Star bread (cinnamon bread)
Star bread is formed with layers of bread dough and 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.
Ingredients
Bread dough ingredients
- 375 g strong bread flour
- 50 g granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoon easy bake yeast
- 100 ml milk
- 80 ml water
- 45 g butter
- 1 egg
Filling ingredients
- 200 g raisins
- 1½ tsps ground cinnamon
- 40 g Demerara sugar
- 30 g butter
To glaze
- 2 tbsps milk
To serve
- 2 tsps icing sugar
Instructions
How to prepare the dough
- Place the flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a large bowl and mix.
- Measure 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 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.Alternatively, knead 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.Note: the bread dough does not need to prove for a second time before baking.
To prepare the filling
- Place the raisins, Demerara sugar and ground cinnamon in a medium sized bowl and mix well.
How to assemble star bread (refer to photos in main post)
- 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 and place onto a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet.
- Spread one third of the softened butter over the first circle of bread dough and then 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. Add another layer of the cinnamon raisin filling.
- Repeat until you have a stack of four circles of bread dough with a layer of cinnamon raising filling (3 layers) between each circle of bread dough.
How to form the star (refer to photos in main post)
- Place a circular object such as a small cup 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) (see photos in main post).
- 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 (16 segments of dough).
- Using your hands, take 2 adjacent segments 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 before baking.
- Bake in the centre of the oven at 170oC, 325oF, 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.
Notes
Tips
- Always check the yeast is within its use by date before starting any bread recipe.
- Refer to photos in main post when forming the star bread.
- Star bread can be reheated either in the oven or microwave.
- Frozen star bread can be defrosted in the microwave.
- If you would like a 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.
- 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.
Nutrition
Calories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 9gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 380mgPotassium: 335mgFiber: 4gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 293IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 1mg
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