Merlin Cream Cheese Bread w/glaze

Delicious Holiday Sweetbread....Decorative, easy to make, and the best tasting cream cheese filling around. Makes a HUGE loaf and is generally gone within 10 minutes of serving.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1  package dry yeast
• 1⁄4 cup water
• 1⁄4 cup  warm milk
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  egg
• 1⁄4 cup butter, softened
• 3 -3 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1  egg white, beaten with
• 1  teaspoon water

• Filling

• 1  package cream cheese, softened
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1  egg
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  teaspoon lemon, rind of

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water.
2. Blend in milk, salt, sugar, egg, and butter.
3. Gradually beat in about 2 1/2 cups of the flour to make a soft dough.
4. Turn dough out onto a floured board; knead until smooth and satiny (5 to 15 minutes), adding flour as need to prevent sticking.
5. Place dough in a greased bowl; turn over to grease top.
6. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled (1 to 1 1/2 hours) Meanwhile prepare cream cheese filling.
7. Filling: In small bowl with electric mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy.
8. beat in 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg, and teaspoon lemon peel and vanilla.
9. Dough: Punch dough down; knead briefly on a lightly floured board to release air, and roll into a 10 by 15 inch rectangle.
10. Plase on a lightly greased 14 by 17 inch baking sheet; mark dough to indicate 3 lengthwise sections.
11. Spread filling in center 1/3 of dough.
12. With a sharp knife, cut 10 diagonal strips in each of the 2 outer sections of dough, cutting in almost as far as the filling.
13. (Cut each side pointing in the same direction) Pull up and overlap strips alternately over the filling until all strips are folded.
14. If there is excess dough at the end, tuck it underneath loaf.
15. Brush loaf with egg white mixture.
16. Let rise, uncovered, in a warm place until almost doubled (about 30 minutes).
17. Bake in a preheated 350 degree over for 25 to 30 minutes or until richly browned.
18. Let cool on a rack.
19. Prepare a glaze (Powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla) and dribble all over.