Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Braid

Buttery puff pastry filled with sweetened cream cheese and fresh strawberries

We've been having weekend brunch with our friends and alternating hosting the meal and bringing dessert and drinks. I was in charge of a breakfast-y dessert one week and threw together this puff pastry braid, which is really like a giant danish that will feed a crowd. Store-bought puff pastry gets smeared with brown sugar cream cheese and sliced strawberries and then folded into the braided pattern. It's a beautiful dish, but it's surprisingly quick and easy to make. It's perfect for breakfast because you can defrost the pastry overnight and then bake the whole thing in under an hour in the morning. Serve it alongside some coffee for a light breakfast or add it to the buffet as part of a larger meal. Either way, it's sure to be a hit.


Related Recipes:
- Strawberry Ricotta Scones
- Chocolate Turnovers
- Strawberry Whole Wheat Pancakes


Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Braid:

• Preheat the oven to 400F.
• In a mixer, whip together 6 oz. softened cream cheese, 2 tbsp. sour cream, and 1/2 c. brown sugar until light and fluffy.
• Thinly slice 10 strawberries and set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg and 1 tbsp. water.
• Unfold one sheet of defrosted puff pastry. It should have been folded into thirds originally.
• Spread the cream cheese mixture down the center third of the puff pastry,* then scatter the strawberries over the cream cheese.
• Make 1" wide diagonal cuts down the outer thirds of the puff pastry, then alternate folding them over to the center to cover the strawberry cream cheese mixture. This will create the braid.
• Brush the puff pastry with the beaten egg, then immediately sprinkle with 1 tbsp. demerara sugar.**
• Bake the braid on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 25-30 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
• Let cool slightly, the cut into pieces and serve.

Serves four-six

*You might not use all the cream cheese mixture. Don't fill it too full or all the filling will ooze out.

**Also called raw sugar.