Apricot Tea Rings

This coffee cake is a favorite of mine. It’s attractive, delicious and cuts like a dream. Sometimes I use convenient canned pie filling when I want a different flavor and I’m pressed for time.
—Dot Christiansen, Bettendorf, Iowa

INGREDIENTS:

4-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup butter, cubed
2 eggs

FILLING:

12 ounces dried apricots, diced
2 cups water
6 tablespoons brown sugar
4 teaspoons orange juice
1/2 cup chopped pecans

GLAZE:

1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, salt and nutmeg. In a 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 FACTS

One serving 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

TASTY TIP

Let this video take you step by step through the easy process of making a coffee cake ring. Watch now»

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