Ingredients:
 
4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup sugar
2 envelopes Fleischmann's RapidRise Yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 large eggs
Apple Raisin Filling (recipe at the bottom of the page)
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
Powdered Sugar Glaze (recipe at the bottom of the page)
 
Directions:

Combine 1 cup flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, and salt in a large bowl.

Heat 1/2 cup water, milk and butter until very warm (about 120 to 130 degrees F) and gradually add it to the flour mixture. Beat the mixture for 2 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Add the eggs and 1 cup flour and beat the mixture for 2 more minutes at high speed.

Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough and knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic (about 8 to 10 minutes). Cover the bowl with a CLEAN baking or dish cloth and let the dough rest 10 minutes.

Once the dough has rested, divide it in half and roll each half into a 14x12-inch rectangle and transfer it to two large greased baking sheets.

Spread half of the Apple Raisin Filling over a 3-inch strip in center of each dough.
 
With sharp knife, make 3-inch cuts from dough edges at 1-inch intervals along sides of filling.
 
Alternating sides, fold the strips at an angle across filling.
 
Cover and let the dough rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size (about 1 hour).


To make the egg glaze, beat together the egg white and 1 tablespoon water. Brush the braid with egg glaze using a CLEAN cooking brush.

Bake the braid at 350 degrees for about 30 to 35 minutes or until done.

Remove the braid from the baking sheet and drizzle with Powdered Sugar Glaze.

Serve warm.

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2 tablespoons water
2 cups cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon corn starch
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins

Combine the water, apples, sugar, corn starch, and cinnamon in a saucepan.

Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat.

Cook for 5 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly.
 
Remove from heat and stir in the raisins.
 
Let cool.


1 cup powered sugar, sifted
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

Combine the powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl and stir until smooth.