This stuffed lemon sweet braided bread recipe is one you’ll reach for again and again—because truly, who can resist this sunshine-filled, lemony loaf? If you’re looking for a sweet, citrusy twist on traditional fruit pastries, this braided bread with lemon curd and cream cheese filling is your new go-to. It’s gorgeous, golden, and guaranteed to impress at any brunch, tea time, or holiday gathering.
If you’re a citrus fan like we are, this braided bread recipe is a dream come true. The flavor is bright and zippy thanks to the lemon curd, while the cream cheese brings a subtle tang and richness. Together, they create a soft, indulgent center that’s wrapped in a golden, fluffy sweet braided bread crust. Every slice feels like a warm welcome from the kitchen!
And here’s the best part—this showstopper of a bread is surprisingly easy to make. The mock braid technique looks fancy, but it’s totally beginner-friendly. Just roll out the dough, layer in the filling, and fold the strips over in a criss-cross pattern to make that signature braided bread look. No yeast mastery required, just a little patience and a love of homemade treats.
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Why We Love This Braided Bread Recipe
- Show-stopping presentation
The beautiful braid creates an eye-catching loaf that looks like it came straight from a bakery. This lemon curd loaf will impress your family and guests with its intricate design and vibrant filling. - Perfect balance of flavors
The tangy lemon curd pairs beautifully with the creamy, slightly sweet cream cheese filling, creating a flavor combination that’s irresistible. This recipe is perfect for anyone who loves lemon or simply enjoys a hint of citrus. - Versatile for any occasion
This cream cheese bread braid is perfect for brunch, dessert, or even as a unique breakfast treat. Serve it at a gathering, bring it to a potluck, or simply enjoy it with your morning coffee—it’s versatile and always a hit!
Using Frozen Bread Dough
There are times when you need some time-saving helpers with baking. Especially when you want home-baked results with a little less effort. That is why I love baking with frozen bread dough.
Let’s face it, yeast bread can be unpredictable at times. If you knead too little, use expired yeast, or can’t find a warm place for your dough to rise, your baked goods will be flat and dense.
Thanks to this ready dough, you can be assured of perfect results every time, whether you are making this stuffed bread braid or a frozen bread dough pizza. Plus you wouldn’t need a stand mixer or extra ingredients like bread flour, butter, active dry yeast, or egg.
Simplicity and ease are even more important on holidays and special occasions. No one wants to deal with a last-minute baking fail. And this braided bread with lemon curd and cream cheese filling is fool-proof and as easy as thawing ready-made dough, prepping, and baking. It is so easy, you wouldn’t have to deal with a sticky braided loaf or a hard crust bread.
You’ll find this amazing but easy lemon cream cheese bread braid on my table this Easter.
Ingredient Notes And Substitutions
- Frozen bread dough: I use Bridgford’s Ready-Dough for easy baking recipes like this.
- Cream cheese: This soft, tangy cheese adds creaminess and richness to the bread. For the creamiest cheese filling, use full fat cream cheese and sour cream.
Reduced fat cream cheeses and sour cream may have binders or fillers that provide inconsistent results when cooking and baking. - White sugar: You can also use other substitutes like honey or maple syrup.
- Sour cream: Adds tang and moisture to the recipe. You can also use Greek yogurt if you don’t have sour cream in hand.
- Lemon juice: Adds a bright citrusy flavor. I highly recommend using fresh lemon juice over reconstituted. You just need ½ lemon to get enough juice for this recipe
(Optional) You can add lemon zest for a more intense tangy lemon flavor. - All-purpose flour: The most common flour used in baking.
- Lemon curd: The base for making the sweet and tangy filling. I used a jar of prepared lemon curd, but this is my favorite homemade lemon curd recipe. Using a jar of lemon curd will make this lemon bread recipe much quicker.
- Large egg: Used to brush the bread for a shiny, golden brown finish. You can also use milk or olive oil, but take note this will affect the texture and flavor of the bread.
Recipe Variations
- Berry lemon braid: Add a layer of fresh or frozen berries (like blueberries or raspberries) spoon on top of the lemon curd and cream cheese for extra flavor. Make a swirl drizzle on top with powder sugar, vanilla extract, and milk or water.
