Shhhhh... It's a family secret....

Every Christmas and July I make what I like to call my "Christmas Birthday bread" and I might add a few more days in there so that I can make it more. My father made this every Christmas for as long as I can remember. And my parents had these at there wedding. 

My brother recently got married and they had more of a brunch then a lunch so I made several batches of this bread. Five to be exact and each batch can be rolled out into four loves. I did eight so they were smaller loaves. The picture below is the cream cheese mixture for inside the roll. As you can see their wedding colors are purple and blue.

Here is the recipe for the bread:

Cream Cheese Braids

1c. sour cream

1/2 c. sugar

1 tea Salt

1/2 c. melted butter

2 pkgs dry yeast

1/2 c. warm water

2 eggs, beaten

4 c. plain flour

-cream cheese filling

-glaze (optional)

Heat sour cream over low heat, stir in sugar, salt and butter; cool to lukewarm. Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl, stirring until yeast is dissolves. add sour cream mixture, eggs, and flour. Mix well, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. 

The next day pull out the bread and then make the cream cheese mixture. Once the mixture is done start with the dough. Divide dough into 4 equal parts; roll out each part on a well floured board into a 12x8 in rectangle. Spread the mixture on the rectangle and then roll up jelly roll fashion, beginning at the long sides. pinch edges together and fold ends under slightly. Place the rolls seam side down on greased baking sheets, slit each roll at 1in intervals about 2/3 of the way through  dough to resemble a braid. Cover and allow to raise till double (about an hour) bake at 375* for 12-15 min, until it's slightly golden brown. 

Cream Cheese filling

2 oz cream cheese (softened)

3/4 c. sugar

1 egg beaten

1/8 (pinch) teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon vanilla

Combine the cream cheese and sugar until well blended, mix in rest and mix well.

Here is the finished product.This is a beloved family tradition for me, and I hope that it can hold the same place for you as well! Happy baking!