This delicious cherry-filled candy cane braided bread is drizzled with sweet vanilla icing! This sweet bread is the perfect treat for the holidays. The best part? It's a 90-minute recipe!
This is just one of many recipes that I make using this same sweet dough recipe. If you like this one, you might also like these homemade bread recipes: quick-rise pumpkin cinnamon rolls, lemon sweet rolls, or quick-rise cinnamon rolls.
Watch our step by step video!
I have a slight problem with baking an insane amount of goodies during December. And yes, I've already started! Here is a sneak peek into my busy kitchen!
Years ago a friend gave us a beautifully braided tree pastry as a Christmas gift. It was made out of sweet dough, filled with cinnamon and sugar, braided to look like a tree, then drizzled in vanilla glaze. She added maraschino cherries after baking to look like ornaments. It was so fun and delicious too.
Inspired by her creativity, I made a cherry-filled candy cane braided bread for our family to enjoy!
How To Make a Braided Candy Cane Loaf
Cherry Candy Cane Braided Bread Recipe
(scroll down for printable version)
Ingredients
Instructions
- Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove it from the heat. Mix in butter; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 ¼ cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt; mix well. Add water, egg and the milk mixture; beat well. Add the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. (Note: You can use a stand mixer with a dough hook, or use a danish dough hook (my favorite kitchen tool) to make your dough. Either way works, it’s a pretty simple dough to make.)
- When the dough has just pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, 2-3 minutes.
- Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rest for 10 minutes.
Cherry Christmas Loaf
Ingredients
- ¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup butter softened
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp. instant yeast
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup water
- 1 large egg
- 1 can cherry pie filling
Vanilla Glaze
- 2 cup powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup butter or margarine melted
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 2-4 Tbsp. hot water
Instructions
- Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in butter; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 ¼ cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt; mix well. Add water, egg and the milk/yeast mixture; beat well. Add the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, stirring well after each addition.
- When the dough has just pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, 2-3 minutes.
- Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Roll out dough into a 15×10 inch rectangle.
- Transfer dough to a greased baking sheet (or parchment paper lined baking sheet) and spoon pie filling down the center, about 3″ wide.
- Cut strips down each side of the dough, just to the filling. ¾″-1″ wide.
- Begin folding sides over each other, alternating left to right. Press down to seal ends.
- (You can leave it as is, or shape into a candy cane.)
- Stretch loaf out to about 20″ long and fold down to form candy cane shape.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rise for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then drizzle with vanilla glaze.
- Vanilla Glaze: Mix powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla. Stir in water, 1 T. at a time until smooth.
- Drizzle over warm loaf of bread.
Notes
Nutrition
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Joan - My Cookie Clinic says
This looks fabulous! Thanks for sharing your braid tutorial. You made it look easy. Happy Holidays!
Dee says
This is gorgeous -- almost too pretty to eat! Thanks for sharing at merry monday! 🙂
Miz Helen says
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us. Enjoy your new Red Plate and come back real soon!
Miz Helen
Jenna says
I love anything cherry and this is so pretty! I can't wait to try this over the holidays! You're our most popular link last week and we're featuring this post at our Best of the Weekend party tonight! Thanks for sharing your yummy post with us!
DearCreatives (@DearCreatives) says
Looks delish! Thanks for joining the #InspirationSpotlight party. Shared
Super Mom - No Cape! says
Visiting from Dishing It & Digging It.
This looks delicious!!
Silja says
Hi there do I have to store in it fridge or can it be stored in a tight container on counter? Thanks
Brandy says
Hi! I usually store it on the counter, but it’s never lasted more than a day or two before being eaten. Any longer and you might want to refrigerate it.
Michele says
I made this for Christmas morning last year!!
It was Fabulous, everyone loved it!!
Is there an easy way to print the recipe on the iPhone without all the ads?
Brandy says
Hi Michele! I'm so glad to hear that! Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to print from the iPhone and take off the ads. If you click the "print & pdf" icon from a computer/laptop you have the option to print without images and ads, just text. I wish I could be of more help!
Teresa says
Cherry pie filling is my favorite! I can't wait to make this with my 6 year old granddaughter!
Jess says
I so pinned this! YUM!
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Pale Blue Corner says
I also started to try some new christmas recipies for the family 🙂 I think I will try yours too, looks soooo delicious!
Cheers,
Emese
Sophie says
This look soooo yummy ! Love the idea !
Reuven says
This recipe sounds scrumptious and looks so pretty. I imagine you can easily shape it into a ring or leave it long like a streusel. We're definitely going to want to try this recipe out. Thanks for sharing.
tahnee @ www.sincerelyrosedesigns.com says
What a cute idea! I literally just made something similar but yours are way cuter in design! I can't wait to try this out!
Heidi says
This looks delicious! Love that you shaped it into a candy cane. This is a must try!
Patty says
What is tinstant yeast? Never heard of it
Brandy says
1 T. instant yeast
Monica says
Hi there, does this mean 1 tablespoon or 1 teaspoon. I'm from Australia and we don't abbreviate it this way.
Brandy says
Hi Monica! 1 T= Tablespoon 1 tsp.= teaspoon 🙂