This is a wonderful sweet bread that wraps up sweetened blackberries. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve at breakfast or even for dessert!
Author:Norann Oleson
Prep Time:1 hour
Additional Time:5 hours
Cook Time:25 minutes
Total Time:6 hours 25 minutes
Yield:Serves 18 - Makes 3 braids 1x
Category:Bakery
Ingredients
Scale
1/2 cup warm milk (110 to 115 degrees F)
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast
3 egg yolks
1 cup whipping cream
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, chilled
1 cup blackberries
2 tablespoons white sugar, or more to taste
1 tablespoon confectioner’s sugar, for dusting
Instructions
Combine the milk, 1 tablespoon sugar, and the yeast in a large bowl. Stir the egg yolks and whipping cream into the milk mixture and allow it to rest for 10 minutes.
Whisk together the flour, 1/4 cup of sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl. Cut in the cold butter with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (You can also use a food processor, pulsing until the butter is the size of small peas. Turn mixture into a bowl and proceed.) Stir in liquid ingredients until combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into three portions and shape them into balls. Toss blackberries with sugar.
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet.
Roll each ball out to a 9×12-inch rectangle. Spoon blackberries evenly onto the center third of each rectangle, width-wise. Using a knife, cut 9 slanting lines along each side approximately 1 inch apart. Create a braid by folding alternating strips from each side, covering the berries. Repeat with the remaining 2 dough balls.
Place the pastry braids onto the prepared baking sheet. Cover braids with a light cloth and let them rise in a warm spot (80 to 95 degrees F) until doubled in volume. This should take about 1 hour.
Bake the braids in the preheated oven until they are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. For an added bit of sweetness, sprinkle braids with confectioners’ sugar before serving.