- Citrus twist: Swap the lemon curd for orange or lime curd for a different citrusy spin.
- Nutty delight: Sprinkle chopped almonds or salt pecans over the filling for added crunch.
- Glazed perfection: Drizzle a lemon glaze or dust with powdered sugar for a sweet finish.
- Savory option: Skip the lemon curd and cream cheese, and stuff the braid with spinach and feta or a ham and cheese mixture for a savory take.
Equipment Used in Our Recipe
- Baking sheet: Essential for baking the braid to golden perfection.
- Bench scraper or knife: Helps create clean, even cuts for the braiding process.
- Ruler (optional): Useful for ensuring uniform strips and a balanced braid.
How to Make Sweet Braided Bread
- Follow the directions for how to make the best pumpkin bread. Thaw one loaf of the frozen dough (there are three in each package).
- Prepare the filling by mixing the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, and flour in a small bowl. Stir until smooth.
- When the dough is at room temperature and pliable, roll it into a rectangle shape about 9” by 12.”
- Using a bench scraper or ruler, make 2 equal indentations down the dough lengthwise in about 3” apart (see photo below) to make certain number of strips.
- The middle center section is where you will evenly spread the cheese filling, leaving 1” spacing without cheese filling at the top and bottom. Use a parchment paper under the dough.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Chill the dough slightly before cutting and braiding to make it easier to handle. A chilled dough holds its shape better, resulting in a neater braid.
- Top cheese filling with the lemon curd, smoothing it level.
- Using your ruler, bench scraper, or knife, make 1” indentation strips down the two sides next to the filling. Notch out the dough’s corners (as shown above and below) next to the first strip on all four sides.
Braid the Lemon Curd Loaf
- To braid the lemon curd loaf, fold down the top flap up over the cream cheese filling. Then take the top right strip, and bring it over to the center of the filing at an angle, and press down lightly.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Keep frozen dough in your freezer, so it is ready when you need it. Everyone loves freshly baked rolls or this stuffed braided bread, and it is so handy to pull out a few rolls out for dinner. Or when you need to make a showstopper bread twist or braid for a holiday event like Easter.
- Do the same with the left side in a crisscross manner, repeating the process until you get close to the bottom of the cream cheese bread braid.
- Then, fold up the bottom tab, and cross the last strips under the stuffed bread braid loaf.
- Lightly cover the sweet bread braid and let rise until puffy. This will take about 45 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. And place the dough on a prepared pan.
- Mix the egg with 2 teaspoons of water in a small bowl, then brush the egg wash on the cream cheese bread braid.
- Bake the stuffed braided bread using a sheet pan at 375° F for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Let it cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This braided bread recipe is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert and tastes amazing warm or at room temperature. Serve thick slices of the braided loaf with a glass of warm milk or a cup of tea for a cozy treat. It also pairs beautifully with fresh vegetables or fruit on a brunch platter for a balance of sweet and savory.
If you’re making this as part of your collection of homemade bread recipes, you can also top the loaf with a sprinkling of poppy seeds or sesame seeds before baking for added crunch and texture. Or, dust it with powdered sugar once cooled for a pretty finish.
If you’re a fan of citrus desserts, you’ll want to try this alongside a refreshing lemon poke cake made with jello, adding another layer of tangy, sweet goodness to your dessert spread.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can prepare and braid the dough a day ahead, then refrigerate it overnight. Let it come to room temperature before baking.
Absolutely. Wrap the baked and cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and reheat in the oven for freshness.
You can use store-bought lemon curd, make your own, or substitute with another fruit curd like orange or lime. To make your own lemon curd, I recommend this Easy Lemon Curd recipe.
Leftovers of the lemon curd loaf will keep well for up to 3 days in the fridge if covered with plastic wrap, foil, or in a sealed container.
More Fruity Recipes To Love…
If you tried this braided lemon bread recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below or share your photos with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Thanks for visiting!
