Blueberry Cream Cheese Braided Loaf Food

BLUEBERRY CREAM CHEESE BRAIDED LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F
• Lightly spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment paper; set aside.
• Beat cream cheese in a mixing bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
• Add egg yolk and 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and beat well; set aside.
• Remove breadstick dough from can.
• Unroll and separate dough into two rectangles.
• Place dough rectangles side by side on prepared baking sheet.
• Press seams together to seal the two rectangles and down the center of the dough.
• Spoon cream cheese mixture onto the center of the dough.
• Wash, drain and dry blueberries.
• Sprinkle blueberries over cream cheese mixture.
• Separate dough at perforations up to the cream cheese mixtures, slightly stretching dough strips.
• Beginning at top edge of dough, braid strips to cover filling.
• Tuck the last two ends under at the bottom of loaf.
• In a small bowl, meat egg white and water with a fork until blended to form an egg wash.
• Bush egg wash over braided loaf.
• Bake about 20 minutes.
• Cool about 30-45 minutes on baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, combine remaining 1 cup of confectioners' sugar and orange juice; whisk until smooth.
• Drizzle glaze over braided loaf before serving.
• For best presentation, slice with an electric knife or a serrated knife.

BLUEBERRY-CREAM CHEESE PULL-APART BREAD

Steps:

• Roll and stretch the dough into a 12-inch square on a lightly floured surface. Combine the cream cheese, lemon zest and nutmeg in a bowl. Spread over the dough. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons each granulated sugar and sliced almonds, then the blueberries, pressing lightly. Cut into 16 small squares and make 4 stacks of 4 squares each.
• Place each stack on its side in a buttered 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Gently separate the dough layers so the dough fills the pan. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon each granulated sugar and sliced almonds.
• Cover the loaf loosely with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until the dough rises by half its size, 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350. Bake the loaf until it's browned and cooked through, 40 to 45 minutes (tent with foil if it's browning too quickly). Let cool 15 minutes in the pan, then loosen the edges with a knife. Remove to a plate and let cool 30 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.