Three Cheese Braid
Ingredients
- 1 recipe for homemade pizza dough link found in text above or search homemade pizza dough on Countryside Cravings
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- TOPPING:
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 clove finely minced
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare dough through step 3. Then punch the dough down and place on a lightly floured or oiled work surface. Roll into a 15x11 inch rectangle. Place on a lightly greased large baking sheet.
- In a medium sized bowl combine the cheeses, mayonnaise, garlic, basil and oregano. Spoon filling down the center of the rectangle leaving room on the ends to fold up.
- With a sharp knife cut 1 inch strips down each side of the filling. Then fold each end over the filling before "braiding". To braid take one strip and cross it over the filling then take a strip from the other side and cross it over the filling. (there are a couple of photos and a clip you can watch for a visual below the recipe) Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and set braid aside to rest for 5-10 minutes before baking.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. In a small bowl combine the topping ingredients and brush across the top of the braid. Allow the braid to cool for 5 minutes after baking before slicing it. I like to serve this with homemade pizza sauce.
Notes
Recipes for the pizza crust and pizza sauce can both be found on the Countryside Cravings website.
TO MAKE AHEAD: Bake according to directions then let cool completely. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap then store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Or wrap in plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 2 months. To serve: let thaw in the refrigerator overnight then warm it back up in the oven to remelt the cheese inside.
ANOTHER MAKE AHEAD METHOD: Follow refrigerating or freezing instructions for the dough on the homemade pizza dough recipe. Then allow dough to come to room temperature before proceeding with three cheese braid instructions.
