Eggnog Braided Bread

Since you now have to log in to their stupid site (and order their stupid free magazine) to get this recipe, I am just posting my version here.

It is one of my favorites.

dough:
5 c flour
1 tbsp yeast
1/4 c sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c butter, melted, or 1/4 c oil
1 c warm water (about 120 degrees, or the temperature of a child's bath water)
3 eggs

filling:
6-8 oz cream cheese
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c flour
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Put all the dough ingredients into a heavy-duty stand mixer and mix them until they form a smooth, elastic dough. Let raise for one hour in a warm place, punching down after 30 minutes.  Knead the dough lightly and let it sit for 5 minutes while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the rest of the filling ingredients and beat until well mixed.

Divide dough into six pieces. Roll one piece of the dough into a 15x8" rectangle. Spread 1/6 of the filling (or about 3 tbsp) on the rectangle and roll up cinnamon-roll style, from the long edge. Set aside. Repeat with remaining pieces of dough.

Take three of the rolls and place them on a cookie sheet relatively close together. Braid them, starting from the middle and working toward one end. Pinch the ends together and turn them under. Turn the loaf and braid to the other end, pinching and tucking as before. Repeat to form the other loaf.  Let raise 30 minutes, covered (I use plastic wrap).

Bake for 30 minutes at 375. The loaves are done when golden and sound hollow when tapped.