Apple Danish Braid

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Into a 2-quart bowl, combine cream cheese and powdered sugar together and blend well. Add the egg and mix until smooth. Unroll 1 package of crescent dough but DO NOT separate.

Place the longest sides of dough across width of 12 x 15-inch rectangle baking stone or sheet. Repeat with remaining package of dough. Roll dough to seal perforations.

On the longest sides of dough, cut 1 1/2 inches apart and 3 inches deep (there will be 6 inches in the center to the filling). Spread half of cream cheese mixture evenly over middle of dough. Place apple slices evenly arranged over cream cheese mixture.

Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over apples. Scoop remaining cream cheese mixture over apples, then sprinkle with pecans.

To braid, lift strips of dough across mixture to meet in center, twisting each strip one turn. Continue alternating strips to form a braid. Tuck ends under to seal at end of braid.