Get the App

Recipes

Find a Recipe Blue Ribbon Recipes Pinch It!™ Feed Browse All Recipes

Editorial

Food Bites & Articles Videos What is a Blue Ribbon? Meet the Test Kitchen

Community

Member Recipes Groups Sweepstakes Contests Shopping

almond and cheese braids

(1 rating)
innkeeperchef avatar
Recipe by
Michelle London
@innkeeperchef
Gonzales, TX

Labor intensive? Yes. But, oh so worth it! This recipe makes two braids. I'll serve one to guests the next day,and freeze one to serve up to a month later (cream cheese doesn't stand up to being frozen beyond that, but it should be okay within a 30 day or so time frame).

(1 rating)
yield 24 (2 braids)
prep time 2 Hr 30 Min
cook time 30 Min

Ingredients For almond and cheese braids

  • SWEET YEAST DOUGH INGREDIENTS
  • 4 c
    all purpose flour
  • 1/2 c
    sugar
  • 2 pkg
    active dry yeast
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 3/4 c
    milk
  • 1/4 c
    butter
  • 2
    eggs
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla
  • FILLING INGREDIENTS
  • 2 pkg
    (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
  • 2/3 c
    sugar
  • 2
    eggs, separated
  • 2 Tbsp
    all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    almond extract
  • 1 Tbsp
    water
  • 1/4 c
    slivered almonds

How To Make almond and cheese braids

  • 1
    To prepare sweet dough: Mix 1 cup flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in bowl. Heat milk and butter in saucepan over low heat until a thermometer reads 115-120 degrees.
  • 2
    Beat milk mixture into flour mixture. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and 1 cup flour. Stir in enough additional flour (about 2 cups) to make a soft dough.
  • 3
    Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead dough about 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Add additional flour to prevent sticking if necessary. Shape dough into a ball. Place in a large greased bowl. Turn dough over so that top is also greased. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until doubled.
  • 4
    Punch down dough. Knead dough on lightly floured surface 1 minute. Cover with a towel and let rest 10 minutes.
  • 5
    Grease or spray two large baking sheets. Combine cream cheese, sugar, egg yolks, flour, and almond extract in large bowl. Beat until smooth.
  • 6
    Cut dough in half. Roll each half into a 12x9 rectangle and transfer to prepared baking sheets.
  • 7
    Score dough lengthwise into 3 sections. Don't cut completely through dough. Spread half of cream cheese mixture on each center section.
  • 8
    Cut dough on the outer sections into 1 inch diagonal strips, cutting to within about 1/2 inch of filling.
  • 9
    Starting at one end, fold strips over filling, alternating from left and right, overlapping strips in center to form a braid. Cover braids with towels and let rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes or until doubled.
  • 10
    Preheat oven to 350. Mix reserved egg whites with 1 Tbl water. Brush braids with egg white mixture. Sprinkle almonds over braids.
  • 11
    Bake 25-30 minutes or until braids are golden brown. Rotate baking sheets from top to bottom racks halfway through baking. Immediately remove from baking sheets and cool on wire racks.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!

Categories & Tags for Almond and Cheese Braids:

ADVERTISEMENT