Cranberry White Chocolate Christmas Braid

A simple Danish style Christmas Braid filled with cream cheese, dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, a dash of cherry syrup or liqueur and topped with a simple vanilla glaze. 

Today's recipe is simple and delicious all rolled into one. Simple, because this recipe starts with my favorite Rhodes frozen dough and delicious with the flavors of sweetened cream cheese, dried cranberries, white chocolate chips and a splash of cherry or raspberry flavored syrup. 

The white chocolate chips and the simple vanilla icing give this yeast bread the perfect amount of sweetness. If you can't find dried cranberries you can substitute with dried cherries. This danish style braid is perfect served anytime, but especially delicious during the Christmas holiday. 

This festive yeast bread looks quite impressive, but it's really simple to make, especially using frozen bread dough. This beautiful festive braided bread is perfect for a holiday breakfast, brunch, holiday get-together or as a delicious gift from your kitchen for family, friends, co-workers or neighbors. 🎄

Just wrap this braided bread in clear plastic wrap, add a festive bow and gift tag from the Rhodes website and just like that you have a simple, delicious holiday gift from your kitchen. Let's get started and you can see how easily this cranberry braid came together.    

These are the ingredients you'll need: 16 Rhodes Frozen Dinner Rolls or 1 loaf Rhodes Frozen Bread Dough, dried cranberries or cherries, hot water, cream cheese, sugar, cherry flavored syrup or liqueur white chocolate baking chips, powdered sugar, vanilla or almond extract, milk and holiday sprinkles. 

To start, thaw 16 Rhodes dinner rolls or 1 loaf of Rhodes bread dough on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with non stick spray. Thaw until soft, but still cold. Add the dried cranberries to a small bowl and add one cup hot water. Let the cranberries soak and plump up (about 5 - 10 minutes), then drain and set the cranberries aside. 

Spray the counter with non stick baking spray. Roll thawed bread dough into a rectangle approx. 10 x 18 inches. If using frozen roll dough, thaw rolls and combine into a dough ball and roll into a rectangle. 

In a small bowl, mix the sugar and the softened cream cheese together and spread the mixture down the middle of the rectangle. Layer dried cranberries or cherries and white chocolate chips down the middle of the rectangle. 

At this point you can add a splash or two of cherry syrup or cherry liqueur raspberry or leave it out all together. I made two braids (one with and one without cherry syrup). 

Cut 1″ strips all the way down the two sides of the bread dough. Make sure you have an equal number of strips on both sides. Then, alternating between left and right, pull the strips diagonally down over the filling.  

Don’t stretch them too much, but make sure the filling is almost completely covered. Tuck the end pieces under the loaf and seal the ends. 

Transfer the braid to a greased baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with baking spray. Place in a warm place until the loaf doubles in size (about 1 hour).

Remove plastic wrap and bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. 

Remove from oven, let cool and drizzle with a simple powdered sugar icing. To make the icing in small bowl, mix glaze ingredients, adding enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. 

Drizzle the glaze over cooled bread and add holiday sprinkles.   

Slice and enjoy! My favorite part is the creamy white chocolate filling.

Yield: 6-8

Author: Tina Butler | Mommy's Kitchen

Cranberry White Chocolate Christmas Bread

A simple danish style Christmas Braid filled with cream cheese, dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, a dash of cherry syrup and topped with a simple vanilla glaze.

Prep time: 2 HourCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 2 H & 30 M

Ingredients

• 1 loaf Rhodes frozen bread dough or
• 16 Rhodes Dinner Rolls, thawed but still cold
• 1 cup dried cranberries or cherries 
• 1 cup hot water
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
• splash of cherry or raspberry flavored syrup or cherry liquor

Simple Icing

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2  teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract or cherry syrup or liqueur
• 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
• holiday sprinkles for garnish

Instructions

1. Thaw 16 dinner rolls or 1 loaf of Rhodes bread on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with non stick spray.
2. Add the dried cranberries to a small bowl and add one cup of hot water. Let the cranberries soak and plump up (about 5 - 10 minutes), then drain and set the cranberries aside.
3. Spray the counter with non stick baking spray. Roll thawed bread dough into a rectangle approx. 10 x 18 inches. If using frozen roll dough, thaw rolls and combine into a dough ball and roll into a rectangle.
4. Mix the sugar and the softened cream cheese together and spread the cream cheese mixture down the middle of the rectangle.
5. Layer dried cranberries, and white chocolate chips down the middle of the rectangle. Add a splash or two of flavored syrup over the cranberries and baking chips.
6. Cut 1″ strips all the way down the two sides of the bread dough. Make sure you have an equal number of strips on both sides. Then, alternating between left and right, pull the strips diagonally down over the filling.
7. Don’t stretch them too much, but make sure the filling is almost completely covered. Tuck the end pieces under the loaf and seal the ends.
8. Place on a greased baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with baking spray. Place in a warm place until the loaf doubles in size (about 1 hour).
9. Remove plastic wrap and bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from oven, let cool and drizzle with a simple powdered sugar icing.
10. To make the icing in small bowl, mix glaze ingredients, adding enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cooled bread and add holiday sprinkles.

https://www.mommyskitchen.net/2017/12/cranberry-white-chocolate-christmas.html

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