Chocolate star bread for Christmas breakfast
Prep: 40 min · Cook: 22 min · Makes: 1 star bread (8 people) · For:
This star bread looks like it came from a fancy bakery, but it is just four circles of soft, sweet dough with chocolate spread in between, cut and twisted into a star. Put it in the middle of the Christmas breakfast table and let everyone tear off their own warm, chocolatey point.
Tips
- Roll the circles thin and even so the layers are clear when you twist them.
- Use a plate as a guide to cut perfect circles.
- Twist gently. If the dough tears, just pinch it back together.
Little helpers
Children can knead the dough, spread the chocolate and help twist the strips. The cutting is best done by a grown-up with a sharp knife or a pizza wheel.
Ingredients
- 3¼ cups bread flour (400 g)
- 1 packet instant yeast (2¼ tsp)
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾ cup plus 1 tbsp lukewarm milk
- 1 egg
- 3½ tbsp soft butter
- ⅔ cup chocolate hazelnut spread (about 7 oz)
- 1 egg yolk and 1 tbsp milk, for brushing
- powdered sugar, for dusting
Method
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the milk, egg and butter and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Cover and leave to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled.
- Divide the dough into four equal pieces. Roll each piece into a circle of about 10 inches across.
- Lay one circle on a lined baking sheet and spread it with a third of the chocolate spread, leaving a small border. Cover with a second circle, spread again, add the third circle and the last of the spread, and finish with the fourth circle.
- Put a small glass upside down in the middle. Cut from the glass to the edge to make 16 equal strips, like a sun. Remove the glass.
- Take two strips next to each other and twist them away from each other twice, then pinch the ends together to make a point. Repeat all the way round to make an eight-pointed star.
- Cover and leave to rise for 30 minutes, or chill overnight (see the FAQ). Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Brush with the egg yolk and milk and bake for 20-22 minutes until deep golden. Let it cool for 10 minutes and dust with powdered sugar.
Questions
Can I prepare it the evening before?
Yes. Shape the star, cover it and put it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes while the oven heats, then bake.
Can I use other fillings?
Try jam, cinnamon sugar with melted butter, or pesto and grated cheese for a savoury version.
Does it contain nuts?
Chocolate hazelnut spread contains nuts. For a nut-free star, use a nut-free chocolate spread or jam.
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