Apple & Date Fougasse (a French pastry bread)

From Kristi’s Kitchen

(Adapted and inspired by “Simply Baking” recipe on Cooking Channel)

Ingredients:

1 Filling recipe (see below)

3 ½ c. whole wheat pastry flour

2 ¼ tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. honey

2 tsp. yeast

1 ¼ c. warm filtered water

1 organic egg and 1 tbsp. filtered water

Directions:

-Put together filling

-Combine water and yeast in mixing bowl and let bloom for 5 minutes

-Add remaining ingredients into mixer and mix (using bread hook attachment) on low speed until combined

-Turn the mixer to high and knead the dough for 5 minutes

-On a well-floured surface, pat or roll dough out

-Place most of the filling -reserving a bit for garnishing- in the center of the dough and fold dough edges over like an envelop

-Turn fold side down onto floured surface

-Roll dough a second time into an oval –leafy shape

-Using a sharp knife, cut a whole down the center of the dough leaving an inch on either end

-Pull dough apart slightly

-Cut three more slits on either side of the middle and pull dough apart –making 6 separate smaller slits at this point your bread creation should look similar to a leaf)

-Brush with an egg wash and garnish with remaining apple slices and dates

-Cover and let rise in a warm place until it doubles in size

-Preheat oven to 400 degrees and bake for 20 minutes –until golden

Apple & Date Filling:

Ingredients:

½ of large crisp organic apple, thin sliced

6 dates, diced

1/8 tsp. sea salt

1/8 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 tbsp. organic butter

Directions:

-Combine all ingredients in a sauce pot

-Sautee until just tender

-Remove from heat and set aside

*To dress this up and make a pastry dessert out of it…glaze it with a cream cheese icing –YUMMO!

** A tip the cooking show gave was to place a baking sheet of ice in the rack below the baking pastry so as to keep the dough from setting too quickly-gaining maximum rise. GREAT IDEA!

Makes 6 portions

My 4 year old daughter was inspired that we should do this together...we had a fabulous time and it turned out delicious...so much so that we made a second!