braided lemon bread

INGREDIENTS

• 2 large eggs, 1 beaten for dough, 1 beaten with 1 teaspoon water for brushing bread
• 1/4 cup (1 3/4 ounces) sugar
• 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) warm water
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) unbleached all-purpose flour
• Sponge (above)
• 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) sour cream or yogurt
• 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons or 2 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups (10 5/8 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
• Pearl sugar* or sparkling white sugar for sprinkling
• 1/3 cup (2 1/2 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons (5/8 ounces) sugar
• 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) sour cream
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons (1/2 ounce) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) homemade (recipe below) or prepared lemon curd
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 teaspoon fresh lemon zest, finely grated
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces