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    Home » Recipes » Bread

    Published on Apr 1, 2016. Modified on Nov 20, 2024 by bakingqueen74. This post may contain affiliate links. 15 Comments

    Apricot Couronne Recipe

    454 shares
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    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    Packed with soft dried apricots and fresh apple, and lightly spiced with cinnamon, this apricot couronne bread is delicious for a weekend breakfast or afternoon snack. 

    Apricot and Apple Couronne

    Over the past year I have tried out some new bread recipes and techniques too. This time I am sharing my recipe for apricot couronne bread.  

    This bread shape looks so effective and isn’t that tricky to achieve. The filling is simply made of dried apricots and an apple so you don’t need anything too special on hand if your cupboards are a bit empty.

    Getting your hands stuck in and making bread is a great way to destress and the finished crown loaf feels like a great achievement.

    Jump to:
    • What is a couronne
    • Ingredients
    • Step by step
    • When to serve
    • More bread recipes
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    What is a couronne

    Couronne means “crown” in French and refers to the shape of the loaf with its twisted edges and hole in the centre.

    In effect the bread is supposed to look like a crown, making a centrepiece for your table.

    Apricot and Apple Couronne

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you will need – exact measurements are in the recipe card below.

    • strong white bread flour
    • salt
    • easy bake yeast
    • caster sugar
    • unsalted butter 
    • egg
    • water
    • semi-skimmed milk
    • dried apricots 
    • eating apple 
    • cinnamon
    • light brown sugar

    Step by step

    There are a few stages but each in itself it quite straightforward. I’ve separated the stages out here so you can see what each step entails.

    Note that this method uses a stand mixer for the kneading. You can also mix and knead by hand if you prefer, it just takes longer to achieve a smooth and elastic dough.

    Mixing and Kneading:

    1. Tip the flour in the bowl of your stand mixer, and add the salt on one side and the yeast on the other (not together as salt kills yeast).
    2. Add the sugar, and the butter, cut into small cubes.
    3. Attach the dough hook to your mixer and begin to mix slowly.
    4. Add half the egg, and then the water and milk. Continue to mix slowly to form a sticky dough.
    5. Turn the speed on the mixer up to medium and continue to knead using the dough hook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.

    First Rise:

    1. Cover the mixer bowl with clingfilm and leave to prove in the bowl in a warm place for about an hour, or until doubled in size.

    Preparing the Couronne Shape:

    1. Remove the dough from the bowl once it has doubled, and roll it out on a floured surface to form a rectangle.
    2. Chop the apricots and apple into small pieces and place them on the dough. Sprinkle over the cinnamon and light brown sugar.
    3. Roll up the widest side to form a roll shape like a Swiss roll.
    4. Slice the roll in half lengthways using a sharp knife.
    5. Twist the two strands around each other and then form into a circle or coil.

    Second Rise:

    1. Place the couronne on a lined baking sheet and allow the dough to rise again for about 30 minutes.

    Baking:

    1. Use a pastry brush to brush the remaining egg over the dough when you are ready to bake it.
    2. Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F, and fill a second hot baking sheet with boiling water from the kettle just as you place the couronne in the oven, to create steam.
    3. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Check the bottom of the couronne by tapping to ensure it is cooked through.
    4. Place on a wire rack to cool.

    When to serve

    We enjoyed the apricot and apple couronne for a lazy late breakfast/brunch with glasses of OJ, and coffee of course. It is also great for snacks any time of the day.

    I’ve been asked to make it again soon, and perhaps next time I will make the dough in the evening and let it prove in the fridge overnight, which makes it so much easier. I love a shortcut!

    Apricot and Apple Couronne

    More bread recipes

    You might also like:

    • croatian povitica
    • Biscoff twist bread
    • apricot and cranberry plait

    Pin my apricot couronne for later:

    Couronne bread image with text overlay.

    Recipe

    Couronne (crown) bread filled with apricots and dried fruit, on a grey fabric background.

