Cranberry Apple Pie Braid

This cranberry apple pie braid is a quick and easy dessert for your next holiday get together.

I shared this post last year over at The Idea Room as part of Amy’s holiday series.

I love Thanksgiving.  The time with family, the weather outside and of course the delicious food.  My absolutely favorite dessert is apple pie.  I look forward to the pie every holiday season.  Although apple is my favorite, I really like all kinds of pie.

But it can take a lot of work to make pie.  And keeping it simple at the holidays is always my number one plan.  This cranberry apple pie braid allows me to get my pie fix, but it’s so easy to make, and I’m not spending all day in the kitchen.

Plus the flavor combination in this cranberry apple pie braid is really so delicious!  I don’t know what I like the best.  The sweet apples, the tart cranberries or the amazing orange glaze on top.  The flavors go together so well.  It’s all the scents and flavors of the season in one dessert.

Yield: 12 servings

Cranberry Apple Pie Braid

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A perfect dessert for any holiday gathering that can be done in no time.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 package frozen puff pastry (2 sheets)
• 1 small can apple pie filling
• 3/4 cup whole berry canned cranberry sauce
• 1 orange zested and juiced
• 1 egg beaten
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 TBL veg. oil
• 1 TBL water

Instructions

Braid

1. Thaw frozen puff pastry according to package directions.
2. Roll out puff pastry a little, and eyeball the dough into 3rds.
3. Cut strips in the outer 2 sections, toward the middle.
4. In a medium bowl, mix together apple pie filling, cranberry sauce and 1 tsp orange zest.
5. Put half the mixture down the middle section of each puff pastry.
6. Then use strips to cross over and "braid" it on top of the apple pie filling.
7. Brush with beaten egg wash.
8. Bake 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
9. Let cool slightly before adding glaze.

Glaze

1. Mix together powdered sugar, oil and juice of 1 orange (about 2 TBL) and remaining orange zest to make glaze.
2. Add more water (up to 1 TBL) if needed, depending on the consistency you want.
3. Pour glaze over braid.

 This doesn’t have to be just for dessert, it could also be a great addition to a holiday brunch table.

If you are better at visuals when it comes to cooking, you can see a video of how to create the braid I did when I made my apple pie braid.  The process is the same, the ingredients are just a bit different.

Cranberry and apple together has become one of my favorite holiday combinations over the last couple years.  Last year for Thanksgiving I made this cranberry apple pie and it was a fun twist on traditional apple pie.

And what’s a holiday get together without some easy party punch recipes like this cranberry apple fizz.

Happy Baking!

Liz