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Beautiful Bread Braids

Make a reuben sandwich portable by wrapping ingredients in bread dough.

As the weather starts to cool down, hearty foods satisfy our desire for warmth and comfort. Frozen bread dough can easily turn your favorite ingredients into beautiful, filled braids that are hearty, beautiful and easy to make with ingredients you have on hand.

These bread braids may look complicated, but if you can flatten a piece of dough and snip and tuck a few strips, then weaving one of these beauties only takes minutes to make. You can begin with a can of chili, add some grated cheese, green pepper and onion. You can crisscross the strips to create a clever twist on the classic Reuben. Packed with pastrami and kraut, it's a fix-it-fast favorite for a hot homemade lunch.

For the melted masterpiece of decadent desserts, a rich chocolate toffee braid will hands down take the top honors. Warm cream cheese, melted milk chocolate and toffee bits will come out of the oven with an aroma and sweet bread flavor you've likely never savored.

The next best thing about these dinner and dessert ideas is that they look gorgeous and taste great … whether served on a beautifully set table or as a delicious slice in your hand as you're racing out the door to your next meeting. On the go or on the table, braids made with frozen dough will help you weave your way to exciting everyday recipes.

1 loaf frozen bread dough or 12 frozen dinner rolls, thawed1/3 cup Italian salad dressing1 pound thinly sliced pastrami8 slices Swiss cheese2 cups sauerkraut, drained1 egg white, beatencaraway seedsSpray board or counter top with non-stick cooking spray. Roll loaf or combined dinner rolls into a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. With a clean ruler, gently mark a 4-inch strip lengthwise down the center. Then mark dough into 1½-inch strips horizontally.Pour dressing down the center of dough. Top with pastrami and cheese. Spoon sauerkraut over cheese.Make cuts on marked lines from edge to within 1-inch of filling. Begin braid by folding top and bottom rows toward filling. Then braid strips left over right, right over left. Finish by pulling last strip over and tucking under.Lift braid with both hands and place on a large sprayed baking sheet. Brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle with caraway seeds. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

1 loaf frozen bread dough or 12 frozen dinner rolls, thawed1 can chili¼ cup chopped green onions¼ cup chopped green pepper1 cup grated cheddar cheeseSpray board or counter top with non-stick cooking spray. Roll loaf or combined dinner rolls into a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. With a clean ruler, gently mark a 4-inch strip lengthwise down the center. Then mark dough into 1½-inch strips horizontally. Pour chili down the center of the dough. Top with green onions, green peppers and cheese.Make cuts on marked lines from edge to within 1-inch of filling. Begin braid by folding top and bottom row toward filling. Then braid strips left over right, right over left. Finish by pulling last strip over and tucking under.Lift braid with both hands and place on a large sprayed baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

1 loaf frozen bread dough or 12 frozen dinner rolls, thawed6 ounces cream cheese, softened3 tablespoons sugar1 egg yolk1 cup chocolate chips, divided½ cup toffee bits<B>Vanilla Glaze</B>½ cup powdered sugar2 tablespoons butter, softened1-2 tablespoons milkSpray board or counter with non-stick cooking spray. Roll loaf or combined rolls into a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. With a clean ruler, gently mark a 4-inch strip lengthwise down the center. Then mark dough into 1½-inch strips horizontally.Beat cream cheese, sugar and egg yolk until well blended.Set aside 2 tablespoons chocolate chips for garnish. Stir remaining chips and toffee bits into cream cheese mixture.Spread filling down center of dough. Make cuts on marked lines from edge to within 1-inch of filling.Begin braid by folding top and bottom rows toward filling. Then braid strips left over right, right over left. Finish by pulling last strip over and tucking under.Lift braid with both hands and place on a large sprayed baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.Combine vanilla glaze ingredients and drizzle over cooled braid. Then sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips.

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