Cider-Drizzled Apple Swirl Bread!

It's county fair time here in Ohio. My hubby and I always spend at least one complete day at the "Canfield Fair" (locals consider it to be as good as the Ohio State fair- I don't know, since I've never been, but Canfield IS a goodie!) We're in and out of the animal barns; we do A LOT of eating;  I insist that we visit the "medical pavilion" where we vie for lowest BP; We laugh at the HUGE pumpkins people nurture in their gardens and then haul in for the competition; We NEVER ride the rides - I'm not a "rides" girl ( no roller coasters or high-flying adventures for us - we leave that up to the grandkids!); We walk around the re-created historic village.....and the list goes on! 

You've gotta know that, USUALLY, my favorite thing to do is compete in the baking division of the Arts and Crafts. I've got some crazy stories about those competitions (you can read some of them on this blog). Seriously, I'm not in it for the money (at $4.00 for a blue ribbon, I'd better not be!).....I just love being a part. Last year, I took part in a special "Apple" competition for which I made a Caramel Apple Pull-Apart Bread that took 2nd place. This year, with everything going on in life, I didn't have time to enter anything -Boooooo! Going to the fair won't be quite the same this year! However, if I was going to enter anything, I'd really consider entering this delightfully different Apple Swirl Bread. Tasty, easy and beautiful - what a trio! It sure got rave reviews from my friends! Maybe one of you could enter it in YOUR county fair! 

Cider-Drizzled Apple Swirl Bread

Dough:

¼ Cup warm water

1 pkg/Tbsp.Red Star Platinum yeast 

½ Cup milk, warmed

2 Cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp. butter, softened

2 Tbsp. sugar

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. cinnamon

Filling:

2-3 Apples, peeled cored and thinly sliced. Each slice should then be cut in half

Topping:

3 Tbsp. melted butter

2 Tbsp. cinnamon sugar

Glaze:

2 Tbsp. butter

¼ Cup packed brown sugar

1-2 Tbsp. apple cider (or apple juice)

½ Cup powdered sugar

Place warm water in EZ DOH bucket. Add yeast and stir to dissolve. Let rest one minute. Add warmed milk, then remaining dough ingredients. EZ DOH-it until the dough is smooth and all ingredients are incorporated, about 2-3 minutes. Remove dough from bucket, “smooth” the dough by patting, spray bucket with cooking spray. Replace dough in bucket, cover and let rise until doubled.

Remove dough from bucket and divide into 2 equal portions. Roll out each ball into an 8x11” rectangle. Cut each in 9 strips (lengthwise). Using cooking spray, grease 2- 8” round pans. Starting at the center of one pan, coil 9 dough strips with apple slices into a spiral, securely pinching ends as you add the strips. Repeat with second pan and other 9 strips and remaining apple pieces. Cover pans and let rise for 30-45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 365. (350 doesn’t seem hot enough and 375 is almost too hot J ). Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. (While bread is baking, make glaze: see below) Remove bread from oven. Gently turn upside down and remove from pan, placing it “right-side-up” on a cooling rack. Brush each spiral with 1 ½ Tbsp. melted butter, then sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar.

Glaze: Melt butter in a small saucepan. Stir in brown sugar and heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and boil for 2 minutes. Stir in cider. Heat to boiling. Remove from heat and let cool. Stir powdered sugar into mixture. Add more cider, if necessary to thin the glaze. Drizzle glaze over the spirals. Enjoy!
 Visit: http://www.wildyeastblog.com/yeastspotting/  for more delicious breads! 

Cider-Drizzled Apple Swirl Bread!