Print
Email
 |
Ingredients
- One year ago: Bailey’s Mint Oreo Icebox Cake
- Two years ago: Bailey’s Hazelnut Chocolate Tiramisu
- Three years ago: Tres Leches Coconut Cake Trifle
- Four years ago: Soft Pretzel Dogs
- Five years ago: Best Blueberry Pie with Foolproof Pie Dough
- Coconut Cheesecake Breakfast Braid
View Full Recipe at Willow Bird Baking
Toolbox
Add the recipe to which day?
Adding to Planner
Advertisement
Advertisement
Leave a review or comment
Leave a review
Sign Up — Free Membership it's free!
Recently featured in
DailyCandy, Trendhunter, Eater, LaunchSquad, Mashable, Killer Startups & San Jose Mercury News
DailyCandy, Trendhunter, Eater, LaunchSquad, Mashable, Killer Startups & San Jose Mercury News
Or connect via:
%20No%20matter%20how%20many%20bakeries%20I%20try%20%E2%80%94%20even%20the%20Frenchiest%20looking%20of%20the%20French%20bakeries%20%E2%80%94%20I%20can%E2%80%99t%20find%20anything%20like%20the%20French%20Bakery.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EBUT%20NOW%20I%20AM%20A%20GROWN-UP%20(do%20grown-ups%20call%20themselves%20grown-ups?%20Whatever.)%20NOW%20I%20CAN%20BAKE%20TOO.%20Since%20I%20can%E2%80%99t%20have%20my%20beloved%20French%20Bakery,%20I%E2%80%99ve%20taken%20to%20making%20allllll%20the%20pastry%20braids%20(I%20don%E2%80%99t%20know%20if%20you%E2%80%99ve%20noticed?%20The%20roughly%20800,839,405%20braids%20on%20Willow%20Bird%20lately?)%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20couldn%E2%80%99t%20rest%20without%20a%20creamy%20coconut%20version%20for%20Easter%20morning.%20This%20crisp,%20gorgeous%20pastry%20filled%20with%20a%20cheesecakey%20center%20reminds%20me%20of%20my%20beloved%20French%20Bakery%20mornings%20and%20it%E2%80%99s%20definitely%20fit%20for%20a%20holiday%20table.%20It%E2%80%99s%20also%20so%20easy%20to%20make.%20I%E2%80%99ve%20included%20some%20handy%20photos%20and%20a%20tutorial%20video%20below%20so%20you%20can%20see%20how%20the%20braid%20comes%20together.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThanks%20to%20Philadelphia%20Cream%20Cheese%20for%20sponsoring%20me%20to%20create%20a%20delicious%20Easter%20breakfast%20recipe.%20It%E2%80%99s%20not%20an%20original%20Philadelphia%20Cream%20Cheese%20recipe%20%E2%80%94%20it%E2%80%99s%20all%20mine!%20Just%20in%20case%20you%20couldn%E2%80%99t%20tell%20by%20the%20braid.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E2%20cups%20all-purpose%20flour%202%20tablespoons%20powdered%20sugar%201%20teaspoon%20baking%20powder%20%C2%BD%20teaspoon%20salt%20%C2%BD%20cup%20unsalted%20butter%203%20ounces%20cream%20cheese%20%C2%BD%20cup%20milk%20%C2%BD%20teaspoon%20almond%20extract%201%20egg%20whisked%20with%201%20teaspoon%20water%20for%20egg%20wash%201%20(8-ounce)%20package%20Philadelphia%20Cream%20Cheese,%20softened%20a%20scant%20%C2%BC%20cup%20sugar%201%20teaspoon%20coconut%20extract%201%20egg,%20room%20temperature%20%C2%BE%20cup%20sweetened%20shredded%20coconut%20(plus%20more%20for%20topping)%20%C2%BD%20cups%20powdered%20sugar%20%E2%85%9B%20teaspoon%20coconut%20extract%20%E2%85%9B%20teaspoon%20vanilla%20extract%201%20tablespoon%20milk%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EMake%20the%20filling:%20Cream%20the%20softened%20cream%20cheese%20in%20a%20medium%20bowl%20until%20fluffy%20before%20adding%20sugar,%20coconut%20extract,%20and%20the%20egg.%20Mix%20together%20until%20well%20combined.%20Stir%20in%20coconut.%20Set%20aside%20on%20the%20counter%20while%20you%20prepare%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20braid.