A delightful apple-filled pastry! American Association of Orthodontists has teamed up with celebrity chef and author Michael Chiarello to provide this braces-friendly recipe.

Apple Bomboloni

Rustic Dough*:
9 ounces cake flour (about 3 cups)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Pinch sea salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into large pieces
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 tablespoon cold water

 

Apple Sauce Filling:
4 Granny Smith apples
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 vanilla bean, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon water

 

Diced Apples:
4 Granny Smith apples
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 lemon, juiced

1. For the dough*: In a mixing bowl with a paddle attachment, add the dry ingredients and mix for 5 seconds to blend. Add the butter and vanilla and mix until the butter is about the size of peas. Add the cold water and blend until the dough just comes together. Form the dough into a roughly shaped ball, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
2. Applesauce filling: Peel, core, and slice the apples. Put the apples with the rest of the ingredients into a saucepan. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat, and cook until the apples are very soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, cool, and refrigerate.
3. Diced apples: Peel, core, and cut the apples into large slices. Toss with the sugar, vanilla and lemon juice and set aside.
4. Assemble the bomboloni: Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Roll out to1/4-inch thick round. Cut into 6-inch rounds. Place about 1/4 cup of the Apple Sauce Filling onto the center of each round. Top with a few pieces of the Diced Apples. Pull the sides up towards the center to form a bundle, pinching the dough together towards top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before baking
5. Bake the bombolonis: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
6. Remove the bombolonis from the refrigerator and place them on a greased or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.

Makes 5 servings.

* Time Saving Step: Use store-bought pie crust

Recipe created by Michael Chiarello, host of Food Network's "Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello" and Fine Living Network's "NapaStyle."

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontists.