- nadineali18
Cinnamon Sugar and Pecan Star Bread

This Star Bread is a beautiful dessert perfect for the holidays. Layers of soft bread dough rolled out, sandwiched with a cinnamon sugar and pecan filling and shaped into a show stopping design. It is much easier to make than you would think. Your friends and family will love you ! I promise!
Total Time:
Prep 30 mins
Rising and resting time 1 hr 50 mins
Baking time 25 mins
Total time 2 hours 45 mins
Equipment:
Baking Pan ( I used a 17 x12 inch tray) anything larger than 10 inches with some depth to catch juices while baking
Parchment paper
Rolling Pin
pizza cutter (optional)
Ingredients:
Bread Dough
4 Tbsp / 1/4 cup / 50 g sugar
1 1/4 tsp Dry Active Yeast
2/3 cup / 150 ml whole milk warm ( 105 -110 F)
4 Tbsp / 56 g unsalted butter softened
1 egg at room temperature
2 1/2 cup flour ( a little extra for dusting)
1 tsp salt
Cinnamon Sugar and Pecan Filling
1/2 cup pecans finely chopped
6 Tbsp unsalted butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
Egg Wash
1 egg
1 Tbsp Milk
Sugar Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
Dipping Icing (optional)
1 cup sifted confectioners sugar
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
METHOD:
Mix the sugar , yeast and warm milk. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside for about 5 mins in a warm place. The top of the mixture will become pale brown, slightly frothy and will release a smell
Next add the softened butter and egg and mix
Add the flour and salt and combine
With the dough hook attachment of a stand mixer knead for about 5 mins
If kneading by hand it will take about 8 to 10 minutes on a floured surface to avoid sticking
Rub some oil in a bowl, put the dough in , cover with a damp cloth and leave in a warm place (no draft) to rise for about a 1 hour 30 minutes
Filling
While the dough is rising make the filling
chop the pecans finely
Mix the brown sugar and butter till combined, add the cinnamon and mix , cover and set aside
Back to dough
Once the dough is risen, lightly punch it to knock the air out
Divide it into four equal pieces
Form them into 4 balls, cover with cling wrap and work on one at a time
Dust your surface with flour and roll out the ball to a 10 inch circle
Transfer it to a parchment paper and add a think layer of the filling and sprinkle the pecans on top
Repeat this process, stacking till you have 3 layers of filling and 4 rolled out circles
If circle is loosing shape ,trim the edges with a pizza cutter to make it neat
take a 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter or glass and lightly mark the center with it
with a sharp knife make slits till the rim of the circle.
First divide the circle in 4 and make 4 slits equal distance
then 4 more
and then 8 more
Take two strips twist them outward twice and join the ends together and pinch
Repeat and go all the way around like that till the bread looks like a star
lightly cover with cling wrap and let it rest for 20 mins
Preheat oven to 350 F
Brush egg wash over bread and after resting bake for about 20 -25 mins till golden brown
while in the oven make sugar syrup by boiling sugar and water together
when bread is out of the oven brush with sugar syrup
Make the optional dipping icing by combining the confectioners sugar, milk and vanilla
Best served warm