Braided Mini Breads with Cheese and Berry Jam (festive recipe, perfect as a gift)
Delicious braided mini breads with creamy cheeses and berry sauce – a festive, homemade treat perfect as a gift or for cozy holiday moments.
Braided Mini Breads with Cheese and Berry Jam
Course: Appetizers, SnacksCuisine: EuropeanDifficulty: Medium6
servings2
hours20
minutes30
minutes349
kcal2
hours50
minutesThere are gifts that money can’t buy. They are baked.
Kneaded patiently, carefully braided, and shared with loved ones, offering them a little piece of holiday magic. A homemade gift is always worth more than any store-bought bargain.
This year, instead of a classic gift, I chose to offer something simple, yet full of heart: braided mini breads with cheese and berry jam. I made them for lovers of “something delicious,” and when I say delicious, we all know that no holiday meal is complete without a glass of wine — and these mini breads are perfect to enjoy alongside it.
Soft, golden, perfect straight from the oven, they tear into folds and pair beautifully with salty cheese and slightly tart jam. And when they cool, they slice beautifully, and toasted slices gain an irresistible extra crunch.
I would always choose a homemade gift — sweet, savory, or, like in this case, a mix of both. So I encourage you to prepare a little edible gift yourself, made with your own hands, that says more than any packaging or ribbon ever could.
Let’s bake together…
Ingredients:
- For the Dough
500 g all-purpose flour
10 g salt
10 g dry yeast or 30 g fresh yeast
250 ml warm milk
1 large egg
melted butter
1 teaspoon sugar (for activating the yeast)
- For the Filling
100 g Brie or Camembert cheese, cut into cubes
100 g Cheddar cheese
50 g salted cream cheese
30 g coarsely chopped nuts (optional)
50 g cranberries
- For the Berry Sauce
150 g frozen berries
30 g sugar
30 ml water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation method
- Note: The open braid makes the mini breads look spectacular, while the sauce adds freshness and pairs beautifully with the cheese. The sauce, stored in a little jar, can be offered alongside the breads as a small but heartfelt gift.
- Preparing the Dough
Place all the flour in a large bowl, then activate the yeast in the center with a little sugar and warm milk, letting it foam lightly. Add the egg and the remaining ingredients (except the butter) and start kneading. When the dough begins to come together, gradually incorporate the butter, continuing to knead until you get a smooth, slightly sticky, soft, and elastic dough.
Cover the bowl and let the dough rise for 1–1.5 hours, until it doubles in size and feels airy to the touch. - Preparing the Filling
In a bowl, combine all the cheeses — Brie or Camembert, Cheddar, and the salted cream cheese — and mix well until you get a smooth, creamy, and uniform paste. Keep the chopped nuts and berries separate; they will be added on top of the cheese mixture when forming the mini breads, so they are nicely distributed and remain visible in the braid. - Shaping the 6 Braided Mini Breads
Divide the risen dough into 6 equal pieces. Take one piece at a time and roll it out into a rectangle of approximately 15×20 cm.
Place the prepared cheese filling in the center, and sprinkle the chopped nuts and berries on top, so they remain visible after baking. - Cut thin strips along the sides, like in a babka, and twist them alternately over the filling to form a beautiful open braid. Gently pinch the ends and place the mini breads in large muffin tins or on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let the breads rise for another 20–30 minutes, until they regain some of their volume.
- Baking the Mini Breads
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the tray with the mini breads in the oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, until they turn golden and beautifully browned.
Once out of the oven, let them cool slightly on a wire rack to prevent moisture from forming at the bottom and to maintain the perfect texture. - Berry Sauce
Place the berries, sugar, water, and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook for 5–7 minutes, until the berries soften and the sauce thickens slightly.
Once it has cooled a little, you can transfer it into a cute little jar, perfect for accompanying the mini breads in a gift basket. The sauce can be served alongside the breads or drizzled over them, adding color, flavor, and a touch of festive magic.
- The mini breads can be sliced once they have cooled slightly and served alongside pieces of Brie or Cheddar, the berry sauce, and nuts. The combination of soft bread, creamy cheese, tangy sauce, and crunchy nuts is absolutely irresistible, turning each slice into a little treat.
- Each mini bread is more than just a simple treat – it’s a small gesture of care and a piece of heart that you share with your loved ones. Homemade gifts convey warmth and thoughtfulness in every detail. Let’s bake together, give with joy, and make the holidays full of flavor and magic.
