Description
This Star Bread recipe yields a soft, fluffy, and visually stunning yeast bread with a sweet cinnamon-sugar filling, shaped into a beautiful star pattern. It combines a tender enriched dough with a buttery brown sugar filling, making it perfect for breakfast or a tea-time treat.
Ingredients
Dough
- 160 grams milk (2/3 cup)
- 50 grams granulated sugar (1/4 cup)
- 3 grams instant yeast (1 teaspoon)
- 1 large egg
- 50 grams softened butter (1/4 cup), cut into 1/2-inch cubes or melted
- 310 grams all-purpose flour (2 1/2 cups)
- 6 grams salt (1 teaspoon)
Filling and Topping
- 1/3 cup softened butter
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Make the Dough: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, granulated sugar, instant yeast, and 1 large egg until smooth. This activates the yeast and dissolves the sugar.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, softened butter cubes, and salt. Mix well with a spatula to evenly distribute the butter.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until it forms a shaggy dough with no visible dry flour.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until it transforms into a smooth, elastic ball. The dough should bounce back when poked gently. If sticky, lightly oil or butter your hands to prevent sticking.
- First Rise: Place the dough back into the bowl and cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm area at room temperature for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Divide and Shape Dough: After the dough has risen, flatten it and divide it evenly into 4 pieces using a bench scraper. Shape each piece into a smooth ball and let them rest for 10 minutes to relax the gluten (Note: further shaping steps for the star pattern are implied but incomplete in the available instructions).
- Prepare Filling: In a small bowl, mix softened butter and brown sugar until combined to create the filling.
- Assemble the Star Bread: (Assumed next steps based on traditional recipes) Roll out each piece into a circle, layer with the brown sugar butter mixture, stack the circles, and cut and twist the dough layers to form the star shape.
- Egg Wash and Bake: Brush the shaped star bread with the egg wash made from the reserved egg. Bake the bread at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 25-30 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
Notes
- Ensure your milk is warm (about 100°F/38°C) to properly activate the yeast, but not hot to avoid killing the yeast.
- Knead the dough sufficiently for good gluten development; it should feel smooth and elastic.
- Use a sharp knife or bench scraper for precise shaping.
- Let the dough rise in a warm spot inside your kitchen, free from drafts.
- The brown sugar butter filling can be customized with cinnamon or nuts for extra flavor.
- Allow the bread to cool slightly before slicing to maintain its shape and texture.
