Healthy
Holiday
Baking
With Cranberries and Apples
Apple Cranberry Tea Ring,
Cranberry Apple Oat Bar and
Apple Cranberry Bread
(Family Features) - As family members return home to enjoy well-earned vacation
days, thoughts turn to holiday baking. Pop a favorite CD
into the stereo, heat up some cran-apple cider and settle
into a relaxing afternoon baking project-a perfect break
from the ordinary routine with mouthwatering results.
Whether you make a show-stopping holiday dessert or
luxurious morning treat following a holiday repast, holiday
hosts can count on these cranberry and apple goodies to
tempt the taste buds while promoting healthy eating. Both
fruits naturally contain powerful antioxidants to protect
the heart and help prevent certain types of cancer.
Instead of another round of the battle of the bulge, let
this year's festivities focus on baking that's a treat for
the body and the palette. With healthy apples and
cranberries, these recipes boast less than 30 percent of
calories from fat. For more information, please visit
www.usapple.org, www.uscranberries.com or
www.redstaryeast.com. Whether you're seeking advice on
turning a cherished grandmother's recipe into a contemporary
favorite or simply need tips on fail-safe baking methods,
connect to expert baking assistance toll-free at (800) 445-
4746.
According to the Produce for Better Health Foundation, color
is an important consideration for healthy eating. Deeply
hued fruits and vegetables provide a wide range of vitamins,
minerals, fiber and phytonutrients important to maintaining
good health. Cranberries rank toward the top of the "red"
list. A true nutritional powerhouse, cranberries are one of
the best sources of valuable antioxidants-like flavonoids,
that have been shown to be beneficial for optimal health and
wellness by helping to prevent heart disease and cancer.
Cranberries' unique flavor, health-promoting properties and
availability in various forms make them an ideal ingredient
for healthy baked goods. For recipes and information on
incorporating cranberries into your baking, please visit
www.uscranberries.com.
Santa's snack of choice matches his red suit, his gold
buckle and the green Christmas trees. Start a healthy
holiday tradition by leaving an apple for Santa on Christmas
Eve-and build good eating habits that last.
Apples are the ultimate snack food. Loaded with
antioxidants, fiber and carbohydrates for natural energy,
each apple or apple juice serving counts toward the five
daily servings of fruits and vegetables recommended for
better health. And fat-free, naturally sweet apples can help
fight the battle of the waistline bulge.
Apples may help Santa and kids alike keep the doctor away.
Finnish researchers recently reported that eating apples may
help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including type 2
diabetes, asthma, heart disease and cancer. Research has
also found apple eaters have better lung function and lower
risk of lung disease-good news for Santa as he prepares to
slide down those sooty chimneys!
Think nutrition this holiday. Encouraging kids to leave an
apple for Santa this Christmas Eve will plant the seed for
healthier eating habits.
Apple Cranberry Tea Ring
Bread:
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/4-ounce packet Red Star Active Dry Yeast
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg
Egg Wash:
1 tablespoon water
1 egg white
Filling:
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup (1 medium) apple, peeled, thinly sliced
1 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup toasted nuts, chopped
Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
1. Blend 1 cup flour with next 4 ingredients; set aside.
Heat milk, water and butter until warm (120°F); pour into
large bowl. Add flour mixture.
2. Beat on low 30 seconds; add egg. Beat on medium 3
minutes. Stir in remaining flour.
3. Knead on floured surface 5 to 8 minutes until smooth and
elastic. Place dough in oiled bowl; turn to grease. Cover;
let rise in warm place until double in size, 1 hour.
4. Punch down dough on lightly floured surface. Roll into
15x12-inch rectangle. Blend egg white and water; brush over
dough. Refrigerate remaining egg wash.
5. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over dough. Top with
apple, cranberries and nuts. Starting with long side of
dough, roll into log; pinch to seal. Form into ring; overlap
and seal ends. Place seam-side down on greased baking sheet.
6. Using scissors, cut ring from outside through all dough
layers to within 1-inch of center. Make 12 cuts, 2-inches
apart. Twist each cut section 3/4-turn so cut side faces
downward forming pinwheel. Cover with damp cloth and let
rise in warm place until indentation remains after touching
side, 30 minutes. Brush with remaining egg wash.
7. Bake in preheated 375°F oven 30 to 40 minutes until
golden brown; cool.
8. Blend powdered sugar, orange juice and orange zest.
Drizzle over cooled tea ring. Serves 12.
Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories 290 (%
Calories from Fat 22%), Protein 6g, Carbohydrate 51g, Fiber
3g, Fat 7g, Cholesterol 20mg, Sodium 230mg
Cranberry Apple Oat Bar
3 cups rolled oats
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup margarine, softened
2 cups dried cranberries
1 cup apple juice
2 cups (2 medium) apples, peeled, cubed
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
1. Blend first 4 ingredients; set aside. Beat brown sugar,
applesauce and margarine in large bowl, on high until
smooth. Stir-in flour mixture until crumbly. Press half onto
bottom of greased 9x13x2-inch pan; reserve other half.
2. Bake in preheated 350°F oven 15 minutes.
3. Place cranberries, apple juice, apples and cinnamon in
small saucepan; soak 20 minutes. Boil over medium high heat
5 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally.
4. Spread hot fruit over crust; crumble remaining crust
mixture over fruit.
5. Bake at 350°F 20 to 25 minutes until light brown. Makes
48 bars.
Nutritional Information per Serving (1 bar): Calories 70 (%
Calories from Fat 17%), Protein 1g, Carbohydrate 13g, Fiber
1g, Fat 1.5g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 115mg
Apple Cranberry Bread
3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/4-ounce packet Red Star Active Dry Yeast
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground mace
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg
1 cup (1 medium) apple, peeled, chopped
1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1. Blend 1 1/4 cups flour and next 6 ingredients; set aside.
Heat milk, water and butter until warm (120°F); pour into
large bowl. Add flour-oat mixture.
2. Beat on low 30 seconds; add egg. Beat on medium 3
minutes, scraping occasionally. Stir in remaining 2 cups
flour, apple, cranberries and pecans.
3. Knead on floured surface 5 to 8 minutes until smooth and
elastic. Place dough in oiled bowl; turn to grease. Cover
and let rise in warm place until double in size, 1 hour.
4. Punch down dough on lightly floured surface. Shape into
loaf; place in greased 9x5-inch loaf pan. Sprinkle with
brown sugar. Cover and let rise in warm place until double
in size, 1 hour.
5. Bake in preheated 350°F oven 40 to 45 minutes until
golden brown. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan. Serves 12.
Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories 240 (%
Calories from Fat 25%), Protein 6g, Carbohydrate 40g, Fiber
3g, Fat 7g, Cholesterol 25mg, Sodium 180mg
SOURCE: Cranberry Marketing Committee
Red Star Yeast
U.S. Apple Association
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