Ingredients

• 1 sheet of store-bought puff pastry, thawed
• 2 apples, thinly sliced (we recommend Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, SnapDragon®, or SweeTango®)
• 4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• ¼ cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• Pinch of salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla together until well blended. Set aside.
3. Place the puff pastry in the center of a piece of parchment paper. Using a sharp knife, gently make marks to divide the puff pastry into thirds. Placing the tip of your knife at the 1/3 mark on the right side, cut (9) 1-in. strips outwards from the center, horizontally. Repeat on the left side. The middle third should be intact.

1. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on the center third of the puff pastry.
2. Lay the apples over the cream cheese, pressing gently.
3. With one strip at a time, fold each piece over and down, alternating sides, to create a braided effect.
4. Whisk the egg with vanilla and a pinch of salt and brush over the braided loaf.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown, rotating half way through. Allow to cool before dusting with extra powdered sugar.