Description
A delightful and simple braided puff pastry filled with creamy sweetened cream cheese and fresh mixed berries, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a light dessert. This easy-to-make recipe features a flaky, golden crust with a luscious, fruity center that will impress your guests with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Puff Pastry & Filling
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)
Topping
- 1 egg white
- 1 teaspoon water
- Demerara sugar, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375ºF (190ºC) to prepare for baking the pastry.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Mix using a handheld mixer until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Thaw the puff pastry until it is cold but not frozen. Roll it out on a piece of parchment paper into a 14 x 11 inch rectangle.
- Add Filling: Spread the cream cheese mixture down the center of the pastry lengthwise in a row about 2 inches wide. Top the cream cheese layer evenly with the mixed berries.
- Braid the Pastry: Using a sharp knife, cut 1 inch wide strips on both sides of the cream cheese filling. Starting at the top of the dough, alternately pull each strip over the filling at an angle to create a braided effect until the filling is fully covered.
- Apply Egg Wash and Sugar: Mix the egg white with a teaspoon of water and brush this mixture over the pastry braid. Sprinkle the top with Demerara sugar for added crunch and sweetness. Place the prepared braid onto a jelly roll pan to catch any juices and freeze for 5 minutes to help set the shape.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Let the braided pastry cool before slicing and serving to enjoy the perfect balance of flaky pastry, creamy filling, and fresh berries.
Notes
- Make sure the puff pastry is thawed but still cold to handle easily and bake correctly.
- You can use any combination of fresh or frozen berries for the filling.
- Freezing the braid before baking helps maintain the shape and ensures even baking.
- Brush the egg wash gently to avoid soaking the pastry, which can make it soggy.
- Demerara sugar adds a pleasant crunch and subtle caramel flavor on top; you can substitute with turbinado sugar if unavailable.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
