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Star Bread Recipe

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4.5 from 8 reviews

This Star Bread recipe creates a beautifully shaped, soft, and slightly sweet bread perfect for festive occasions or everyday enjoyment. Layers of tender dough and flavorful filling form a stunning star shape, brushed with an egg wash for a glossy golden crust and dusted with confectioners’ sugar for a sweet finish.

Ingredients

Dough

  • 2 teaspoons instant or active dry yeast
  • 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 and 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Other

  • Filling (see recipe notes for options)
  • 1 large egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon milk (egg wash)
  • 2 Tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

  1. Activate yeast: Place yeast and sugar in a bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl. Warm milk to 110°F and pour over yeast mixture. Whisk gently and cover loosely. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
  2. Make dough: Add softened butter, egg, flour, and salt. Beat on low speed for 3 minutes if using a mixer. The dough will be soft. If mixing by hand, combine thoroughly. Form the dough into a ball, adding 1-3 tablespoons more flour if too sticky.
  3. First rise: Place dough in greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap or foil, and set in a warm spot (like an oven preheated to 150°F and then turned off) for 60-90 minutes until doubled in size.
  4. Prepare filling and baking sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat. Prepare your chosen filling as per recipe notes.
  5. Shape bread: Punch down dough and place on floured surface. Divide into 4 equal pieces. Roll each into a 10-inch thin circle. Layer bottom circle on baking sheet, spread filling on three layers (not the top), trimming edges for evenness. Place a 3-inch round object in center and cut 16 strips from edge to center using a pizza cutter.
  6. Form star points: Grab two adjacent strips and twist them away from each other twice, then pinch ends together to form a point. Repeat all around to create 8 star points.
  7. Second rise: Cover shaped bread and let rest for 20 minutes.
  8. Preheat oven: Heat oven to 350°F (177°C).
  9. Egg wash and bake: Brush bread lightly with egg wash for shine. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. If browning too fast, tent with foil. Remove and cool for 5 minutes.
  10. Finish and serve: Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve warm. Store leftovers at room temperature for 1-2 days or refrigerated for 4-5 days.

Notes

  • Use instant or active dry yeast; ensure milk is warm (around 110°F) to activate yeast properly.
  • Filling options can include cinnamon sugar and butter, Nutella, jam, or a sweet nut mixture.
  • Add a couple of extra tablespoons of flour if dough is too sticky but keep dough soft.
  • For a warm rising environment, using the oven preheated to low temperature and then turned off is ideal.
  • If points brown too quickly in oven, cover loosely with foil to prevent burning.
  • Use a pizza cutter for clean, even cuts to form the star shape.
  • Brush with egg wash to achieve a golden and shiny crust.
  • Dust with confectioners’ sugar for a sweet finishing touch.

Find it online: https://hotsavors.com/star-bread-recipe/