Sweet Farmers Cheese and Strawberry Braid
It’s hard to believe that fall is already here and winter just around the corner. Believe it or not, but my all season strawberries are still blooming and are not ready for the cold weather to come at all. While we still have some strawberries in the garden I’d really love to share one of our family favorite desserts.
This Sweet Farmers Cheese and Strawberry Braid is indescribable! You’ve got everything in one bite: sweet soft bread, delicious cheese topped with strawberries. I know you will fall in love with this dessert just from the first bite! 🙂
Batter Ingredients:
I’ve used Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting batter for this recipe.
Strawberry Filling Ingredients:
2 lbs. – strawberries
2 tbsp. – granulated sugar
Farmers Cheese Ingredients:
12 oz. – homemade Farmers Cheese
8 oz. – cream cheese
¼ cup – granulated sugar
1 tsp. – pure vanilla extract
Egg wash Ingredients:
1 large – egg
1 tbsp. – 1 % milk
4 tbsp. – Organic Cane Sugar
Batter Instructions:
I like to use Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting batter for this recipe. Follow step-by-step recipe instruction for the batter. It’s super soft, not sticky and very easy to work with. While the batter is rising, prepare strawberry and farmers cheese fillings.
Strawberry Filling Instructions:
Wash and remove the stem from strawberries. Slice strawberries and place them into the small pot. Add 2 tbsp. sugar. Bring it to a boil stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and let it boil for 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove from the stove and let it cool.
Farmers Cheese Instructions:
Mix together farmers cheese and cream cheese. Add sugar and vanilla; mix for 2 minutes or until combined. Set aside until ready for it (don’t refrigerate or else it will be difficult to spread onto a batter).
Drain cooled cooked strawberries through the strainer (you can enjoy the syrup as topping for waffles or pancakes).
Assembling the Braid:
1. Remove the dough onto a flowered surface. Split the dough in half. Place the second half back into a rising bowl and cover the bowl so the dough doesn’t dry out.
2. Roll out the first half into an equal rectangular. Slip the rectangular dough onto parchment the paper. Roll it out again to make perfect dough thickness and size.
3. Cut 13 strips on each side of the dough. The length of the strips on each side should be the same size as the middle of the braid. Spread half of the farmer’s cheese mixture, and then half of the strawberries in the middle of the braid.
4. Fold the first strip, pinch the ends, and then fold the second strip and pinch the ends again. Braid the rest of the braid and repeat the folding and pinching the dough together steps at the end of the braid again.Repeat the same steps with the second half of the dough. Wash with egg wash. Place braids into a warm place to rice for 30 min.
How to make egg wash:
Combine milk and egg. Beat it with whisker for 30 seconds or until all combined.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Wash the braids with egg wash again and sprinkle with organic cane sugar.
Let it rise for 10 minutes or until oven heats. Bake one braid at a time for 35-40 minutes (if you have double oven, place one braid into each oven). Remove from the oven and let them cool.
Slice and serve. I prefer eating them warm with coffee or tea. Enjoy!
Bread with Strawberry Filling
Ingredients
For the Batter:
- I've used Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting batter for this recipe.
For the Strawberry Filling:
- 2 lbs. fresh strawberries
- 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
For the Farmer's Cheese Filling:
- 12 oz. homemade Farmers Cheese
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
For the Egg Wash:
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp. whole milk 1%
- 4 tbsp. cane sugar
Instructions
How to Make the Batter
- I like to use Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting batter for this recipe. Follow step –by-step instruction for the batter. It’s super soft, not sticky and very easy to work with. While the batter is rising, prepare strawberry and farmers cheese fillings.
How to Make the Strawberry Filling:
- Wash and remove the stem from strawberries. Slice strawberries and place them into the small pot. Add 2 tbsp. sugar.
- Bring it to a boil stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and let it boil for 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove from the stove and let it cool.
How to Make the Farmer's Cheese Filling:
- Mix together farmers cheese and cream cheese. Add sugar and vanilla; mix for 2 minutes or until combined. Set aside until ready for it (don’t refrigerate or else it will be difficult to spread onto a batter).
- Drain cooled cooked strawberries through the strainer (you can enjoy the syrup as topping for waffles or pancakes).
How to Assemble and Bake the Bread:
- Remove the dough onto a flowered surface. Split the dough in half. Place the second half back into a rising bowl and cover the bowl so the dough doesn’t dry out.
- Roll out the first half into an equal rectangular. Slip the rectangular dough onto parchment paper. Roll it out again to make perfect dough thickness and size.
- Cut 13 strips on each side of the dough. The length of the strips on each side should be the same size as the middle of the braid. Spread half of the farmer’s cheese mixture, and then half of the strawberries in the middle of the braid.
- Fold first strip, pinch the ends, and then fold the second strip and pinch the ends again. Braid the rest of the braid and repeat the folding steps at the end of the braid again. Repeat the same steps with the second half of the dough. Wash with egg wash. Place braids into a warm place to rice for 30 min.
- Combine milk and egg. Beat it with whisker for 30 seconds or until all combined.
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Wash the braids with egg wash again and sprinkle with organic cane sugar.
- Let it rise for 10 minutes or until oven heats. Bake one braid at a time for 35-40 minutes (if you have double oven, place one braid into each oven). Remove from the oven and let them cool.
- Slice and serve. I prefer eating them warm with coffee or tea. Enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe uses a specific Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting batter, which is recommended for its soft, non-sticky texture and ease of use. However, you can also use your favorite sweet bread dough if you prefer.
- When preparing your strawberry filling, be sure to remove the stems from the strawberries and slice them before cooking. This will help the strawberries cook evenly and make them easier to spread on your bread.
- For the Farmers Cheese Ingredients, we recommend using homemade Farmers Cheese for the best flavor and texture. However, store-bought farmers cheese will also work well.
- After preparing your strawberry filling, drain the cooked strawberries through a strainer. This will give you a delicious syrup that you can use as a topping for waffles or pancakes.
- When assembling your braid, be sure to roll out your dough into an equal rectangular and cut an equal number of strips on each side. This will make it easier to braid and give you a more attractive final product.
- Before baking, wash your braids with egg wash and sprinkle with organic cane sugar. This will give your bread a beautiful, shiny finish and a hint of sweetness.
If you make this recipe please share the picture with me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Tag it with #valyastasteofhome, I would love to see your creation. 🙂
Valya your home grown strawberries look amazing!!!!
Thank you. I really miss them when they are not in season.
Made this today. Turned out great. My cooking time was about 25 minutes. Thank you for the recipe!
Mine was ready in about that time too, but I like to give just a little more time to make sure that is all baked inside. If you don’t mind share picture of it. Thank you Tania 🙂
Wow! This is beautiful Valya! Pretty cool to have the strawberries still coming!:)
Thank you Annie! 🙂