Ingredients

Sponge

• 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) warm water
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) unbleached all-purpose flour

Dough

• Sponge (above)
• 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) sour cream or yogurt
• 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons or 2 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs, 1 beaten for dough, 1 beaten with 1 teaspoon water for brushing bread
• 1/4 cup (1 3/4 ounces) sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups (10 5/8 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
• Pearl sugar* or sparkling white sugar for sprinkling

Lemon cream cheese filling

• 1/3 cup (2 1/2 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons (5/8 ounces) sugar
• 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) sour cream
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons (1/2 ounce) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) homemade (recipe below) or prepared lemon curd

Instructions

Sponge

1. In a small bowl, combine the sponge ingredients.
2. Stir well to combine, loosely cover with plastic wrap, and set aside to proof for 10 to 15 minutes.

Dough in a stand mixer

1. Combine the sponge, sour cream, butter, egg, sugar, salt and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer.
2. Add flour and mix with the paddle attachment until the dough is a rough, shaggy mass.
3. Switch to the dough hook and knead on until a soft, smooth dough forms, about 5 to 6 minutes.
4. Place the kneaded dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise for 60 to 90 minutes, until quite puffy and nearly doubled.

Dough by hand

1. Whisk together sour cream, butter, egg, sugar, salt and vanilla in a large, wide bowl.
2. Stir in sponge.
3. Add the flour and mix with a wooden spoon as best as you can; you may need to get your hands in there to form it into a shaggy ball.
4. Turn ball of dough and any incorporated scraps onto a counter and knead until a smooth, soft dough forms, about 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Place the kneaded dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise for 60 to 90 minutes, until quite puffy and nearly doubled.

Filling

1. Combine all the filling ingredients (except the lemon curd) in a small bowl, mixing until smooth and lump-free.
2. Reserve the filling and lemon curd until ready to fill the braids.

Bread

1. Gently deflate the dough and roll it out on a very well floured counter to a 10″ x 15″ rectangle.
2. Transfer rectangle to a large piece of parchment paper, please; I did not and it led to all sorts of trouble.
3. With the side of your hand, lightly press two lines down the dough lengthwise, dividing it into three equal columns.
4. Spread the cream cheese filling down the center section, leaving the top and bottom two inches free of filling.
5. Spread the lemon curd over the cream cheese filling.
6. To form the mock braid, cut crosswise strips one inch apart down the length of the outer columns of you dough (the parts without filling).
7. Make sure you have an equal amount of 1-inch strips down the right and left sides.
8. Be careful not to cut your parchment paper; if you have a bench scraper, this is a great time to use it.
9. Remove the four corner segments.
10. To “braid”, begin by folding top flap down and bottom flap up over the filling.
11. Lift the top dough strip and gently bring it diagonally across the filling.
12. Repeat on the right side, and continue down the entire braid, alternating strips until you are out.
13. You can tuck the last couple that hand off decoratively under the end of the braid.
14. Carefully transfer the dough and the parchment paper to a baking sheet.
15. Cover loosely with plastic and set it aside to rise for 45 to 50 minutes, until quite puffy.
16. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
17. Brush the loaves with egg wash, and sprinkle with pearl or coarse sparkling sugar.
18. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the loaves are golden brown and your apartment smells like a doughnut factory.
19. Remove from the oven and cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.