This post is sponsored by Wholesome! In this recipe, their organic brown sugar and their organic powdered sugar totally shine. 👌
The Christmas tea ring returns!
And oh my gosh, is she a beautiful lady or what?! I can’t even, you guys. I MADE THAT. 🏆 I baked that Christmas tea ring right in my very own kitchen. We are talking about a homemade brioche stuffed it with a cream cheese raspberry filling and drizzled with the simplest of powdered sugar glaze type of situation. HELLO.
Those of you who have been around this blog since Christmas of 2013 might remember the beloved, disastrous, embarrassing daughter-in-law moments of years gone by. Exhibit A in case you need a refresher.
So maybe I am not one for crafty recipes? I dunno, maybe.
But this? This Christmas tea ring with raspberry cream cheese filling is straight up TRADITION for us, and so it is the one crafty food thing I make an exception for.
I mean, it’s almost like I wouldn’t be a true Ostrom if I didn’t learn how to make this. Bjork and I grew up in a small town in Minnesota, and with our good ol’ Scandinavian roots, Bjork’s mom would make this tea ring for his family AND MY FAMILY every year. I literally mean that. Our families lived (still live) less than a mile from each other, and Bjork’s mom would deliver tea rings to my family for Christmas morning before we were ever even dating. So naturally I fell in love with him so I could marry into the tea ring family. Or something?
No, but seriously – in a weird twist of fate, we both grew up eating these beauties. It just isn’t true Christmas for us without a tea ring.
So THIS IS THE YEAR!
I’m so excited to present to you the Christmas Tea Ring of 2015. I think I’ve finally mastered it.
How To Make Our Christmas Tea Ring:
Hold up. I see you there, little one. You’re saying, NO NO NO. I can’t make a tea ring. It’s too complicated.
But I know how you think because you and I are one in the same, and we can do this. We can achieve our Tea Ring Goals together.
I mean, I’m not going to tell you this is an easy recipe. Or quick. It’s not easy and it’s not quick. But it’s a lot simpler than it seems. And if you need to start with pre-made crescent sheets before launching into the world of homemade brioche, no issues with that whatsoever. I salute you no matter how you make this happen. And if you’re still feeling intimidated, might I suggest trying these Cream Cheese Danishes instead?
Essentially what is happening here is three things:
- ROLLING – roll up the dough with the filling, form into a circle
- CUTTING – cut one-inch sections around the circle
- FANNING – spread each section out so it looks pretty when baked
It reminds me a lot of this cinnamon pull apart bread but in circular form.
You can most definitely change up the filling – maybe even go super minimal with a cinnamon sugar situation. I did that for a test run and I did not regret it.
Friends, we are using Wholesome! sugars in this recipe as we do in many of our dessert recipes (like so and like so). One of my favorite things about Wholesome! is that they pay attention to quality, obviously, but just as important is the fact that they also care about things like sustainability and Fair Trade prices for farmers. THIS IS SO GOOD on so many levels. Taste being one of them. 👅
Also a favorite thing -> you can buy Wholesome! at Target. I get weirdly happy walking through the baking aisle and seeing all the organic Wholesome! products lined up in a neat little row. Well done, Super T. Well done.
Friends, your neighbors and family and self need to be loved by this tea ring. I know you can do it. I know you can.
You are going to be so proud when it’s done and you’re going to send me emails and Instagrams and snaps showing the beautiful finished product that brought your Christmas morning brunch status to BAKING ROCKSTAR. I cannot wait.
Merry baking!
Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 2 tea rings – each serves about 8 1x
Description
Christmas Tea Ring filled with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling – the most beautiful Scandinavian-inspired recipe for holiday brunch!
Ingredients
5 Minute Brioche Dough: (for a quicker and easier version, 2 cans of crescent roll sheets pressed together will give you enough for one tea ring)
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 1 packet dry active yeast (about 1 3/4 teaspoons)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3/4 cup melted butter
- 4 1/2 cups flour (more for dusting)
Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese (regular or light)
- 1 cup fresh raspberries
- 1/3 cup Wholesome! organic light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Glaze and Toppings
- 1 cup Wholesome! organic powdered sugar
- 4 teaspoons milk
- additional raspberries, sliced almonds, pecans, or turbinado sugar for topping
Instructions
- For the dough: Mix the water, yeast, salt, eggs, honey, and butter together in a large bowl by hand. Stir in the flour by hand just until incorporated. It will be sticky but should come together in a very soft dough. Set aside in a warm place (I cover mine with a clean, warm, barely-wet kitchen towel) and let rise for about 2 hours. At this point it’s going to be too sticky to handle, so it needs to chill in the fridge for a while – I usually leave mine overnight.
- For the filling: Mix filling ingredients together until incorporated. The raspberries will break down and that’s perfect.
- Assembly Step 1: Split the dough in half and generously flour the outside of each half so you can handle it without it sticking. Gently roll or press on a well-floured surface to form a big rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. I usually let the natural shape of the dough dictate the exact dimensions rather than try to press it and stretch it into something that it doesn’t want to do. If it starts fighting you and pulling back at the edges, it’s probably overworked – just let it sit and relax again for 30 minutes or so. Once you have a rectangle that feels about right in terms of thickness, cut the dough from the edges to create straight edges.
- Assembly Step 2: For each tea ring, spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture (about half of the cream cheese mixture per half of the dough) onto the dough, going almost to the edges. Starting at the longer side, roll the dough up very gently to form a long log-shaped roll.
