Cream Cheese Braids

Claire de Luna's Note:

This is a delectable danish style bread, very light and tender. The recipe seems more complicated than it really is, and makes four loaves, so there's plenty to share. Prep time does not include overnight or second rising time. One of Southern Living's best recipes.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 35 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 4 loaves

BREAD

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup margarine or 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 2 packages dry yeast
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 4 cups all-purpose flour

FILLING

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

GLAZE

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:

1. For BREAD: Heat sour cream over low heat.
2. Stir in sugar, salt and butter; cool to lukewarm.
3. Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl until dissolved.
4. Add sour cream mixture, eggs, flour, and mix well.
5. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.
6. For FILLING: Mix well.
7. Divide dough from the day before into 4 equal parts.
8. Roll each part on a floured surface to an 8x12 inch rectangle.
9. Spread one quarter of the filling on each rectangle, and roll jelly roll style beginning at the long side.
10. Pinch edges together and fold ends under slightly.
11. Place rolls seam side down on greased baking sheets.
12. Slit each roll at 2-inch intervals to resemble braid.
13. Cover and let rise 1 hour, in a warm place until dough doubles in bulk.
14. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.
15. Spread with glaze while warm.

Reviews

[Snow White]

This is an absolutely outstanding recipe! Looks involved with three parts of the recipe to prepare, but all are very, very easy to make, and the results are incredible. It makes four nice loaves - one to give away, and three to keep. :-)

[HAGT]

WOW!!!!!!!! I have not made these myself yet but tasted some at a friends house on Sunday. The taste is just amazing! I will be making some VERY soon. Thanks for posting this 10 star recipe! :-)

[Leslie in Texas]

These are wonderful, impressive, luscious cream cheese braids! I was going through my folder of clipped recipes and was going to post this, but I'm glad it's already here! I first made these back in 1977 ( ya, I know I'm old :) ) to give as Christmas gifts to some special friends. They were very impressed-I kept one for us of course! Thanks for posting this, Claire de Luna. It's going straight into my tried and true cookbook!