Ladder Loaf

Ingredients

• 1 16-ounce loaf frozen sweet bread dough or frozen bread dough, thawed
• 2 tablespoons margarine or butter, softened
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 cups finely chopped peeled apples
• Milk
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon margarine or butter
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional)

Instructions

1. Divide bread dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll each half into an 8-inch square. (For easier rolling, let dough rest a few minutes.) Spread each square with 1 tablespoon softened margarine or butter. For filling, combine brown sugar, the 1 tablespoons flour, and the cinnamon. Add apples; toss to coat.
2. Spoon half of the filling down the center of each square. Cutting from the right edge toward the filling, make 2 1/2-inch-long cuts in dough at 1-inch intervals. Repeat from the left edge. Fold strips alternately over filling; fold under ends.
3. Place loaves on a greased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Brush with milk. Combine the 2 tablespoons flour and the sugar. Cut in the 1 tablespoon margarine till mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle half of the crumb mixture over each loaf. Top with almonds, if desired. Cover and let loaves rise till nearly double (45 to 60 minutes).
4. Bake in a 350° oven 30 minutes or till golden. Serve warm.