Easy Apple Pecan Cream Cheese Pastry Braid
You just need 8 simple ingredients to make this Easy Apple Pecan Cream Cheese Pastry Braid! It makes a delicious dessert or breakfast idea.
Look at this beautiful braid! If I knew how easy it was to basically make a Danish braid, I would have done it a long time ago.
This Easy Apple Pecan Cream Cheese Pastry Braid didn't last long in my house. The combination of the apples and cream cheese filling with a golden brown flaky pastry is so good. And I actually think it's better the next morning if you can believe it. The best part about it is that you don't even need a rolling pin to make it. Just refrigerated dough!
The whole family loves this pastry braid, and I know that I am going to be making this over and over this year.
Easy Apple Pecan Cream Cheese Pastry Braid Ingredients
You don't need much to make this Apple Cream Cheese Braid recipe. All you need is:
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
- egg
- refrigerated crescent rolls
- fresh apples
- white sugar
- ground cinnamon
- pecans
Equipment
- baking sheet
- parchment paper
- medium bowl and small bowl
- pastry brush
- sharp knife (or pizza cutter) to cut dough and form braids
Tips
Storage: Store any leftover pastry braid in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 day, or in the fridge for 5 days.
What apple slices to use? I love using tart apples like granny smith, but if you like a sweeter braid, you can use sweet apples such as Fuji or Gala.
Use a sheet of puff pastry. Instead of crescent dough, use a store-bought puff pastry sheet to make a pecan apple cream cheese puff pastry braid. The flaky puff pastry is a fantastic replacement for crescent dough.
Buy canned apple pie filling. Instead of making the apple mixture from scratch, use the canned stuff to simplify the process.
More Easy Sweet Treats
Like this Easy Apple Pecan Cream Cheese Pastry Braid? Then you will love these simple recipes:
If you try this recipe, let me know! Give it a five-star review, leave a comment and tag me with #atasteofmadness on Instagram! I always love seeing what you are creating!
Easy Apple Pecan Cream Cheese Pastry Braid
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 packages refrigerated crescent rolls
- 2 medium apples peeled, cored and sliced
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup pecans, chopped
Topping
- 1 large egg
- ⅛ cup pecans chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg until fully combined.
- Unroll the crescent rolls beside each other with the longer side hanging over the width of the baking sheet. Press the seams together.
- Cut the overhanging dough 3 inches deep unto the crescent rolls on both sides, around 1 ½ inches apart. You should have around 6 inches of room in the middle for the filling.
- Spread half of the cream cheese mixture evenly in the middle of the dough.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the apples, sugar and cinnamon until the apples are coated. Arrange evenly on top of the cream cheese mixture.
- Sprinkle the ¼ cup of pecans on top then top with the remaining cream cheese mixture.
- Braid the strips of dough across the mixture, alternating strips to form a braid. Tuck the ends in to seal the braid.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg to combine. Brush on top of the braid. Sprinkle the ⅛ cup of pecans on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-28 minutes, or until the braid turns a deep golden brown. Allow to cool completely. Cut and and enjoy.