%20Make%20the%20pastry%20braid:%20Preheat%20the%20oven%20to%20425%20degrees%20F.%20In%20the%20bowl%20of%20a%20food%20processor,%20mix%20the%20flour,%20powdered%20sugar,%20baking%20powder,%20and%20salt.%20Add%20the%20cream%20cheese%20and%20butter%20into%20the%20flour%20mixture%20and%20pulse%20to%20cut%20the%20fat%20into%20the%20flour%20(about%206%20pulses).%20Add%20the%20milk%20and%20almond%20extract%20and%20blend%20until%20it%E2%80%99s%20just%20starting%20to%20come%20together%20into%20a%20loose%20dough.%20Turn%20the%20dough%20out%20onto%20a%20big%20sheet%20of%20lightly-floured%20parchment%20paper%20and%20knead%20each%20very%20lightly%20for%20just%204-5%20strokes%20(be%20careful%20not%20to%20overwork%20the%20dough%20or%20it%E2%80%99ll%20be%20tough!%20Don%E2%80%99t%20worry%20about%20getting%20it%20smooth%20%E2%80%94%20just%20knead%20for%20these%20few%20strokes%20and%20let%20it%20stay%20a%20little%20rough.)%20Very%20lightly%20flour%20the%20top%20of%20the%20dough%20and%20place%20another%20sheet%20of%20parchment%20paper%20on%20top.%20Between%20two%20sheets%20of%20parchment%20paper,%20roll%20the%20dough%20to%20an%2010-%20by%2012-inch%20rectangle%20(I%20lift%20the%20paper%20off%20every%20now%20and%20then%20and%20flip%20the%20dough%20and%20repeat%20on%20the%20other%20side,%20to%20ensure%20the%20dough%20isn%E2%80%99t%20sticking).%20Remove%20the%20top%20sheet%20of%20parchment%20and%20discard.%20Measure%20and%20mark%20the%20dough%20lengthwise%20into%20thirds.%20Dollop%20the%20cream%20cheese%20mixture%20on%20top%20of%20the%20butter%20and%20spread%20it%20out%20(I%20use%20the%20back%20of%20two%20spoons%20to%20spread%20it%20around).%20Things%20will%20get%20oozy%20and%20you%20will%20worry%20that%20you're%20messing%20the%20braid%20up.%20Take%20a%20deep%20breath%20and%20soldier%20through,%20because%20it's%20gonna%20come%20out%20amazing!%20Continue%20assembling%20the%20braid:%20(Remember,%20there%20are%20photos%20below%20to%20help%20visualize%20this%20step!)%20Make%20diagonal%20cuts%20at%201-inch%20intervals%20on%20each%20the%20long%20sides.%20Do%20not%20cut%20into%20the%20center%20filling%20area.%20Fold%20strips,%20first%20one%20from%20one%20side%20and%20then%20one%20from%20the%20other%20side%20in%20an%20alternating%20fashion,%20over%20the%20filling.%20It%20will%20now%20resemble%20a%20braid.%20Use%20the%20sheet%20of%20parchment%20to%20carefully%20transfer%20your%20braid%20to%20a%20baking%20sheet.%20At%20this%20point%20you%20can%20cover%20and%20refrigerate%20the%20braid%20overnight,%20or%20you%20can%20continue%20to%20the%20next%20step.%20Bake%20and%20glaze%20the%20braid:%20Brush%20the%20pastry%20braid%20with%20the%20egg%20wash%20mixture.%20Bake%20in%20the%20425%20degree%20oven%20for%2020-22%20minutes,%20until%20the%20dough%20is%20really%20golden%20on%20top%20and%20the%20filling%20is%20set.%20After%20allowing%20the%20braid%20to%20cool%20for%20around%2030%20minutes,%20whisk%20together%20the%20powdered%20sugar,%20coconut%20and%20vanilla%20extracts,%20and%20milk%20in%20a%20small%20measuring%20cup%20with%20a%20pour%20spout.%20Drizzle%20over%20the%20top%20of%20the%20braid.%20Top%20with%20extra%20shredded%20coconut%20and%20serve!%20%203.2.2925%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EExample%20of%20how%20to%20cut%20and%20assemble%20braid.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAnd%20here%E2%80%99s%20a%20video%20illustration:%3C/p%3E){kind=link}