Braided Bread
Equipment
- baking sheet or casserole dish
- bench scraper or knife
- ruler - optional but helpful
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Bridgford Ready Dough thawed
Lemon Cream Cheese filling
- 6 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup sour cream room temperature
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest optional
- ¾ cup lemon curd see notes for recipe, or use prepared
Egg Wash
- 1 egg, beaten lightly
- 2 teaspoons water
Instructions
Prepare the braided bread with filling
- Prepare the filling by mixing the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, and flour in a large bowl. Stir until smooth.
- Roll room temperature dough into a rectangle shape about 9” by 12.” Using a bench scraper or ruler, make 2 equal indentations down the dough lengthwise in about 3” apart (see photos). The middle section is where you will evenly spread the cheese filling, leaving 1” spacing without cheese filling at the top and bottom.
- Using your ruler and bench scraper or knife, make 1” indentation strips down the two sides next to the filling. Notch out the corners (as shown) above the first strip on all four sides. Top with the lemon curd, smoothing it level.
Braid the bread loaf
- To make the braids, fold down the top flap up over the filling. Then, take the top right strip, and bring it over to the center of the filing at an angle and lightly press down. Do the same with the left side in a crisscross, repeating the process until you get close to the bottom of the cream cheese bread braid. Fold up the bottom tab, and cross the last strips under the bread loaf.Fold up the bottom tab, and cross the last strips under the bread loaf.
- Lightly cover the sweet bread braid and let rise until puffy. This will take about 45 minutes.
Baking the loaf
- Preheat your oven to 375ºF. In a small bowl, mix the egg with 2 teaspoons of water, then brush egg wash on top of the bread braid. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Berry lemon braid: Add a layer of fresh or frozen berries (like blueberries or raspberries) spoon on top of the lemon curd and cream cheese for extra flavor. Make a swirl drizzle on top with powder sugar, vanilla extract, and milk or water.
- Citrus twist: Swap the lemon curd for orange or lime curd for a different citrusy spin.
- Nutty delight: Sprinkle chopped almonds or salt pecans over the filling for added crunch.
- Glazed perfection: Drizzle a lemon glaze or dust with powdered sugar for a sweet finish.
- Savory option: Skip the lemon curd and cream cheese, and stuff the braid with spinach and feta or a ham and cheese mixture for a savory take.
- Keep frozen dough in your freezer, so it is ready when you need it. Everyone loves freshly baked rolls or this stuffed braided bread, and it is so handy to pull out a few rolls out for dinner. Or when you need to make a showstopper bread twist or braid for a holiday event like Easter.
- Chill the dough slightly before cutting and braiding to make it easier to handle. A chilled dough holds its shape better, resulting in a neater braid.
- To make your own lemon curd, I recommend this Easy Lemon Curd recipe.
- Wrap the baked and cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and reheat in the oven for freshness.
- You can prepare and braid the dough a day ahead, then refrigerate it overnight. Let it come to room temperature before baking.
Nutrition
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Cathy Thelen says
Could you share a brand of lemon curd that you like / buy?
Renae says
Bonne Maman Lemon Curd is my absolute favorite lemon curd. The balance between tartness and sweetness is spot on. You should be able to find it at most grocery retailers, and it is available here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pYty44 (affiliate link)
June says
Hi Renae, your braided lemon bread is exactly what I was looking for yesterday…unfortunately I had to compromise since I already made something else. Your bread looks beautiful!
Just a question, tho, about the Bridgford loaf. I’ve used it before many years ago, and recently used it again on two separate occasions. I’m having major problems rolling it out. (I don’t remember having this problem before.) It keeps shrinking back. I’ve left it partially rolled out, covered, to let it rest for over an hour at room temp, then tried again. Still it keeps shrinking. Is there a trick you can pass on?
Thanks in advance,
June
Renae says
Hi June, I’ve noticed that during the winter my dough (both homemade and frozen) can be less responsive, probably because our home is only about 68ºF during the day. So, I have been letting it rise (and thaw) in a warm spot, like my oven with the light on. If the dough is still stiff, then I gently stretch it to loosen the gluten or dimple the dough with my fingers like focaccia bread. After that, I haven’t had any issues with sizing the dough properly. I hope this helps.