EASIEST APPLE ROSES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 10 cups in a standard 12-cup muffin tin. Set aside.
• In a medium pot, combine 8 cups water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over high-heat and reduce to a brisk simmer.
• Cut the apples in half. Remove core and cut apples crosswise into paper-thin slices. Transfer slices to simmering acidulated water. Cook until slices bend easily, about 3-4 minutes. They be soft enough to bend but not break when rolled. Drain and transfer to a plate or small baking sheet.
• Combine apricot preserves and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl. If apricot preserves is very firm, transfer to microwave and heat gently, stirring at 15-second intervals, until mixture is well-combined and smooth. Set aside to cool.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll pastry to 16" x 10", with the long side parallel to the bottom edge of the work surface. Using a pizza cutter, cut dough in half vertically, and then horizontally, at 2-inch intervals. You should have ten 2" x 8" strips.
• Brush one strip with apricot mixture. Arrange apple slices, round side up, on top portion of dough strip, slightly overlapping one another. Each slice should look like an upside-down U, with its rounded, skin-on edge sticking out over the top edge of the dough. Fold the bottom half of the dough up to meet the top half, and press lightly to seal.
• Starting from one end, carefully roll dough, keeping the apple slices in place. Seal the edge at the end with apricot mixture, and place into prepared muffin tin. Repeat with remaining strips. Sprinkle granulated sugar on top of each rose, about ¾ teaspoon each.
• Transfer muffin tin to oven and bake until golden and pastry is cooked through, about 50 minutes. Carefully remove roses and let cool on a rack before serving.