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Cream Cheese Tea Roll

Name: Cream Cheese Tea Roll
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound frozen bread dough, defrosted in the refrigerator overnight; 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature; 1/4 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon lemon juice; 1 tablespoon butter, at room temperature; 1 cup powdered sugar; 1 tablespoon butter, at room temperature; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; 1 tablespoon milk

posted by Liz Berg on April 11, 2010 (updated 6/18/21)

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I have a weak spot when it comes to cream cheese in baked goods. It’s no wonder I fell for this Cream Cheese Tea Roll with my first bite!

My mom found this cream cheese danish recipe on a package of frozen bread dough. Her artist’s eye was able to create a breakfast treat that was as beautiful as it was delicious!

Tips for Making This Cream Cheese Tea Roll

My mom found this Cream Cheese Tea Roll Recipe on the back of a bag of frozen sweet dough many moons ago. Sara Lee cheese danishes were a special childhood treat and this semi-homemade bread elicited memories of those tender, cream cheese-filled pastries.

To start, roll out defrosted bread dough into a rectangle. Use a little flour on the surface to prevent sticking.
Next, spread the surface with a mixture of cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla. Leave a little space around the edges to help seal the bread when rolled.

After that, roll the dough up jelly-roll style. Pinch the two ends together to form a ring, then snip or slice the dough at intervals (without cutting all the way through) before rotating the slices about 45 degrees to expose the filling.
Cover the roll and leave in a warm spot to rise for an hour before baking and icing.
If you’re making this for a holiday brunch, garnish your cream cheese danish with some evergreen fronds and fresh cranberries.

Overhead view of Cream Cheese Tea Roll on a white plate

Semi-Homemade Cream Cheese Danish Recipe

I can no longer find the Rhode’s brand sweet dough that my mom used those many years ago. Just recently, I grabbed some generic frozen bread dough and it worked fine. Of course, if you’d prefer to make your own dough, that would be even better. But there are times a semi-homemade recipe comes in handy.

I’ve made this for a welcome to the neighborhood gift plus numerous brunches and breakfasts for family and friends. One year, I decorated it with red and green glace cherries for Christmas.

My father-in-law was especially fond of this cream cheese tea ring, so I’d make certain to have it whenever he and my mother-in-law came to visit. I hope you’ll add it to your menu for an easy holiday breakfast or when you have weekend company!

If you like cream cheese baked goods, check out this Cream Cheese Filled Pumpkin Bread, these Danish Twists with Cream Cheese Filling and this Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake! I’ve also had my eye on these Cherry Cream Cheese Danishes and these Easy Apple Cream Cheese Danish.

Plus check out more:

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