Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling Recipe
There’s something absolutely magical about gathering with loved ones for the holidays and pulling a beautifully golden, festive Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling straight from the oven. Swirled with tangy raspberry preserves and a rich, sweetened cream cheese center, this showstopping bread is the kind of centerpiece that sparks oohs and aahs, plus a little friendly competition for the biggest slice. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just looking to create a new holiday tradition, this recipe brings together simple ingredients in the most joyful, irresistible way.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredient list for the Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling might look long, but each part plays a crucial role—building irresistible layers of flavor and making every bite luxurious. From the fluffy, golden dough to the creamy, fruit-filled center, here’s how they work together to make this bread unforgettable.
- All-purpose flour: Gives the tea ring its lovely rise and tender crumb—don’t substitute if you want that classic texture.
- Granulated sugar: Adds just the right touch of sweetness to the dough, balancing out the tangy filling.
- Active dry yeast: The powerhouse behind your bread’s airy, pillowy rise.
- Salt: Don’t skip this! It sharpens all the sweet flavors and strengthens the dough.
- Whole milk: Makes the dough soft, rich, and oh-so luscious.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and perfect moisture—use unsalted for the best flavor control.
- Large eggs: Essential for structure and a bit of golden hue in every slice.
- Cream cheese (softened): The creamy heart of this tea ring—be sure it’s room temperature for easy mixing!
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens your filling and creates a silky, beautiful glaze.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and classic bakery aroma to both the filling and glaze.
- Raspberry preserves or jam: The star swirl—choose your favorite for fruity richness.
- Fresh or frozen raspberries (optional): Dot these for bursts of tart, juicy flavor.
- Sprinkles, sliced almonds, or freeze-dried raspberries (optional, for garnish): Let your holiday spirit shine on top!
How to Make Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling
Step 1: Make the Dough
Begin your journey with the dough—it’s the foundation for that soft, pull-apart texture everyone loves. Combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a roomy bowl to give your yeast the head start it needs. Warm the milk and butter until just cozy, not hot, to wake up your yeast without harming it. Mixing in the eggs brings richness. When the mixture comes together, knead until smooth and elastic with just a touch of “bounce back”—this is a sure sign of dough perfection. Tuck it into a greased bowl and let it rise in a warm spot; soon, it’ll puff up into a dreamy, pillowy cloud ready for filling.
Step 2: Prepare the Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling
A flavorful filling is what brings the magic to your Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling. In a small bowl, blend the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until impossibly smooth and creamy—this is your lush, tangy base layer. Set aside your raspberry preserves (and those plump, tart berries if you’re including them) so they’ll be ready for swirling and dotting over the top. Each layer will be visible—and delicious—in every festive slice.
Step 3: Shape the Tea Ring
After your dough’s first rise, punch it down gently to release extra air, then roll it into a large rectangle—aim for about 10×16 inches. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly, leaving a border around the edges for tidy rolling, then dollop on the raspberry preserves and scatter fresh berries if you want extra bursts of flavor. Roll the dough tightly from the long end to make a log, then craft it into a ring on your prepared baking sheet, sealing the ends. Next, use kitchen scissors to make deep, evenly spaced cuts around your ring; twist each slice gently so the gorgeous filling peeks out. One final rise brings it all together and sets the stage for baking.
Step 4: Bake the Tea Ring
It’s oven time! Slide your puffy, shaped ring into a preheated 350°F oven and bake until each golden swirl is fragrant and tempting—no more than 30 minutes for a beautiful color and just-set crumb. Let it cool a bit so the glaze doesn’t melt right off, but don’t wait too long; this treat is best enjoyed slightly warm, with flecks of filling oozing at the edges.
Step 5: Glaze and Garnish
The final touch for your Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling: a glossy glaze! Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, then drizzle generously over the warm bread for bakery-level shine. Garnish with festive sprinkles, crisp almonds, or jewel-like freeze-dried raspberries—whatever makes your heart happy and your table picture-perfect.
How to Serve Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling
Garnishes
Dress up your Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling by scattering it with colorful sprinkles for cheer, sliced almonds for crunch, or crushed freeze-dried raspberries to echo the jam’s vibrant hue. These little extras spark a delightful contrast in flavor and texture, making each slice a celebration. Don’t hesitate to use edible glitter or pearl sugar if you want your centerpiece truly to shine!
