Apple Raisin Pecan Spice Bread

Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup pecans, chopped and toasted
• 2 cups apple juice
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3 1/4-3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups raisins
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 medium apples, finely diced and peeled
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• vegetable oil cooking spray

Recipe

• 1 bread:.
• 2 simmer apple juice over medium heat until reduced to 1 cup. cool to ~110 degrees f then stir in yeast.
• 3 whisk eggs in a bowl till frothy, then whisk in salt.
• 4 combine egg and juice mixture in a electric mixer bowl.
• 5 add brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and stir.
• 6 put mixer on slow and gradually add 3 1/4 cup flour.
• 7 after, increase speed of mixing to medium for 10 minutes. dough should be fairly elastic. if still soft and sticky, add remaining 1/4 cup.
• 8 reduce mixing speed to medium low, add pecans and raisins and continue mixing for 5 more minutes or till dough is smooth, elastic and clinging to dough hook if used.
• 9 gather dough in a ball and place in lightly sprayed bowl, spray dough top, then put dough in warm, draft free place.
• 10 cover bowl with kitchen towl and let dough rise until doubled (~1 hour).
• 11 egg wash: blend egg, sugar, and water.
• 12 spray 5"x8" bread pan. turn dough out on well floured surface.
• 13 roll dough evenly into 12" wide by 20-24" long rectangle.
• 14 brush dough w/egg wash, leaving 6 inch wide strip at one end.
• 15 spread apples on dough leaving 1/2" border on other three sides.
• 16 roll dough jelly roll style starting at filled end until 1" from other end.
• 17 brush remaining flap w/egg wash and close roll. make sure no gaps on sides and all layers meet.
• 18 put dough in pan, seam side down, cover w/towel and let dough rise til doubled (at least 1 hour, probably more).
• 19 preheat oven to 325 degrees f.
• 20 bake til top is brown and crispy, about 40 minutes.
• 21 remove from oven, remove bread, and top with melted butter before cooling on a wire rack.