Blackberry Pastry Bread

½ cup warm milk (110 to 115 degrees F)

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

3 egg yolks

1 cup whipping cream

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup butter, chilled

1 cup blackberries

2 tablespoons white sugar, or to taste

1 tablespoon confectioner s sugar, for dusting

Combine the milk, 1 tablespoon sugar, and the yeast in a large bowl; stir the egg yolks and whipping cream into the milk mixture. Allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Whisk together the flour, 1/4 cup of sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl. Cut in the cold butter with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (This can also be done in a food processor: pulse the cold butter or shortening until it s the size of small peas. Turn mixture into a bowl and proceed.) Stir in yeast mixture until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured board. Divide the dough into three portions and shape them into balls. Toss blackberries with sugar.

Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.

Roll each ball out to a 9x12-inch rectangle. Spoon blackberries evenly onto the center third of each rectangle, width-wise. Using a knife, cut about 9 slanting lines along each side approximately 1 inch apart. Create a braid by folding alternating strips from each side, overlapping the berries. Place the pastry braid onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining two portions. Cover with a light cloth and let rise in a warm place (80 to 95 degrees F (27 to 35 degrees C)) until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar before serving.