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11 Must-Bake Breads for Winter Celebrations and Beyond

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Gourmandize
Holiday Star Bread 2/12

© Olga Filatova Lip/Shutterstock

Holiday Star Bread

This stunning Holiday Star Bread is a show-stopping centerpiece for any festive table. A soft and fluffy braided bread, it’s filled with your choice of cinnamon sugar, Nutella, or jam and shaped into a beautiful star. Perfect for sharing, it’s sure to impress both visually and in flavor. This bread is as fun to make as it is to eat!

Ingredients (for 1 star bread, or 8-12 servings):

For the Dough:

  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (or substitute with coconut sugar for refined sugar-free)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup warm milk (110°F)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg

For the Filling:

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ? cup cinnamon sugar, Nutella, or jam of your choice

For the Glaze (optional):

  • 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
  • Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add the warm milk, melted butter, and egg, mixing until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 8-10 min. until smooth and elastic, or use a stand mixer with a dough hook for 5-7 min.
  2. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
  3. Punch down the dough and divide it into four equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 10-inch circle.
  4. Place one circle on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread a thin layer of butter and your chosen filling, leaving a ½-inch border around the edges. Top with a second dough circle and repeat the process until all layers are stacked, leaving the top layer plain.
  5. Place a small glass or round object in the center of the stack. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 16 equal strips, starting from the outer edge of the glass to the edge of the dough. Take two adjacent strips, twist them outward twice, then pinch the ends together to form a point. Repeat until the star shape is complete.
  6. Cover the shaped bread with a kitchen towel and let it rise for 20-30 min.
  7. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Brush the bread with the beaten egg wash for a glossy finish. Bake for 25-30 min, or until golden brown.
  8. Allow the bread to cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar, if desired.

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