Apricot Tea Rings

  • 24

Ingredients

  • FILLING:
  • 4-1/4 * 4-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 * 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 * 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
  • 1 * 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 * 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 * 1 cup 2% milk
  • 1/4 * 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 * 1/4 cup butter, cubed
  • 2 * 2 eggs
  • *
  • 12 * 12 ounces dried apricots, diced
  • 2 * 2 cups water
  • 6 * 6 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 4 * 4 teaspoons orange juice
  • 1/2 * 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • *
  • GLAZE:
  • 1 * 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2 to 3 * 2 to 3 tablespoons 2% milk

Preparation

Step 1

* Prep: 45 + rising Bake: 25 min. + cooling

* In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, salt and nutmeg. In a small saucepan, heat the milk, water and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat until moistened. Beat in eggs until smooth. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
* In a saucepan, combine the apricots and water. Cook over medium heat for 30 minutes or until the water is absorbed and apricots are tender. Remove from the heat; stir in the brown sugar, juice and nuts. Cool.
* Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll each into an 18-in. x 12-in. rectangle. Spread half of the filling over each rectangle to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up each jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal.
* Place seam side down on greased baking sheets; pinch ends of each together to form a ring. With scissors, cut each from outside edge two-thirds toward center of ring at 1 in. intervals. Separate strips slightly: twist so filling shows, slightly overlapping with previous piece. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
* Bake at 375° for 25-28 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over warm tea rings. Yield: 2 rings (12 slices each).


Nutritional Analysis: 1 slice equals 205 calories, 5 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 24 mg cholesterol, 132 mg sodium, 37 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Apricot Tea Rings published in Taste of Home February/March 2004, p37