Cream Cheese Braid Pastry

For the last post of the year 2014, I share an easy pastry recipe. If you're thinking of serving a New Year's Day brunch with your family or friends, consider serving this! I stumbled upon a cream cheese braid pastry recipe by Sally's Baking Addiction a while ago and it's finally time I share it. I immediately wanted to make some because the blueberries looked so delicious in her pictures! My mom likes to pick blueberries, a lot, so there's always some for us to eat all year round. Blueberries in baked goods are always delicious. I've made this with peaches too and it was also delicious! Any fruit will work in this recipe or you can even leave them out altogether.



I should note that I altered Sally's recipe by a lot. Sometimes I get lazy even when it comes to baking so I didn't want to deal with all the original ingredients. I searched for similar recipes and saw that some used only cream cheese and sugar. I don't even have to make my own dough. I have used pie crusts and puff pastries and both have turned out great. The pastry has turned out great every single time so change it up! It's really a great spontaneous recipe as there are only 4 ingredients, all of which should already be in stock. No need to make a grocery run.



Happy New Year! I look forward to more wonderful recipes I will share with you in 2015!

Cream Cheese Braid Pastry

1 puff pastry, pie crust, or homemade dough

8 oz cream cheese or Neufchâtel, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup fruit of your choice, diced

1 egg

Cream together cream cheese and sugar until smooth. No need for an electric mixer, the cream cheese should be soft enough for you to mix by hand. Set aside.

Roll out your pastry dough on a surface and cut out as pictured below:



Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly throughout the center of the dough. Sprinkle blueberries or your fruit of choice on top. Then braid the pastry. Brush the top with whisked egg.



Bake at 400F for about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!