Cinnamon Star Bread
Serves 18
30 mins prep
20 mins cook
90 mins resting time
140 mins total
Cinnamon Star Bread is a delicious sweet bread filled with cinnamon and twisted to look like a Christmas Star or Snowflake.
Dough
Filling
Toppings
powdered sugarfor dusting
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Make the Dough
Sift flour into medium bowl, then hand whisk in salt and nutmeg. Set aside.
oz all purpose flour
tsp fine sea salt
tsp ground nutmeg
In bowl of stand mixer, combine yeast, warm almond milk, and sugar. Gently stir together, then leave to rest for 10 minutes or until frothy.
tsp active dry yeast
oz granulated sugar
oz whole milk
Once yeast mixture is foamy, add butter and vanilla, mix with paddle attachment until combined. Then spoon in 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix on medium speed with dough hook.
oz unsalted butter
tsp pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Continue to add flour slowly until incorporated and dough has started to form. Dough should be elastic and tacky without being to sticky. It should pull away from the bowl and not stick too much to your fingers. (Dough should not be firm nor dry) (If dough is too wet, add a Tbsp of flour at a time until tacky.)
Beat dough at medium-high for 5 minutes, then transfer to large lightly floured bowl. Check for gluten devlopment with a simple windowpane test. Pull a small chunk of dough away and stretch it out with your fingertips, if you can stretch it thin without breaking and create a transparent window, its ready.
First Proof (rest)
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set in a warm draft free area. Let rise for one hour, or until dough has doubled in size. (may take closer to 2 hrs if your home is cool)
Shape Star with Cinnamon Filling
Once dough has doubled in size, place onto lightly floured surface.
Use a large knife or bench scraper to cut dough into four four equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, cover the balls with a thin towel, and allow them to rest for 15 minutes.
While dough is resting mix together sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
oz granulated sugar
tbsp ground cinnamon
Take one dough ball and roll out into a 10-inch circle. (I suggest clearing some counter space and then coating lightly with flour.)
Gently transfer the first circle onto a parchment paper lined baking tray.
Brush a thin layer of beaten egg on the surface of the first circle of dough leaving a 1/4-inch bare rim. Then sprinkle a thin coating of the cinnamon/sugar across the egg wash.
large egg
Roll out second circle and repeat process to more times.
Place the fourth dough circle on top. Brush a small amount of egg wash across the top layer without adding the cinnamon/sugar.
Place a 2.5-3-inch round cutter or juice glass in the center of the dough circle. Press down enough to leave a circular imprint. You can then remove the round marker. (you can leave cutter or glass on dough if your worried bout cutting to far)
Take a sharp knife and cut the dough into 16 equal strips. Use the round imprint as a guide for a stopping point to keep from cutting into the center.
I found it easiest to cut the dough into 4 quadrants and then continue to split those 4 into an additional 4 even quadrants. (Doesn't have to be perfect!)
Using two hands, pick up two adjacent dough strips and twist them away from each other 'twice' so that the top side is facing up again. Repeat with the remaining strips of dough so that you end up with eight pairs of strips.
Pinch the paired ends together and shape into an overlapping star point.
Second Proof (rest)
Now that your star is assembled, make sure to remove glass or cutter from center if you haven't already.
Loosely cover the star with a floured tea towel or plastic wrap. Let rest for about 45 minutes or until pastry has "puffed". Time will depend on temperature of your kitchen.
Egg Wash and Bake
Preheat oven to 400℉ (200℃) and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
Brush star with a coating of the egg wash, try not to go over the cinnamon, but just lightly coat the dough.
large egg
Bake star for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. The center should reach 190℉ on instant read thermometer to insure properly baked dough.
Transfer to baking sheet and cool for 15 minutes.
Dust the top with powdered sugar and serve warm.
powdered sugar