a little at a time,  just until thin enough to drizzle.

Looks delish!

What kind of fall desserts are your favorite?  I hope that you will try this one because you just might want to add it to your list!