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Apple Puff Pastry Braid with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Filling Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 112 reviews

Delightfully flaky and fruity, this Apple Puff Pastry recipe features a luscious cream cheese filling topped with cinnamon-spiced cooked apples, all wrapped in golden, crisp puff pastry. Perfect for a cozy dessert or an elegant brunch treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Apple Filling

  • 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced into small pieces
  • ¾ cup water
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Cream Cheese Filling

  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pastry and Topping

  • 1 box puff pastry sheets
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Coarse sugar, for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking the pastries.
  2. Prepare Apple Filling: In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine water, cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring constantly to prevent lumps.
  3. Thicken Sauce: Continue stirring the mixture for 3-4 minutes until it thickens into a sauce.
  4. Cook Apples: Add the diced apples to the thickened sauce, stir well, and let simmer for 8-10 minutes until the apples are tender but still hold shape.
  5. Cool Apple Mixture: Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the apple filling to cool completely.
  6. Make Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add sugar, egg yolk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract, then beat until fully combined and smooth.
  7. Prepare Puff Pastry: Lightly flour a surface and gently roll out the puff pastry sheets a few times to soften and slightly enlarge them.
  8. Assemble Pastry Base: Spoon half of the cream cheese mixture down the center of each puff pastry sheet, leaving about 1½ inches of space at each end free of filling.
  9. Add Apple Topping: Once cooled, spread about three heaping tablespoons of the apple mixture on top of the cream cheese filling evenly for each pastry.
  10. Secure Ends: Cut two 1-inch long slits at each end of the pastry and fold the pastry over the filling to seal it, preventing leakage.
  11. Cut and Braid: Trim the angled pieces from the top and bottom sides, then make several cuts along each side without cutting too close to the filling. Fold strips over the filling alternately, creating a braided effect and securing the filling well.
  12. Prepare Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk the large egg with 1 tablespoon of water to create an egg wash.
  13. Apply Topping: Brush the egg wash evenly over the braided pastries. Sprinkle coarse sugar on top for added sweetness and crunch.
  14. Bake: Place the prepared pastries on the parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the puff pastry is puffed up and golden brown.
  15. Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and allow the pastries to cool slightly before serving to enjoy them warm and flaky.

Notes

  • Ensure the apple filling is completely cooled before assembling to prevent soggy pastry.
  • Use Granny Smith apples for the best tart flavor that balances the sweetness.
  • Keep puff pastry cold until just before rolling to ensure better puff and flakiness.
  • Customize sugar amount in fillings to suit taste or dietary needs.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat gently in an oven or toaster oven.

Keywords: apple puff pastry, cream cheese apple pastry, baked apple dessert, flaky apple pastry, cinnamon apple dessert

Find it online: https://ricoloranz.com/apple-puff-pastry-braid-with-cinnamon-cream-cheese-filling-recipe/