Raspberry Brioche Braid

Driscoll’s Raspberry Brioche Braid

1 pound brioche dough (I used the brioche dough from The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day , but you could also use Challah dough or one of the enriched doughs from our The New Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day book or even Gluten-Free Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day )

Quick Raspberry Jam

12 ounces Driscoll’s raspberries

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Cream Cheese Filling

4 ounces cream cheese

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1 tablespoon sugar

Egg wash (1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water) for topping braid

Raspberry Icing

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 raspberry

2 tablespoons heavy cream (maybe more to reach proper consistency)

6 ounces Driscoll’s raspberries for garnish

To make the jam:

Place the raspberries, sugar and lemon juice into a pan and use a fork to break up the raspberries just enough to produce a bit of juice. Simmer over a medium/low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring often.

The jam will cling to the spoon when it is done. Allow to cool before filling the braid.

To make the cream cheese filling, mix the cream cheese, zest and sugar in a bowl until smooth.

Take a one pound piece of dough, weighing on a scale is the easiest way, but if you don’t have one, a grapefruit-sized piece will do.

Roll a 1-pound piece of dough into a 10 x 12-inch rectangle. Make sure to use enough flour that the dough doesn’t stick to the surface or the rolling pin. TRANSFER THE ROLLED OUT DOUGH TO A SHEET OF PARCHMENT (I didn’t do that, because it was easier to photograph on the counter, but building the braid on the parchment will make your life much easier). Spread the cream cheese filling down the center of the dough, not more than 1 1/2 inches wide.

Top the cream cheese with about 3/4 cup of the raspberry jam. You can add more, but some may leak out of the braid as it is baking. There may be a little jam left over to serve with the baked braid.

Cut 1/2-inch thick strips of dough with a pastry or pizza cutter. Try to get an even amount on both sides, but it’s okay if it doesn’t happen.

Lightly twist the top two strips of dough….

Then cross them over the top of the filling. Do not pull the dough too thin or it may break as it rises and bakes.

Continue that same routine of twisting the pieces and crossing them over each other on top of the filling, until you are at the bottom. If you find an odd piece of the dough, that doesn’t have a mate, just twist it and place it over the filling. That happened to me here and I bet you have a hard time telling!

When you get to the end, just tuck the loose ends under the loaf, so they are secure and won’t pop out when baking.

Place the braid and parchment onto a baking sheet, cover loosely with plastic and allow to rest for about 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350°F

Just before baking, brush the loaf gently with the egg wash.

Bake the loaf for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Allow to cool before topping with the icing.

 

To make the icing: mix the powdered sugar, raspberry and cream together in a small bowl.

If it is too thick to drizzle, add more cream. It should come off a spoon in a thin ribbon.

Once the braid is cool, drizzle with half the icing.

Top with raspberries, drizzle with the remaining icing and serve.