Star bread (cinnamon bread)

Star bread is formed with layers of bread dough with a cinnamon filling cut and twisted to form the shape of a star or snowflake. It is simple to make and is perfect for breakfast, brunch or a snack.

Star bread might look complicated but it is surprisingly easy to make. Prepare the bread dough, mix the filling, assemble, cut, twist and bake!

Serve it warm, cold or toasted with butter. Whichever way you choose it will be a tasty treat packed with the flavours of homemade bread, dried fruit and cinnamon.

One good thing about this recipe is that it is prepared using kitchen staples which you are likely to already have in your kitchen.

The ingredients in this recipe are similar to those used to make cinnamon rolls. The main difference is that it is formed to a different shape.

If you are looking for other snack or breakfast ideas why not try apricot and cashew loaf, no knead fruit bread or chocolate Chelsea buns? All of which are easy to make and will fill your kitchen with the irresistible smell of homemade bread.

This star bread recipe is sufficient for around 8 servings.

Before you start this recipe

Before starting this recipe you should:

• Take one egg out of the fridge so that it reaches room temperature before adding to the other bread dough ingredients.
• Take the butter out of the fridge so that it softens enough to spread on the circles of bread dough.

Ingredients for the bread dough

• 375g strong bread flour - use a flour with a protein content of around 12% to 14%. Plain flour (all purpose flour) is not suitable for this recipe.

• 50g sugar - use granulated sugar for this recipe.

• 1 teaspoon salt - this adds flavour to the bread dough.

• 3 teaspoons easy bake yeast - simply add to the other dry ingredients.

• 100ml milk - milk helps give this bread dough its soft texture.

• 80ml water - warm with the milk and butter before adding to the dry ingredients so it is at the right temperature to activate the yeast.

• 45g butter - butter also helps give this bread dough a soft texture. Add to the milk and water and warm through until it is hand hot before adding to the dry ingredients.

• 1 egg - remove from the fridge so that it is at room temperature before adding to the other ingredients. If it is too cold it may lower the temperature of the other ingredients and prevent the yeast working.

Ingredients for the filling

• 200g raisins - raisins add moisture and sweetness to the fruit bread. Other types of dried fruits could be substituted such as mixed fruit, currants or sultanas.

• 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon - you could substitute ground mixed spice or use a mixture of other sweet spices such as cloves, cardamon or allspice.

• 40g Demerara sugar - the sugar helps to coat the raisins evenly with the cinnamon but you can reduce the amount of sugar if you prefer.

• 30g butter - use either salted or unsalted butter to spread over the bread circles before adding the fruit filling.

To glaze

• About 2 tablespoons milk - to help your baked bread have a beautiful golden colour.

To serve

• About 2 teaspoons icing sugar - dust with icing sugar before serving to add that finishing touch.

You will also need

In addition to common kitchen equipment you will also need:

• A mixer with dough hooks will be useful. Alternatively you could knead the bread dough by hand for around 10 minutes.
• A glass or similar object about 2cm to 3cm diameter to act as a guide in the centre of the bread before cutting the ribbons.

How to prepare the dough

Place the flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a large bowl and mix.

Place the butter, milk and water in a saucepan. Heat gently until the butter has melted and the mixture is hand hot. The liquid ingredients will be at the correct temperature when they are roughly the temperature of a hot bath. This will be warm enough to activate the yeast but not too hot to kill it.

Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients while the milk/water/butter mixture is still hand hot so that it is at the correct temperature to activate the yeast.

Add the egg and then mix for two to three minutes using an electric mixer with dough hooks attached.

If you don't have an electric mixer with dough hooks or do not wish to use one you could knead the dough by hand for around 10 minutes.

Cover the bowl with a large plate and leave the dough in a warm place to prove for about an hour or until it has doubled in size.

Star bread does not need to prove a second time before baking.

How to prepare the filling

Place the raisins, Demerara sugar and ground cinnamon in a medium sized bowl and mix until the raisins are evenly coated with the sugar and cinnamon mixture.

How to assemble star bread

Tip the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and divide into four equal portions.

Form each of the four portions into a ball.

Take the first ball and roll into a circle about 22cm into diameter.

Place the first circle onto a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Spread one third of the softened butter over the dough and spoon one third of the raisin filling onto the circle of dough leaving a gap of about 1 cm around the edge.

Roll a second circle of dough the same size as the first and place on top of first. Spread half the remaining butter over the circle of dough and add another layer of the cinnamon raisin filling.

Repeat until you have a stack of four layers of bread dough with a layer of cinnamon filling between each circle of bread dough (a total of three layers of filling).

To form the star

Place a circular object such as a small cup, glass or ring (around 2cm to 3cm in diameter) in the centre of the stack. This will act as a guide and will leave a circle of uncut dough in the centre.

Use a sharp knife to make 4 cuts from the cup to the edge of the circle to divide the circle into quarters.

Make another 4 cuts mid way between the first four cuts to make a total of 8 cuts.

And then make a further 8 cuts mid way between each of the first set of 8 cuts to form a total of 16 cuts and 16 segments of dough.

Using your hands, take 2 adjacent ribbons and twist outwards two or three times and then pinch the ends together to form the first point of the star. Some of the raisin filling will now be visible between the layers of dough.

Repeat with the remainder of the segments to form 8 points to the star.

Remove the cup, glass or ring.

How to bake star bread

Lightly brush the top of the bread with milk.

Bake in the centre of the oven at 170^oC, 325^oF, gas mark 3 until the bread is slightly golden on top. This is likely to take around 20 minutes but check after 10 minutes and then check again regularly to avoid overcooking. Turn the tin around part way through the cooking time so that it bakes evenly.

How to serve

• Dust with a little icing sugar just before serving.
• Serve the star bread warm shortly after baking. Simply tear and share or cut with a sharp knife.
• Star bread is also delicious served cold.
• After the bread has cooled it can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
• Cut portions of the bread in half, toast and serve with butter.

Variations

If you would like a sweet, sticky, glossy finish to your star bread brush with a little sugar water immediately after baking. Measure 50g sugar and 2 tablespoons water into a small saucepan and heat gently, stirring regularly, until the sugar has dissolved. Brush over the freshly baked bread while still warm.

Other fillings either sweet or savoury can be used to make star bread. Here are a few ideas:

• Use Nutella in place of the raisins, sugar and cinnamon to make chocolate star bread.
• Cranberries and chopped nuts make a great filling for a Christmas treat.
• For a sweet and nutty version try chopped pecans and maple syrup.
• Pack with pesto for a savoury filling to your star bread.
• Try garlic butter and chopped sun dried tomatoes to add a Mediterranean touch.

How to store

Star bread, like many other types of bread, is at its best on the day it has been made. While it can be stored in an airtight container until the next day I recommend freezing any which is not going to be eaten on the day it has been baked.

Tips

1. Always check the yeast is within its use by date before starting any bread recipe.
2. Refer to photos when forming the star bread. 
3. Star bread can be reheated either in the oven or microwave.
4. Frozen star bread can be defrosted in the microwave or oven.

Other easy bread recipes