    Apricot Couronne

    A delicious braided loaf in a crown shape filled with apricot and apple, ideal for brunch 
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Course: Baking
    Cuisine: British
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Proving Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 156kcal
    Author: Lucy Allen | BakingQueen74

    Ingredients

    • 225 g strong white bread flour
    • 0.5 tsp salt
    • 1 tsp easy bake yeast
    • 30 g caster sugar (superfine sugar)
    • 30 g unsalted butter at room temperature
    • 1 egg you will only use half in the dough, the rest is for the egg wash
    • 60 ml water just boiled
    • 60 ml semi-skimmed milk

    For the filling:

    • 10-12 soft dried apricots chopped
    • 1 medium eating apple chopped (I left the peel on)
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • 1 tsp light brown sugar
    UK Measurements – US Measurements

    Instructions 

    • Note: The method given below is for making the dough in a stand mixer.
    • Place the flour in the bowl of your stand mixer, and add the salt on one side and the yeast on the other.
      225 g strong white bread flour, 0.5 tsp salt, 1 tsp easy bake yeast
    • Add the sugar, and the butter, cut into small cubes.
      30 g caster sugar (superfine sugar), 30 g unsalted butter
    • Attach the dough hook to your mixer and begin to mix slowly.
    • Add half the egg, and then the water and milk.
      1 egg, 60 ml water, 60 ml semi-skimmed milk
    • Continue to mix slowly to form a sticky dough.
    • Turn the speed on the mixer up to medium and continue to knead using the dough hook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
    • Cover the mixer bowl with clingfilm and leave the bowl in a warm place for about an hour, or until doubled in size.
    • Remove the dough from the bowl once it has doubled, and roll it out on a floured surface to form a rectangle.
    • Chop the apricots and apple into small pieces and place them on the dough.
      10-12 soft dried apricots, 1 medium eating apple
    • Sprinkle over the cinnamon and light brown sugar.
      1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp light brown sugar
    • Roll up the widest side to form a roll.
    • Slice the roll in half using a sharp knife.
    • Twist the two strands around each other and then form into a circle or coil.
    • Place the couronne on a lined baking tray and allow the dough to rise again for about 30 minutes.
    • Use a pastry brush to brush the remaining egg over the dough when you are ready to bake it.
    • Preheat your oven to 180 degrees, and fill a hot baking tray with boiling water from the kettle just as you place the couronne in the oven, to create steam.
    • Bake for 25-30 minutes.
    • Check the bottom of the couronne by tapping to ensure it is cooked through.
    Did you try and love this recipe?Then please leave a star rating and comment below to let me know how you got on!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. choclette says

      April 24, 2016 at 7:56 pm

      Well done for giving this a go. Looks good and sounds fabulous. I’m too scared to do anything as fancy as this.

      Hadn’t realised you were now co-hosting the bread challenge. The only times I remembered to take part, it wasn’t running 😉

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        April 25, 2016 at 7:47 pm

        Glad you like it Choclette! I am sure you would make this easily too. Oh yes, do join in if you can, I am helping Michelle with Bready Steady Go now.

        Reply
    2. Maryam Sinaiee says

      April 12, 2016 at 10:34 pm

      Yummy!

      Reply
    3. Alma | Vorrei UK says

      April 06, 2016 at 7:59 am

      What a beautiful looking bread! I love how the top looks slightly braided. I wanted to thank you for the informative and enjoyable read.

      Reply
    4. lucyparissi says

      April 04, 2016 at 2:18 pm

      I had forgotten how much I love baking sweet dough breads until I made my hot cross buns recently. This looks delicious and so pretty – pinned!

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        April 05, 2016 at 4:06 pm

        Thank you Lucy! 🙂

        Reply
    5. hijackedbytwins says

      April 04, 2016 at 12:43 pm

      I love making couronnes. I really do need to get baking bread again. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        April 05, 2016 at 4:07 pm

        Thanks Kirsty! Thanks for hosting

        Reply
    6. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says

      April 04, 2016 at 10:15 am

      What a beautiful bread – it looks delicious. I am always happy when I see more recipes featuring apricot, as it’s one of my favourite fruits.

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        April 05, 2016 at 4:07 pm

        Thanks Dannii, I have now frozen the last bit for another

        Reply
    7. Katie Bryson (@cookingkt) says

      April 04, 2016 at 8:19 am

      This sounds absolutely delicious!!! I can just imagine scoffing this with my mid morning coffee after walking the dogs on the beach – heaven!!!

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        April 05, 2016 at 4:08 pm

        Oh yes that sounds great!

        Reply
    8. Corina says

      April 03, 2016 at 2:51 pm

      I used to make bread all the time but never seem to have time these days. I will try to have a go though!

      Reply
    9. Mandy Mazliah says

      April 01, 2016 at 5:45 pm

      That sounds delicious! I love fruity breads and must give this one a go x

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        April 01, 2016 at 6:17 pm

        Thanks Mandy! Ooh yes do give it a go if you like fruity bread, would be perfect for you

        Reply
    5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Lucy! I'm a slow cooker addict, food blogger and also a busy working mum of two. I hope you'll enjoy the recipes I create and post which are perfect for busy families.

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