Star Bread

This pull-apart star bread is buttery, sugary, and delicious. It is a work of art that tastes as good as it looks. The best part? It might look hard or intimating to make but it’s actually incredibly easy! With this step-by-step recipe, anyone (beginners included) can bake an amazing loaf of this holiday bread, even if you’ve never made bread from scratch. Serve it as a holiday dessert, breakfast or brunch, or just to snack on throughout the day.

Why You’ll Love Star Bread

• It’s an impressive showstopper. Let’s be honest. It feels good to say “I made that” when someone compliments how beautiful the centerpiece of the holiday dessert table is (not to mention delicious too!). This star bread recipe will impress your guests and it will probably impress you too.
• A classic holiday dessert. Christmas Star bread gets its name from the 8-pointed star shape that you create. It’s usually served as a holiday dessert bread but between you and me, it’s a great bread any time of the year.
• Easy to follow recipe. Like most bread recipes, there are a lot of steps when making this star bread. You’ll need to bear through two proofs, knead and roll out multiple balls of dough, and create the iconic star by layering the dough with filling, cutting, and twisting the ends. Doing it right takes some dedication and attention to detail, but this recipe gives you all the information you need to make it a breeze.
• It tastes as good as it looks. Star bread has a unique sugary, buttery taste that is so delicious. Plus, you can completely customize it with different toppings. If you were looking forward to Christmas cookies and treats this year, you’ll love your first bite of this sweet star bread — and every bite after.

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make these festive Christmas Star Bread, you will need a few simple ingredients (full quantities in recipe card below):

• milk
• sugar
• instant yeast - you can also use active dry yeast, but let it sit in the milk mixture for 5-10 minutes first to activate the yeast.
• egg
• butter
• all-purpose flour
• salt
• egg - this is for the egg wash on top which helps give the bread a golden crust.
• brown sugar filling - made with softened butter and brown sugar. You could also add some cinnamon for a cinnamon star bread.

This star bread recipe is made with a classic butter and brown sugar filling, but you can totally customize it make it your own. Consider adding these star bread fillings:

• finely chopped nuts
• cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, or pumpkin pie spice
• chocolate or nutella
• jam or jelly
• apple butter or pumpkin butter

You will also need measuring cups and spoons (or kitchen scale), mixing bowl, parchment paper, and half sheet baking pan.

How to Make the Best Star Bread

1. Prepare the dough. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together milk, sugar, yeast, and egg until smooth. In a large mixing bowl, add flour, butter and salt and mix well with a spatula. Pour in the wet mixture and stir well to combine until it forms a shaggy dough, scraping down the sides of the bowl (there should be no dry flour particles visible).
2. Knead the dough. Knead the dough on a clean lightly floured surface for 5 minutes until it changes from a sticky shaggy dough into a smooth and soft dough ball. Apply a little bit of oil or butter in your hands if needed.
   • A well kneaded dough is smooth and can hold its shape. Also, when you give the dough ball a firm poke with your finger, the indentation should bounce right back. If it doesn’t bounce back and stays like a dimple, keep kneading for a few minutes.
3. First rise. Cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap and let the dough rise at room temperature (preferably in a warmer area) for 1 hour until doubled.

How to Shape Star Bread

1. Flatten the dough and divide it into 4 equal pieces with a bench scraper. Shape into smooth balls by cupping the dough in your palm and making circular motions. It should take less than 30 seconds to roll each piece into a smooth ball.

2. Use a rolling pin to roll each dough ball into a 10-inch circle, approximately. Place one dough circle on a piece of parchment paper. Spread 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons brown sugar evenly on top.

3. Stack the next dough circle on top and stretch it so that the two dough circles align on the edges. Spread the same amount of butter and sugar on top.
4. Repeat the step until 4 layers of dough are stacked evenly with the filling (the top layer will not have any butter or sugar on top).
5. Place a 3-inch round object such as a round cookie cutter or rim of a glass in the center to make an indent, which becomes the center of the star.

6. Cut the dough into 16 evenly spaced strips with a pizza cutter or knife. Make sure all the layers are cut through.
7. Take two strips at a time and twist them away from each other twice, then press the two bottom ends together to make a point. Repeat the twisting until the star bread forms 8 points.

8. Second rise: Cover the star bread loosely with plastic cling wrap and let rise at room temperature for 30 minutes until almost doubled.

How to Bake Christmas Star Bread

1. Transfer the star bread with the parchment paper onto a large half sheet baking pan. Brush with egg wash evenly on top.
2. Bake in a 350F preheated oven for 25 minutes until the top turns golden brown.
3. Allow the star bread cool for 10 minutes, then serve. Dust with confectioners’ sugar on top (optional).

More Sweet Bread Recipes

• 50 Best Bread Recipes
• Sourdough Cinnamon Roll Twist Bread
• Quick and Easy Butter Croissants
• Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls
• Cinnamon Raisin Challah Bread
• Healthy Banana Bread

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