A Beloved Holiday Tradition: The Christmas Tea Ring
This isn't just any recipe; it's a story, a memory, and a tradition baked into a single, beautiful ring. The Christmas Tea Ring is a staple in our family, and it's become a labor of love I look forward to every year. This homemade brioche, stuffed with a rich cream cheese and raspberry filling, then drizzled with a simple powdered sugar glaze, is a showstopper and is worth every minute spent in the kitchen.
It all started in a small town in Minnesota, with a shared Scandinavian heritage, my husband's mother, and her annual tea ring. It wasn't just for their family; she would bake one for my family every year as well. These rings became a part of Christmas for both of us before we even started dating.
Now, it's a tradition I carry on, and I'm excited to share it with you.
Making the Christmas Tea Ring: A Step-by-Step Guide
I know, it might look complicated, but I promise you, it’s simpler than it seems. It’s not a quick recipe, but the result is absolutely worth the effort.
The Three Essential Steps
- Rolling: After the dough has risen, we roll it out and spread the filling, then gently roll it into a log.
- Cutting: The log is carefully formed into a circle, and we make one-inch cuts around the circle's perimeter.
- Fanning: Finally, each section is fanned out, creating a beautiful, crown-like shape.
The Flavor
The filling is where you can really get creative. While my recipe uses a raspberry cream cheese filling, feel free to experiment with a cinnamon-sugar mix for a classic twist. I also use Wholesome! sugars for this recipe, because not only does it taste great but they also care about quality and sustainability.
Step-by-Step Recipe
Yields: 2 tea rings (each serves about 8)
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
For the 5-Minute Brioche Dough:
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 1 packet dry active yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3/4 cup melted butter
- 4 1/2 cups flour, plus more for dusting
Or for a quicker version, you can use 2 cans of crescent roll sheets pressed together for one ring.
For the 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)
For the Glaze and Toppings:
- 1 cup Wholesome! organic powdered sugar
- 4 teaspoons milk
- Additional raspberries, sliced almonds, pecans, or turbinado sugar for topping
Instructions
- Dough: Combine all dough ingredients in a large bowl. Mix until incorporated. The dough will be sticky but should form a soft dough. Let it rise in a warm place for about 2 hours. Chill in the fridge until you are ready to use.
- Filling: In a separate bowl mix cream cheese, raspberries, brown sugar, and pecans (optional) until combined. Raspberries will break down.
- Assembly Step 1: Divide the dough into two halves. Generously flour the outside of each half. Gently roll out to form a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Cut the edges to create straight lines
- Assembly Step 2: Spread half the cream cheese mixture on each rectangle of dough, leaving a small margin at the edges. Roll up tightly starting at the longer end. Gently pull to make the roll a little longer and thinner. Trim ends and transfer to a baking sheet.
- Assembly Step 3: Form the dough log into a circle, seam side down, gently pinching cut ends together to secure the circle. Chill in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- Assembly Step 4: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Remove the dough and cut 1-inch sections around the circle, not cutting all the way through. Fan out each section, arranging so it looks appealing
- Baking: Brush with one whisked egg yolk and 1 teaspoon of milk (optional) Bake for 20 minutes or longer until golden brown
- Topping: Mix powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Drizzle over the warm tea ring, sprinkle with desired toppings. Serve immediately while still warm.
Make Your Own Tradition
This tea ring is more than just a recipe; it's a labor of love that brings warmth and joy during the holidays. I hope you enjoy creating it as much as I do. When you're done, don't forget to share your creations and tag me!
Merry Baking!