Cream Cheese Filled Tea Ring with Sweet Glaze
A beautiful twisted bread ring featuring a rich cream cheese filling swirled throughout soft, yeasted dough. The frozen bread dough makes this impressive-looking pastry surprisingly accessible for home bakers. Once baked to golden perfection, it's finished with a simple vanilla glaze that adds just the right amount of sweetness. Perfect for brunch gatherings, holiday mornings, or afternoon tea, this pull-apart style bread offers individual portions while maintaining an elegant presentation that's sure to impress guests.
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen bread dough, defrosted in the refrigerator overnighthomemade sweet dough1:1vegetarian
requires additional time and skill
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- 1
Roll the dough into a 14 x 8-inch rectangle
- 2
Spread filling on top
- 3
Roll up the dough as if making cinnamon rolls
- 4
Seal the ends together to make a ring
- 5
Make cuts every 1 1/2 inches or so, about 3/4+ of the way through the ring from the outside towards the middle
- 6
Twist each ring on its side so that the filling shows
- 7
Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour
- 8
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- 9
Bake for 20-25 minutes
- 10
Cool before icing
- 11
Whisk or beat together glaze ingredients
- 12
Scrape the glaze into a Ziploc bag and snip off one corner
- 13
Squeeze the bag and drizzle over the bread
Tips
Make sure cream cheese and butter are fully at room temperature for easier mixing and spreading
Cut through the ring decisively but leave about 1/4 inch connected at the bottom to maintain the ring shape
Allow the glazed ring to set for 10-15 minutes before serving for cleaner slices
Good to Know
Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days
Can be assembled and refrigerated overnight before final rise
Serve at room temperature, pull apart individual sections
Common Mistakes
Let dough come to room temperature if too stiff to roll
Don't skip the rising time or texture will be dense
Cool completely before glazing to prevent melting
Substitutions
requires additional time and skill
FAQ
Can I use fresh bread dough instead of frozen?
Yes, fresh bread dough works perfectly. Skip the overnight thawing step and proceed directly with rolling out the dough.
What if my dough springs back when rolling?
Let the dough rest for 10-15 minutes to relax the gluten, then continue rolling. Cover with a damp towel during rest.
How long will this keep fresh?
The glazed tea ring stays fresh for 3 days covered at room temperature, or freeze for up to 3 months before glazing.