When I want to make something special for my family or to take to a holiday party, a bread braid is my go-to. I just love the elegant presentation of this dish, and friends always rave about it. There is a little bit of a learning curve, but the braiding is very forgiving. It will be beautiful even if you make a mistake!
Though the braid makes a grand presentation, it's really what's inside that is most important. For this braid, I filled it with pasta sauce, meatballs, fresh basil, and Kraft shredded mozzarella cheese. I don't skimp when it comes to cheese. There's something about the flavor of Kraft Cheese!
For more delicious appetizers, check out these easy party appetizers and this list of easy cream cheese appetizers.
Directions
Sprinkle flour on counter for rolling out dough.
Roll dough in flour to coatRoll out bread dough into a 12 by 18 inch rectangle
Cut 1 inch strips along each long side. Make sure they match up on each side.
Spread sauce down the center of the dough, not getting it on the strips.
Place meatball pieces on top of the sauce.
Cover the meatballs with the Kraft Shredded Mozzarella cheese.
Sprinkle fresh chopped basil over cheese.
Take first strip of dough and cross it over to the next strip up, pinching the 2 strips together slightly. This will keep the strip from sliding under.
Continue to braid the dough until all strips are crossed over.
Tuck the ends underneath.
Cover braid with a clean cloth and place in a warm place to rise for 30 minutes. It will double in size. If you don't have a "proof" setting on your oven, preheat it to the lowest temperature and then shut off before placing the bread in oven. You do not want to cook the bread at this point, just let it rise.
Place braid in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. If it starts to brown on top, cover loosely with foil.
To serve, place braid on platter with extra sauce, and cut a 2 inch piece per person.
We spooned sauce over ours and sprinkled with basil.
Easy, Elegant Italian Meatball Bread Braid
Ingredients
- 1 loaf bread dough I use Ready Dough, thawed
- Flour for rolling out
- 12 Italian meatballs cooked, broken up into pieces
- 1 cup pasta sauce
- 1 ½ cups Kraft shredded Mozzarella cheese with a touch of Philadelphia
- Fresh basil chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Sprinkle flour on counter for rolling out dough.
- Roll dough in flour to coat.
- Roll out bread dough into a 12 by 18 inch rectangle.
- Cut 1 inch strips along each long side. Make sure they match up on each side.
- Spread sauce down the center of the dough, not getting it on the strips.
- Place meatball pieces on top of the sauce.
- Cover the meatballs with the Kraft Shredded Mozzarella cheese.
- Sprinkle fresh chopped basil over cheese.
- Take first strip of dough and cross it over to the next strip up, pinching the 2 strips together slightly. This will keep the strip from sliding under.
- Continue to braid the dough until all strips are crossed over.
- Tuck the ends underneath.
- Cover braid with a clean cloth and place in a warm place to rise for 30 minutes. It will double in size. If you don't have a "proof" setting on your oven, preheat it to the lowest temperature and then shut off before placing the bread in oven. You do not want to cook the bread at this point, just let it rise.
- Place braid in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. If it starts to brown on top, cover loosely with foil.
- To serve, slice bread in 2 inch pieces, leaving the braid in tact, placing on platter with extra sauce. We spooned sauce over ours and sprinkled with basil.
I hope you enjoy the recipe! Your friends will think you've slaved all day making that beautiful braid! We can keep it a secret that it's so easy!