Pastries Dessert Recipes - Apple and Sultana Plait Recipe

Ingredients

• 450 g/1 lb Cooking (tart) apples, diced

• 15 ml/1 tbsp lemon juice

• 75 g/3 oz/1/3 cup light brown sugar

• 2.5 ml/1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 100 g/4 oz/2/3 cup sultanas (golden raisins)

• 375 g/13 oz/1 packet of puff pastry (paste), thawed if frozen

• A little cream, to glaze

• 100 g/4 oz/2/3 cup icing (confectioners') sugar

• 15 ml/1/2 tbsp water

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Method:

1. Toss the diced apple in the lemon juice and mix in the brown sugar, cinnamon and sultanas.

2. Roll out the pastry to a 40 x 35 cm/16 x 14 in rectangle. Make a series of 11cm/4 1/2 in long diagonal cuts along both long sides of the pastry, about 2.5 cm/1 in apart.

3. Spoon the filling down the centre. Fold in the top and bottom edges, then fold the strips over the filling, alternating from each side, to form a plait. Carefully transfer to a dampened baking (cookie) sheet.

4. Brush with a little cream and bake in a preheated oven at 200C/400F/gas mark 6 for about 20 minutes until golden, risen and cooked through.

5. Allow to cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. Mix the icing sugar with the water and drizzle over the top. Leave until set, then serve sliced.