Braided Lemon Bread

Name: Braided Lemon Bread
Ingredients: For the Sponge; 3/4 cup warm water; 2 teaspoons sugar; 1 tablespoon instant yeast; 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour; For the Dough; 3/4 cup plain yogurt (not Greek) or 3/4 cup vanilla yogurt (not Greek); 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1/2 cup sugar; 2 teaspoons salt; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 2 teaspoons king arthur buttery sweet dough flavoring; 4 1/2 - 5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour; Finishing the Bread; 1 egg; 2 teaspoons water; 1 pinch salt; pearl sugar (optional) or sparkling white sugar (optional); Cream Cheese And Lemon Curd Filling; 2/3 cup cream cheese, softened; 1/4 cup sugar; 1/4 cup sour cream; 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice; 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup prepared lemon curd

25 ingredients

1 steps

Ingredients

For the Sponge
3/4 cup warm water
2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon instant yeast
1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
For the Dough
3/4 cup plain yogurt (not Greek) or 3/4 cup vanilla yogurt (not Greek)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 2 teaspoons king arthur buttery sweet dough flavoring
4 1/2 - 5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
Finishing the Bread
1 egg
2 teaspoons water
1 pinch salt
pearl sugar (optional) or sparkling white sugar (optional)
Cream Cheese And Lemon Curd Filling
2/3 cup cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup prepared lemon curd

Directions

1

["In a small bowl, combine the sponge ingredients. Stir well to combine, loosely cover with plastic wrap and set aside to proof for 10 - 15 minutes.", "In the bowl of a stand mixer combine the prepared sponge along with the yogurt, butter, eggs, sugar, salt and flavoring. Add 4 1/2 cups of flour and mix with the paddle attachment until the dough is a rough, shaggy mass. Switch to the dough hook and knead on speed 2 until a soft, smooth dough forms, about 5 to 6 minutes, adding more flour if needed to achieve the correct consistency.", "Place the kneaded dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 60 - 90 minutes, until quite puffy and nearly doubled.", "While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. Combine all the filling ingredients (except the lemon curd) in a small bowl, mixing until smooth and lump-free. Reserve the filling and lemon curd until ready to fill the braids.", "Gently deflate the dough and divide it in half. Cover half with plastic wrap and set it aside as you roll out the first piece into a 10 x15 inch rectangle. Rolling on parchment paper makes moving the bread to the baking sheet much easier. Lightly press two lines down the dough lengthwise, to divide it into 3 equal sections. Spread half the cream cheese filling down the center section and top with half the lemon curd, leaving 1\" free on all sides of the filling.""