Braided Bread

This Stuffed Braided Bread is soft and perfectly stuffed with a classic golden-brown crust and an impressive look that’s sure to impress your friends and family! It’s an incredibly delicious bread for breakfast, brunch, or savory snacks! 

This recipe combines a soft and slightly sweet bread dough with a savory and aromatic filling made with za’atar and your favorite cheese. The braided shape adds a touch of elegance and lets you easily tear off a piece and savor the delicious layers of bread and filling!

Making stuffed braided bread may seem intimidating initially, but it’s quite simple and fun to do with your family and friends. My recipe calls for pantry-staple ingredients, and what’s best is that you can easily customize the fillings to your preferences! 

This is truly the best stuffed braided bread recipe with its perfect texture, golden-brown crust, and delicious filling!

WHAT IS STUFFED BRAIDED BREAD?

Stuffed braided bread is baked bread made by filling the dough with a savory or sweet filling, braiding it into a loaf, and baking it until it’s golden brown. The dough used for this recipe is soft and slightly sweet and can be easily shaped and braided.

The filling for stuffed braided bread can be customized depending on your preference. It can be left sweet or savory with cheese, herbs, vegetables, and meat.

Spread the filling over the rolled-out dough before braiding, creating layers of bread and filling that look absolutely delicious! 

Once you bake the braided bread, you can slice it and serve it warm or at room temperature. Stuffed braided bread is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a savory appetizer, side dish, or main course or as a sweet dessert or breakfast pastry.

WHAT MAKES THIS STUFFED BRAIDED BREAD RECIPE SPECIAL?

This is truly the best-braided bread recipe out there, featuring the perfect texture and most delicious filling! Here are some of the reasons why you’ll absolutely love it:

Easy: Even though it looks super fancy, this stuffed braided bread recipe is actually really easy to make! We’ll use some staple pantry ingredients; the preparation couldn’t be easier. With my step-by-step instructions and video tutorial, even a beginner can make this bread recipe!

Versatile: The recipe will be a deliciously cheesy one. However, it can be easily adapted to be sweet or savory by adding just a few ingredients! Read my section below to learn more about the different variations you can try!

Elegant: This stuffed braided bread recipe is incredibly visually appealing. The braids and twists in the bread are elegant, and it’s easy to tear off a piece and enjoy it instead of cutting it. 

Holiday-worthy: If you’re looking for a bread recipe that’ll look perfect on your holiday table, this is definitely the one need to make! Not only does it look great, but it also tastes just as amazing!

🥘 INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR STUFFED BRAIDED BREAD

All you need are some simple ingredients to make this delicious braided bread at home. Let’s look at some of the main ingredients:

You can scroll down to the recipe card for further details and instructions.

Milk: Quality milk is an important ingredient for our stuffed braided bread. Go for whole milk if you can; the extra fat content adds a great richness to the bread.

Yeast: You’ll also need some active dry yeast to give your braided bread that deliciously soft and fluffy texture!

Za’atar: We’ll also need some za’atar for this recipe. It’s a delicious herb mix from the Middle East which features dried herbs such as oregano, thyme, cumin, coriander, sumac, and sesame seeds. 

Cheese: Along with the za’atar, we will stuff our bread with some tasty cheese. This recipe doesn’t require a specific kind of cheese, so grab your favorite one!

Sesame seeds: We will finish our stuffed braided bread with a nice sesame seed garnish. They add a great nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch!

🔪 HOW TO MAKE STUFFED BRAIDED BREAD

Making this Stuffed Braided Bread is super easy. Here’s what you need to do to make it.

The full instructions are in the recipe card below, but let’s look at the main steps to making this treat.

Step 1: 

Let’s start by activating our yeast first. Add warm milk, active dry yeast, and sugar to a bowl. Whisk it well, then set it aside.

Step 2:

In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, add flour, salt, and butter, and stir until it’s all well combined, which will take about 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the yeast mixture from the previous step into the flour and mix it for 7 to 10 minutes. The dough will come out smooth but a little wet and shouldn’t stick to your hands. 

Step 3: 

Next, put the dough in a large bowl and cover it. Let the dough rise for 1 to 1.5 hours in a warm area of your kitchen. When the dough doubles, make eight equal-sized balls, about 62 grams each.

Step 4:

Roll the balls into 11″ inch-long logs using a lightly floured surface. Fill the middle of these logs with za’atar and cheese or your favorite filling. Then roll the dough over the filling from the long side, then seal it by pinching the edges, as shown in the video. Pull it from both ends to make it longer and twist the log.

Step 5: 

Braid the log as shown in the video and pictures in this post, then pinch the end firmly. Cover the logs and let them proof for another 30 minutes, then brush the braids with the egg wash and sprinkle them with sesame seeds. 

Step 6: 

Bake your braided bread in a preheated oven for 16 to 19 minutes. You may have to rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking if some aren’t getting the same color evenly.

Step 7:

When done, remove the bread from the oven and immediately brush it with butter. Place the baked braided bread on a wire rack to cool before serving. Your delicious Braided Bread is ready!

💭 COOKING TIPS FOR STUFFED BRAIDED BREAD

Don’t overfill: When stuffing your dough logs, be careful not to overfill them. The filling will ooze out while rolling or baking and make a mess.

Don’t use wet fillings: You can use the filling ingredients in this recipe or your favorite ones. You shouldn’t use wet filling. Wet fillings will make your bread soggy. 

Use room temperature ingredients: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before starting. This will make the dough come together easier and with a smoother texture. 

Add sugar for sweet fillings: Add one extra teaspoon of sugar to the dough when filling the braided bread with a sweet filling.

Make ahead: If you want to bake your bread the next day or later but want to prep ahead, you definitely can! Simply knead the dough, cover it, and place it in the fridge overnight to proof it. Allow it to return to room temperature before following the rest of the steps in this recipe.

📖 DELICIOUS VARIATIONS FOR STUFFED BRAIDED BREAD

You don’t have to stick to the same filling we used in this recipe. There are plenty of delicious variations you can try out as well! Here are some ideas:

• Garlic and Herb: Mix softened butter with garlic powder, oregano, basil, and parsley for a deliciously aromatic filling.
• Fruit and Nut: This twist on the classic recipe is perfect for a sweet, nutty treat. Mix together chopped dried fruit and nuts of your choice with a bit of sugar for an indulgent filling.
• Cheese and Spinach: Here’s a great savory take on this stuffed braided bread recipe! Mix cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, frozen spinach, garlic powder, and pepper together for a cheesy, veggie-filled treat.

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🌡️ HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER STUFFED BRAIDED BREAD

You can easily store leftover bread by covering it with plastic wrap and placing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to eat, re-warm the bread in the oven or microwave before serving.

You can also freeze this bread using a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months! Allow it to thaw overnight before reheating it in the oven or microwave before serving.