How to Make Star Bread, Also Called a Christmas Star Bread or a Snowflake Bread

I’ve always been fascinated by Christmas Star Bread, sometimes called Snowflake Bread — a show-stopping treat that can be made sweet or savory. The finished loaf is truly stunning, so I decided to learn how to make one myself and share it with you. This recipe is adapted from Taste of Home with a few of my own tweaks.

How to Make Star Bread, Christmas Star Bread, Snowflake Bread

Serves 10 – 12

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
• 3/4 cup warm whole milk (110° to 115°)
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3-1/4 to 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup strawberry jam
• 1/4 cup apricot jam
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Swedish Pearl Sugar if desired for decoration
• 1 egg mixed with a splash of water for egg wash
• Confectioner’s sugar

• Dissolve yeast in warm water until foamy. In another bowl, combine milk, egg, butter, sugar and salt; add yeast mixture and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
• Secure the dough hook and knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

• Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 4 portions. Roll 1 portion into a 12-in. circle. Place on a greased 14-in. pizza pan or pizza stone. Spread with half of the strawberry jam to within 1/2 in. from edge. Repeat twice, layering dough, apricot jam, dough strawberry jam, and ending with final portion of dough.

• Place a 2-1/2-in. round cutter on top of the dough in center of circle (do not press down). With a sharp knife, make 16 evenly spaced cuts from round cutter to edge of dough, forming a starburst. Remove cutter; grasp 2 adjacent strips, one in each hand and rotate twice outward. Pinch ends together. Repeat with remaining strips.
• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.
• Brush with egg wash and sprinkle center with Swedish pearl sugar if using.
• Bake until golden brown, 18-22 minutes. (Watch during final 5 minutes for any dripping.) Remove from oven; brush with melted butter, avoiding areas where jam is visible.

• Cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners’ sugar if desired

How Was the Star Bread Recipe?

Super yummy. The bread was light and reminded me almost of a danish, but it had no layers. The two jams went very well together and were complementary.

They provided just enough sweet to go with the bready part. It was delicious warmed up or at room temperature. I can envision making this with a cheese danish like filling or cinnamon sugar. There are even savory recipes out there. No matter how you make your star bread recipe it does make for a very pretty presentation.