Panera Bread Pecan Braid Recipe

This Panera Bread Pecan Braid is a flaky and buttery recipe, which features toasted pecans and sweet maple icing. It’s a bakery-style breakfast treat, ready in about 40 minutes.

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Panera Bread Pecan Braid Ingredients

For the Pastry and Filling

• 1 package (2 sheets) frozen puff pastry, thawed but still cold
• 1 ½ cups pecan halves, toasted and chopped
• ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tbsp maple syrup (real maple syrup is best)
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water (egg wash)

For the Icing

• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1–2 tbsp milk (or heavy cream)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp maple syrup (optional, for flavor)

How To Make Panera Bread Pecan Braid

1. Toast the nuts: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the pecan halves on a baking sheet and toast for 5–7 minutes until fragrant. Watch them closely so they don’t burn. Remove from the oven and chop them roughly. Increase oven temperature to 400°F (200°C).
2. Make the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the chopped toasted pecans, brown sugar, melted butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt. Stir until the mixture resembles a sticky, wet sand texture.
3. Prepare the pastry: Unfold one sheet of puff pastry onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. (You will make two braids, so repeat this process for the second sheet or do them side-by-side). Roll the pastry slightly with a rolling pin to smooth out the creases.
4. Cut the strips: Imagine the pastry is divided into thirds lengthwise. The center third is for the filling. On the left and right thirds, use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut diagonal strips about 1 inch wide, cutting from the center line outwards to the edge. Leave the center uncut.
5. Fill the braid: Spoon half of the pecan filling down the center uncut strip of the pastry. Spread it out evenly, leaving about ½ inch of space at the top and bottom.
6. Braid the dough: Fold the top flap of dough down over the filling to seal the end. Take a strip from the left side and fold it diagonally over the filling. Then take a strip from the right side and fold it over, crossing the first strip. Continue alternating left and right strips all the way down to create a braided look. Tuck the bottom flap under the last strips to seal.
7. Bake: Brush the braided pastries generously with the egg wash. Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and deep golden brown.
8. Glaze and serve: While the braids bake, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and maple syrup to make a thick but pourable glaze. Let the braids cool for 10 minutes, then drizzle the icing back and forth over the top.

Recipe Tips

• Pastry Temperature: Work quickly with puff pastry. It must stay cold. If the butter in the layers melts before it hits the oven, it won’t puff. If the dough gets sticky, pop the baking sheet in the fridge for 15 minutes before baking.
• Toasting Pecans: Do not skip toasting the nuts. Raw pecans lack the crunch and depth of flavor needed to stand out against the sweet filling and pastry.
• Sealing the ends: Ensure you tuck the top and bottom ends in securely. As the sugar filling melts, it will turn into hot caramel; if the ends are open, it will leak out onto the pan and burn.
• Cutting strips: Cutting the strips at a slight downward diagonal angle makes the braiding process look much neater than cutting straight horizontal strips.

What To Serve With Panera Bread Pecan Braid

This sweet pastry is best paired with bitter or savory items.

• Dark Roast Coffee: Cuts through the sugar glaze.
• Scrambled Eggs: A savory protein to balance the sweet breakfast.
• Fruit Salad: Fresh acidity to cleanse the palate.
• Greek Yogurt: Serve on the side for a creamy tangy element.

How To Store Panera Bread Pecan Braid

• Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. The pastry will lose its crispness over time.
• Reheat: To restore the flaky texture, warm in a 350°F oven or air fryer for 3–5 minutes. Microwaving will make the pastry soggy.
• Freeze: Freeze baked (un-iced) braids for up to 1 month. Thaw and reheat in the oven, then glaze fresh.

Panera Bread Pecan Braid Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 420kcal
• Protein: 5g
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Fat: 26g
• Saturates: 6g
• Sugar: 24g
• Salt: 0.3g

Nutrition information is estimated per slice (assuming 1 braid serves 4).

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