Apricot Couronne

Ingredients

For the dough

• 250g/9oz strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
• 5g salt
• 7g/⅓oz instant yeast
• 50g/1¾oz unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
• 105ml/3½fl oz milk
• 1 free-range egg, lightly beaten

For the filling

• 90g/3¼oz unsalted butter, softened
• 70g/2½oz light muscovado sugar
• 120g/4½oz ready-to-eat dried apricots, chopped and soaked in orange juice
• 35g/1¼oz plain flour
• 60g/2¼oz raisins
• 65g/2¼oz chopped walnuts
• 1 orange, zest only

To finish

• 50g/1¾oz apricot jam
• 200g/7oz icing sugar
• 25g/1oz flaked almonds

Instructions

1. 1
   Tip the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the salt to one side of the bowl and the yeast to the other. Add the butter, milk and egg and mix to combine, using your hands. Continue to mix until you’ve picked up all the flour from the sides of the bowl. Use the dough to clean the inside of the bowl and keep going until you have a soft dough.
2. 2
   Tip the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and begin to knead. Keep kneading for 10-12 minutes. Work through the initial wet stage until the dough starts to form a soft, smooth skin.
3. 3
   When the dough feels smooth and silky, put it into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with a tea towel and leave to rise for one hour, or until doubled in size.
4. 4
   While the dough is rising, make the filling. Beat the butter and muscovado sugar together until smooth. Drain the apricots and add to the butter mixture along with the flour, raisins, walnuts and orange zest. Mix to combine.
5. 5
   Line a baking tray with baking parchment or silicone paper.
6. 6
   Turn the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface. Taking care not to knock the air out of it, roll out the dough into a rectangle, approximately 33x25cm/13x10in. Turn the dough 90 degrees if necessary, so you have a long edge facing you. Spread the apricot mixture evenly over the dough. Roll up the dough tightly (like a Swiss roll). Roll it slightly to seal, then cut it in half lengthways (you can leave one end joined to help you twist the dough and form the circular crown).
7. 7
   Twist the two dough lengths together to make a rope, then join the ends of the rope to form a circular ‘crown’. Transfer to the baking tray.
8. 8
   Put the tray inside a clean plastic bag and leave to prove for 30-45mins, or until the dough springs back quickly if you prod it lightly with your finger. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
9. 9
   Bake the couronne for 25-35 minutes, or until risen and golden-brown. Set aside to cool on a wire rack.
10. 10
    Gently heat the apricot jam with a splash of water, then sieve it and brush it over the warm loaf to glaze. Mix the icing sugar with enough water to make a thin icing, drizzle over the loaf and sprinkle with the flaked almonds. Leave to cool before serving.