The Perfect Christmas Star Bread

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Star Bread is a visually stunning, decadent tasting sweet bread, that will be the talk of the table. Whether it’s for the holidays or a special occasion this eye-pleasing, mouth-watering bread is the way to go.

Bread is the ultimate comfort food for me, it’s so luscious and satisfying, especially when it’s homemade with love.  Whether it’s this recipe or Grandma’s Perfect Bread, Naan, or Garlic Bread, they will all hit the spot!

Christmas Star Bread

I’m not entirely sure why this is called Star Bread, but I’m guessing it has to do with not only the shape but the fact that it will quite literally be the star of the meal. This isn’t just bread, it’s art. And it’s art you can eat! Everyone will not only rave about how beautiful and intricate your star bread looks but the fact that it is simply delicious. Make it for breakfast or brunch. In fact, make it an entire meal with this Homemade Breakfast Sausage, this Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce or these amazing Orange Cranberry Muffins!

Now before you say to yourself, that looks too hard. Let me tell you it’s super easy. Truly! Anyone who can use a pizza cutter or even a knife can make this bread. If you are worried about your cutting skills you can even use a template, or a big bowl turned upside down to cut around to get it perfect. The mesmerizing swirls and beautiful shape of this star bread all add to its elegance. The sweet filling isn’t just for show, it is just as rich and tasty as it is beautiful.

Ingredients You Need to Make Star Bread 

This is your basic enriched dough with milk and butter added for increased structure and flavor. Most of these ingredients you might already have on hand. See the recipe card below for all of the ingredient measurements.

• Milk: Use whole or 2% milk if you can, it helps the dough become extra soft when baked.
• Butter: This adds incredible flavor.
• Instant Yeast: This can be made with active yeast too.
• Sugar: The sugar is what feeds the yeast.
• Salt: This actually retards the yeast from getting too active and adds important flavor to the bread.
• Flour: I used all purpose flour. Unbleached flour also works!

Apple Filling

• Apple butter: Make your own for incredible flavor, or you can purchase at your store.
• Egg wash: Helps create that deep golden color and stick it all together.
• Egg: I like to use large eggs at room temperature.
• Milk: This helps to mix everything all together!
• Powdered sugar: This is optional and used to dust the top if the baked bread. It looks stunning!

Creating This Amazing Pull Apart Bread

Because of the extra richness, the star bread will rise slightly slower than usual.  So don’t worry if it isn’t rising as fast as you think it should. Follow these step-by-step instructions and then you will see just how simple this is!

1. Scald: In a small saucepan add the milk and over medium heat bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Turn the heat off and add the cubed unsalted butter. Stir until the butter melts completely. Pour the hot milk mixture into a stand mixer bowl and set aside to cool to below 110 degrees F.
2. Bloom: When the milk the mixture is cool enough then add the yeast and stir. Let it sit for 5 min to bloom.
3. Mix: In a medium bowl, add the flour, sugar, salt and mix to blend. Then, transfer the flour mixture to the stand mixer bowl with the warm yeast and mix gently.
4. Knead: Using a dough hook on speed 2 knead for about 7-10 min. The dough should start pulling away from the side of the bowl.
5. Rise: Oil a glass bowl and your hands. Scrape the dough out of the mixing bowl and then shape it into a ball in your hands and place it in the oiled bowl. Over, and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until at least doubled in size

Forming the Star

1. Cut: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and cut into 4 equal portions. Shape into balls.
2. Roll: Roll on dough ball  out into a circle about 9″-10″ in diameter. Place it on a piece of parchment paper and spread 2 tablespoons of apple butter over it.
3. Layer: Roll another dough ball out to the same size as the first one and place it on top, spread another 2 Tablespoons of apple butter over the top. Repeat for the 3rd and 4th dough ball. You should end up with 4 layers of dough and 3 layers of apple butter.
4. Mark: With the back of a round cookie cutter or a cup, mark a 3″ circle in the middle. Cut the dough into 16 sections leaving the 3″ circle in the middle untouched.
5. Twist: Take two sections away from each other and press the end together to form the star point. You should end up with 8 star points. Then, cover it and let rise for 20 minutes.
6. Bake: Beat the egg with a tablespoon of milk and brush it lightly over the star bread. Bake for 30 min until golden brown. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.