Side Dishes
Pairing is part of the fun! This tea ring thrives alongside a cozy pot of spiced tea, hot chocolate, or cappuccino, but it’s also lovely with a spread of fresh fruit, lemon curd, or clotted cream. Serve it on a breakfast buffet or alongside savory brunch fare to let everyone build their own festive plate.
Creative Ways to Present
Elevate your Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling by arranging it on a cake stand with a cascade of fresh holly or evergreen sprigs around the edge. For extra flair, dust lightly with powdered sugar “snow.” If you’re gifting, tuck into a festive box lined with parchment and include a hand-tied ribbon for bakery-quality presentation. Each slice stays beautiful on a dessert board, especially when flanked by jewel-toned citrus wedges or berries.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your tea ring fresh and tender by wrapping leftovers tightly in plastic wrap or storing in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. For longer freshness, pop it in the fridge—this helps preserve the cream cheese filling, though you may want to bring slices back to room temp before enjoying for that soft texture.
Freezing
Make holiday prep easy: bake your Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling ahead of time, skip the glaze, and freeze the whole ring or individual slices well-wrapped for up to 2 months. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then glaze and garnish just before serving for maximum freshness and wow-factor.
Reheating
To revive that just-baked magic, gently warm slices in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes, or use a quick zap in the microwave (10–15 seconds at a time). Warming restores the pillowy softness of the bread and transforms the filling into its original, melty perfection without drying it out.
FAQs
Can I use a different flavor of jam in the filling?
Absolutely! Swap in strawberry, blackberry, or even apricot preserves if you’d like to put your own spin on this holiday loaf. Just aim for a thick, high-quality jam for the best results and vibrant color.
Is it possible to make the dough the night before?
Yes, you can prepare the dough and let it rise slowly overnight in the refrigerator. In the morning, bring it back to room temperature before rolling and shaping, so you can savor fresh Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling with minimal morning work.
What’s the best way to prevent the filling from leaking out?
Be sure to leave a clean border when spreading the filling and roll the dough tightly so everything stays tucked inside. Pinching the ends firmly before shaping into a ring helps, as does not overfilling with jam or fresh berries.
Do I have to use fresh raspberries?
No, they’re totally optional! They add little bursts of tartness, but the tea ring is still delicious (and a bit tidier) with just raspberry preserves or jam. It’s perfect for winter months when fresh berries can be scarce.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
You can experiment with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend designed for yeast baking. Results may vary slightly in texture, but it’s still possible to enjoy a festive Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling if you make the switch—make sure to check your yeast is gluten-free as well!
Final Thoughts
Making a Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling is a deeply rewarding project that fills your kitchen with warmth, aroma, and anticipation. It’s a beautiful centerpiece and a labor of love that truly brings people together. I hope this recipe brings as much joy to your table as it has to mine—here’s to making sweet new traditions and memories, one delicious slice at a time.
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Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling Recipe
- Total Time: 2 hours (including rise time)
- Yield: 10–12 slices 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Christmas Tea Ring with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling is a festive and delicious sweet bread that’s perfect for holiday baking. The soft and fluffy dough is filled with a luscious cream cheese mixture and tangy raspberry preserves, then twisted into a beautiful ring shape. Drizzled with a sweet glaze and topped with your choice of decorations, this tea ring is sure to impress your family and guests during the holiday season.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
For the Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup raspberry preserves or jam
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries (optional)
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Sprinkles, sliced almonds, or crushed freeze-dried raspberries (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Make the Dough: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of the flour with sugar, yeast, and salt. In a small saucepan, heat milk and butter until warm. Add warm milk mixture and eggs to the flour mixture. Beat until smooth. Stir in remaining flour until a soft dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled (about 1 hour).
- Prepare the Filling: In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Set aside raspberry preserves and optional fresh raspberries.
- Shape the Tea Ring: Punch down dough and roll out into a 10×16-inch rectangle. Spread cream cheese mixture over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Spoon raspberry preserves over the cream cheese and dot with fresh raspberries if using. Roll up tightly from the long side to form a log. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Shape into a ring and pinch ends together. Use kitchen scissors to make cuts 1 inch apart, about 2/3 of the way through the ring. Gently twist each slice slightly to expose filling. Cover and let rise for 30–45 minutes until puffy.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool slightly.
- Glaze and Serve: Mix glaze ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over warm (not hot) tea ring and garnish with festive toppings if desired.
Notes
- You can use store-bought jam and cream cheese to save time.
- Freeze before glazing for easy holiday prep.
- Best served slightly warm, but also delicious at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, European-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
