531- Fekkas with Candied Fruits / فقاص بالفواكه المسكرة

Ingredients :

Basic Fekkas Dough Ingredients:
Refer to Fekkas With Almonds recipe

Filling Ingredients:
180 grams (6.3 oz.) candied fruits

Egg Wash:
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water (or just water)

Directions :

Step 1: Mixing The Wet Ingredients
Follow the instructions in the Fekkas With Almonds recipe.

Step 2: Adding The Filling
1- Add the candied fruits to the eggs mixture.

Step 3: Adding The Dry Ingredients
2- Add the flour and baking powder.
3- Continue mixing until all the ingredients are well incorporated.

4- If necessary, add more flour and keep kneading the dough until you get a smooth dough that does not stick to your fingers but at the same it is not dry.

Step 4: Shaping The Logs
5- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Divide the dough into 4 portions (around 225 grams each).

Roll each portion into a cylinder (around 13 cm / 5 inches long with a diameter of 4 cm / 1.5 inches).
6- Place the four cylinders in a baking pan covered with parchment paper and brush them with the egg wash.

7- Use a fork to gently draw crossing lines on the top of each roll.

Step 5: First Baking
8- Bake the rolls for about 25-30 minutes until they have a light golden color.
9- Once done, wrap the rolls in a damp towel and let them set overnight for at least 10 to 12 hours.
This is an important step as the dough needs to soften so we can slice it without breaking it.

Step 6: Slicing The Rolls
10- The next day, remove the towel from the rolls and cut each one into straight 0.5 cm (1/4 inches) slices.

Step 7: Second Baking
11- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the Fekkas slices in a baking pan covered with parchment paper.
12- Bake for about 15 minutes until the Fekkas have a light golden color.

Let cool completely before serving.