Looking for a beautiful dessert or brunch recipe to impress your guests? Try this tested recipe for the ULTIMATE star bread.
Star Bread Recipe
Think of this as a lighter fancier cinnamon roll without all the added sugar from a heavy icing. This star bread will be the star of the show at your next weekend brunch or holiday get together.
Four layers of light and airy dough rolled out thin with butter spread between the layers and a mix of cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on each layer.
The twists and turns of this bread may look complicated but it is as simple as stacking four dough circles, cutting 16 slices into them and twisting two pieces in opposite directions to get that signature star shape and twist.
The final touch is a light dusting of icing sugar on top for an extra fancy look.
What is in a Star Bread?
You will be surprised how simple the ingredient list is for making a star bread. You likely already have these ingredients in your pantry:
Video Tutorial
Just a Few Simple Steps for Beautiful Results
Full printable recipe card below
1 Prepare your dough (full recipe below). Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and store in a warm place to proof/rise.
2 After dough has proofed/risen cut into 4 equal pieces.
3 Roll each piece into balls and rest 10 minutes.
4 One at a time, roll out each dough ball into a 10" circle. Once you have all circles rolled starting with the first circle spread butter on top and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on top. Layer the next circle on top and repeat for the remaining circles noting to only use butter and sugar mix on 3 of the circles (the top layer does not get butter or the sugar mix)
5 Use a small cup to make a circle outline in the center of the bread and push down slightly to puncture the bread but not all the way through. Use a sharp knife to cut the bread into 16 sections from the rim of the cup to the rim of the bread.
6 Working with 2 cut pieces at a time, twist the pieces outwards 2 times to get the twisted sections of your bread. Join the two ends together to secure into place. Repeat with remaining sections. You will have 8 pairs when done.
7 Bake at 350°F until golden brown. Sprinkle with icing sugar for serving.
Additional Star Bread Flavours
Pictured today is a cinnamon sugar star bread. The flavor combinations are endless for this star bread. Feel free to create your own flavor combination using your favorite sweet or savory fillings. Here are a few more ideas:
1 Nutella
2 Favorite jam
3 Butter + cinnamon sugar + walnuts (or your favorite nut)
4 Savory flavors: pesto, tomato sauce + cheese + pepperoni for a pizza flavor, ham + cheese, etc.
Hope you enjoy this tasty recipe and get creative with flavors to make your own ultimate star bread!
Looking for More Simple Sweets
- Banana Oat Crumble Muffins - not only a healthier twist on classic banana bread, they are just as delicious. Featuring a sweet and crispy crumble topping these are a must try!
- Or try out my family favorite Banana Bread recipe!
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats - the perfect twist on the classic Rice Krispies combining two classic flavors. These squares are a match made in heaven for chocolate peanut butter lovers.
- Maple Pecan Butter Tarts - one of the most well known and popular Canadian desserts. Not only are they so simple to make, they are incredibly delicious!
Enjoy!
- Sab
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission.
Cinnamon Swirl Star Bread
Ingredients
Bread
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ⅔ cup warm milk (100°F – 110°F)
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk (reserve 1 large egg white for brushing)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ tablespoon vegetable oil (or nonstick cooking spray to grease bowl)
Filling
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
Prepare the Dough (Using Stand Mixeror by Hand)
- In measuring cup stir in ⅔ cup of warm milk, sugar and yeast. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes, or until it turns frothy and doubles in volume. Note: If the yeast is active the mixture turns frothy and doubles in volume. If the mixture does not double in size start the process again with fresh yeast.
- In a bowl add flour, salt, yeast mixture, vanilla and eggs, using a spatula to mix until the flour is incorporated. You can also do this in a stand mixer but remember to add softened butter.
- Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Add the softened butter, knead the dough until it is soft, elastic and springs back when pressed gently and no longer sticky (approximately 10-15 minutes). If using a stand mixer knead the dough for 5 minutes. Note: If the dough feels too sticky, add some flour and if it is too dry, add 1-2 teaspoon of warm milk and knead the dough until it is nice and soft.
- Shape the dough into a smooth ball and place into a greased bowl.
Proof/Rise
- Place the dough in a greased bowl and turn it once to grease the top. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and place it in a warm place for 60-90 minutes or until it doubles in volume.
Shape the Dough Into 4 Balls
- Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and flatten it down. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball. Cover the dough balls with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet some parchment paper.
- Lightly flour the work surface and roll each ball into a 10-inch circle. Place the rolled circle onto a baking sheet.
- Apply ⅓ of softened butter and sprinkle ⅓ of the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly on the top leaving about ¼ inch border around the edges.
- Repeat the process with the remaining dough balls. There will be 4 layers of dough circles and 3 layers of filling leaving the top layer of dough circle bare. Note: The top layer of dough has no butter or cinnamon-sugar on it.
- Place a round 2 ½ inch cup (or cookie cutter) in the center of the rolled dough to mark the center of the star. Using a sharp knife cut the circle into 16 equal strips starting from the edge of the cup to the end of the dough circle. Cut through all the layers.
- Using both hands grab two adjacent strips and twist them twice away from each other outwards. Pinch the two ends of strips together. Repeat the process with the remaining strips. Your star bread will have 8 pairs of strips.
Second Proof/Rise
- Cover the shaped bread lightly with plastic wrap and place it in a warm place for 30-45 minutes or until it rises and becomes puffy. Note: Lightly spray the plastic wrap (side that goes on the bread) with some cooking spray to avoid sticking to the dough.
Bake the Star Bread
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.
- Using a pastry brush lightly brush the bread with an egg white. Bake the bread for 20-22 minutes or until top is golden brown. Note: If the top is browning quickly, loosely tent the bread with foil.
- Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Dust with confectioner’s sugar and enjoy!
Jocelyne Racicot says
I cannot find the measurements for the sugar and cinnamon mixture.
fedbysab says
Hi Jocelyne,
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Enjoy!