- Assembly Step 2: Pull the log gently to make it a little longer and thinner – this makes it easier to assemble in a circle. Cut the uneven ends off with a wet knife so you have two clean ends that will stick together when formed into a circle. Transfer to a baking sheet and form into a circle, seam side down, gently pinching the cut ends together to secure the circle. Chill in the freezer for 30 minutes or so (this just helps it stay together and makes it easier to cut without losing its shape).
- Assembly Step 4: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Remove the chilled dough and cut 1-inch sections around the circle, going almost all the way through but not quite. Fan out each of the sections and push it flat. <– At this point you might feel like it looks terrible and you’ve failed miserably. Hang with it. Keep pressing it, adjusting it, gently arranging it – it will work! So much magic happens once you bake it and top it with the glaze.
- Baking: Brush with one whisked egg yolk + 1 teaspoon milk (optional but pretty). Bake for 20 minutes or longer until the top is golden brown and the inside is just barely cooked through (I prefer underbaking since overbaking will dry it out).
- Topping: Whisk the powdered sugar and the milk together. Drizzle over the still-warm tea ring. Sprinkle with almonds, raspberries, or anything else you like. Serve immediately (SO GOOD while still warm) or store in the fridge!
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Scandinavian
Keywords: christmas tea ring, tea ring, raspberry cream cheese
Mwah! XO
This post has been sponsored by Wholesome! ♡
Looks amazing. Need to make this on the weekend
Kisses from http://poshnessary.com ❤
Thank you!
So, the lead photo on this post inspired me to text all of my Christmas Day guests to ask them if they want to spend the night specifically so that I can make this for breakfast.
…that was an impulsive move that I may live to regret. But I still want to make this. 🙂
YOU WILL NOT REGRET! That is so fun!! 🙂 I am hoping to put together a video with the step by step process so stay tuned!
Please make the video! It would help my confidence level 100%.
OMG.That looks so tempting ans sinful. Love it!
Thanks Shobelyn!
Brava, Lindsay! This is a work of edible art. Thank you so much for sharing it. Happy Holidays, Ardith
Thank you Ardith! Happy Holidays to you, too!
This ring is absolutely stunning Lindsay!! I love the cream cheese and raspberry mixture. So awesome!
Thanks Katrina!
Wow. Gonna do it ! Hey Lindsay, @ what point could I freeze this to use later ?
I would just freeze the dough, after it’s had its initial rise. Then take it out, let it come back to a chilled soft state, and finish it out. 🙂
You COULD try freezing the whole thing prepped, cut, and everything… but I honestly don’t know enough about homemade bread baking to be able to recommend that for sure!
Tea rings are also a tradition in my family. I’ve watched my mom / grandma make a tea ring from scratch for Christmas as long as I can remember. Ours are filled with cinnamon sugar, walnuts and maraschino cherries. However I might have to put my own spin on it and include cream cheese this year as well as it sounds too tempting!
Yes! My MIL’s tea ring has maraschino cherries too!
Natalie, can you post your tea ring recipe , the one with cinnamon, Walnuts, etc. it sounds as good as the raspberry ring from Lindsay.
STUNNING and the flavors sound so perfect for a sweet bread! I love the way it looks, I’m totally going to try this for the holidays this year!
Thanks Erica! 🙂 It definitely wins everything in the presentation department when done right!
This looks scary, but I want to try to make it!!!!
You can do it! Working on a video tutorial so stay tuned 😀
This is so perfect for Christmas morning! I love that you can make it ahead of time and just set it out while opening presents.
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Yep! One present, one more slice of tea ring, one present… and so on. 🙂
What a visual treat! I can’t even begin to imagine how good it tastes. And this is officially one of my all-time favorite Christmas food stories. Priceless 🙂
Thanks Whitney!! Always a good story behind something like this… 😉
I had to go back to Exhibit A, and I am happy to see that your tea ring is a winner now! 😀
Right?? haha – the old one is so sad.
This looks oh so delish! Perhaps a video of how you assembly it would be super helpful? Can’t wait to attempt it!
Yep! Working on it now!
I agree, would be helpful to show step-by-step photos of the assembly.
Working on a video! Thanks Sally!
That looks simply wonderful 🙂
Thank you Marisa!
Gorgeous Lindsey! I looked at the not so successful exhibit linked to this post, and had to laugh when it was followed by an ad for your e-book for top 25 recipes in 2014.
oh the irony. 😉
If only I had the time, I would make this in a heartbeat. I love your images and your story on how you and Bjork grew up eating the same thing and now your making it:o)
Thanks Mandi!
This looks crazy-good!
I’m loving the curls on the outside.
I have a feeling this ring will make an appearance on Christmas Eve…
Thanks Lindsay 🙂
Thanks Payton! Hope you like it!
I think you did master this tea ring! It looks beautiful and totally delicious!
Thank you Kathy! It only took two years… 😉
Oh my Lordy. This looks SO AMAZING!!! How lucky are you growing up with amazing food like this! I’m on elimination at the moment so can’t even anything except the sugar in this recipe. But when the day comes that I can eat anything again (darn breastfed babies with food allergies) I am totally having this. X
Thanks Ruth! And yes – when that day comes again, I hope this is on your table!
Raspberry filling! 100x yummy!
Thanks Medeja!
Wow that looks amazing. I don’t bake at all but I may have to try this. Your step by step instructions and photos are perfect.
Thanks Julie! Working on some more step by step instruction through video… hopefully by next week!
I’m going to make this and make a cup of tea and watch Downton Abbey! Life doesn’t get better than that!
Wow! Absolutely gorgeous Lindsay!! Bet it tasted just as good!
That looks so goooood!!! def making it… Thanks Lindsay! Happy Holidays!