Recipe Repost, Sort of: Lemon Cheese Braid

This is one of our family favorites for Christmas. I like it because it's easy to freeze for whenever I need to take a dessert to a gathering; just slice and pour a sugar/milk/lemony glaze over top.

Last December I posted pictures of it, but upon digging up that post I discovered I had never included the recipe.

So...here it is! Enjoy!
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Lemon Cheese Braid
(makes 1 large loaf)
INGREDIENTS:
Bread:
1 Tbsp. yeast
1/3 c. milk + 3 Tbsp. water
1/4 c. sugar
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
3-3 1/2 c. flour
Filling:
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. grated lemon zest
Glaze:
1/2 c. powdered sugar
2-3 tsp. milk or water
1/4 tsp. vanilla or lemon extract
*additional zest if desired

DIRECTIONS:
1. Warm milk and water in microwave for 45-60 seconds. Add yeast and let sit 5 mins. til frothy.
2. Add remaining bread ingredients to yeast mixture (start with 1/2 the flour amount and after incorporated with yeast add the remainder). Knead well, then cover and let rise 1 hour in a greased bowl covered with plastic wrap. (I preheat my oven to 200, then as soon as it reached that temp. I turn it off and put my bowl of dough in to rise.)
3. Beat together filling ingredients and set aside.
4. Punch down dough and roll out onto a floured surface. (1 large rectangle, about 10 x 12")
5. Spread filling down the center third of rectangle, lengthwise, then on both sides of the filling cut an equal number of 1 inch wide strips. Fold alternating strips at an angle across filling to "braid" the dough.
6. Carefully transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment, cover and let rise 30-45 mins. more in oven warmed as before.
7. Bake at 375 degrees for about 25-30 mins. Cool completely and refrigerate until ready to serve. Slice, then pour prepared glaze over top.