Banana Pecan Braid

By Merichef342

Ingredients

• DOUGH
• 3 cups bread flour
• 1/2 cup chopped dates or pitted dates snipped
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans toasted
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons Fleischmann's® Bread Machine Yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine cut up
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 3 tablespoons water (70º to 80ºF)
• 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
• 1 large egg
• TOPPING
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• OR
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Preparation

Step 1

To make dough: Measure dough ingredients into bread machine pan in the order suggested by manufacturer. Process on dough/manual cycle.

When cycle is complete, remove dough to floured surface. If necessary, knead in additional flour to make dough easy to handle. Divide dough into 3 equal pieces; roll each to 15-inch rope. Braid 3 ropes together, pinching ends to seal. Place on greased baking sheet. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

In small bowl, combine topping ingredients; sprinkle on loaves. Bake at 375ºF for 25 to 30 minutes or until done, switching positions of pans halfway through baking. Remove from pans; cool on wire racks.