Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup instant potato flakes
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter (softened)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar (for filling)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for filling)
1 teaspoon Speculaas spice
1 cup Gala apple (peeled, cored, and grated)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for glaze)
2–3 tablespoons whole milk (for glaze)
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, instant potato flakes, sugar, yeast, and salt. Stir until well mixed. Add the softened butter, vanilla extract, egg, and milk to the dry ingredients. Stir until the dough begins to come together. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle in a little more flour as needed. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the filling: In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, and Speculaas spice. In a separate bowl, combine the grated Gala apple and lemon juice. Set aside.
- Assemble the bread: Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Roll the dough out into a rectangular shape on a floured surface, about 12×16 inches. Sprinkle the sugar and flour mixture evenly over the rolled dough, followed by the grated apple and lemon juice mixture. If you’re using raisins, sprinkle them over the apple mixture. Starting from one of the long sides, carefully roll the dough into a tight log.
- Twist the bread: Slice the dough log lengthwise down the middle, creating two long strands. Twist the strands around each other, creating a twisted shape. Bring the ends together to form a circular loaf or leave it as a twisted log on a baking sheet. Cover the bread with a cloth and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes, or until it has puffed up.
- Bake the bread: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and fully baked. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
- Prepare the glaze: While the bread is baking, prepare the glaze by mixing the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of milk in a small bowl. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if necessary to reach a drizzly texture.
- Glaze the bread: Once the bread has cooled for about 10 minutes, drizzle the glaze over the top. Let it set for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
You can experiment with different apple varieties such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a slightly different flavor.
Feel free to add nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds into the filling for added texture.
For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, though the texture may vary slightly.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Dutch
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
