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+ servings

Star Bread

Jyoti Behrani
A light, soft and fluffy, pull-apart star bread, filled with buttery, cinnamon-sugar filling. The perfect holiday treat to enjoy with your loved ones this holiday!
5 from 25 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Proof Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 32 minutes
Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

INGREDIENTS FOR STAR BREAD

  • 2 ½ cups (310g) all purpose flour
  • cup (150ml) warm milk [100*F – 110* F]
  • 2 teaspoon (6.2g) Active Dry Yeast
  • 2 tablespoon (25g) sugar
  • 1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk [reserve 1 large egg white for brushing]
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoon (56.5g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ tablespoon vegetable or canola oil, to grease the bowl

FOR BREAD FILLING

  • 2 tablespoon (28.2g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 tablespoon (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 

FOR EGG WASH

  • 1 reserved egg white plus 1 tablespoon (15ml) milk

FOR DUSTING

Instructions
 

STEP 1: PREPARE THE DOUGH [BY HAND OR USING STAND MIXER]

  • In a cup, stir in ⅔ cup of warm milk [100*F – 110* F], sugar, and yeast. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes, or until it turns frothy, and doubles in volume.
    Note: If the yeast is active, the mixture turns frothy, and doubles in volume. If the mixture does not double in size, start the process again with fresh yeast.
  • In a bowl, add flour, salt, yeast mixture, vanilla, and eggs, using a spatula mix until the flour is incorporated.
  • Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Add softened butter, and knead the dough until it is soft, elastic, springs back when pressed, and is not sticky around 15-20 minutes. If using a stand mixer, knead the dough for 5 minutes.
    Note: If the dough feels too sticky, add some flour and if it is too dry, add 1-2 teaspoons of warm milk, and knead the dough, until it is nice and soft.
  • Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl.

STEP 2: FIRST PROOFING

  • Place the dough in a greased bowl and turn it once to grease the top.
  • Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel, and place it in a warm place, for 60-90 minutes or until it doubles in volume.
  • If using Instant Pot for proofing, place the dough in the greased inner pot, and turn it once to grease the top. Place the lid, and cover the pot. Turn ON YOGURT (normal) for 1 hour.
    Note: I used a glass lid that fits, to cover the inner pot.

STEP 3: DIVIDE AND SHAPE THE DOUGH

  • Transfer the dough onto a work surface, and punch it down. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball. Cover the dough balls with a clean kitchen towel, and let them rest for 10 minutes.
  • Line a 9*12 inch baking sheet with some parchment paper.
  • Lightly flour the work surface, and roll the ball into a 10-inch circle. Place the rolled circle onto a baking sheet.
  • Apply some softened butter, sprinkle ⅓ of the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly on the top, leaving about ¼ inch of the edge of the circle bare.
  • Repeat the process with the remaining dough balls. There will be 4 layers of dough (circles) and 3 layers of filling, leaving the top layer of dough (circle) bare.
    Note: The top layer of dough has no butter or cinnamon sugar on it.
  • Place around 2 ½ inch round cookie cutter or a cup in the center of a rolled dough to mark the center of the star. Using a sharp knife, cut the circle into 16 equal strips, starting from the edge of the cutter to the end of the circle. Cut through all the layers, leaving the center mark.
  • Using both hands, grab two adjacent strips and twist them twice, away from each other (outwards). Pinch the two ends of the strips together. Repeat the process with the remaining strips. Your star bread will have 8 pairs of strips.

STEP 4: SECOND PROOFING

  • Cover the shaped bread with a plastic wrap, and place it in a warm place for 30-45 minutes or until it becomes puffy.
    Note: Lightly spray the plastic wrap (the side that goes on the bread) with some cooking spray.

STEP 5: BAKE THE STAR BREAD

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350*F.
  • Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the bread with an egg wash. Bake the bread for 20-22 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
  • Note: If the top is browning quickly, loosely tent the bread with the foil.
  • Remove the bread from the oven, brush with some melted butter and allow it to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
  • Dust with some confectioner’s sugar and enjoy Star bread!!

Video

Notes

Please refer to the post for the following:
  1. Instructions For Making Ahead Dough
  2. Pro Tips For The Best Star Bread
  3. 16 Star Bread Fillings Variations [Sweet & Savory]
  4. Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

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KEYWORD

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