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Test Kitchen Approved

Orange Cinnamon Star Bread

Baked, twisted Star Bread on a pan with a sifter of powdered sugar next to it

Orange Cinnamon Star Bread

Recipe By Michael Kimball

Yields

8 servings

Prep Time

25 Minutes

Cooking Time

20 Minutes

Recipe By Michael Kimball

An impressive, festive bread for any occasion that's secretly simple to make. Pure Orange Extract and sweet Cinnamon Sugar give it layers of nostalgic flavor and a finishing sprinkle of powdered sugar gives it a seasonal, snow-kissed look.

Ingredients

For dough:

2 cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup potato flour

¼ cup nonfat dry milk

1 cup warm water

¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, room temperature


2 tsp. instant yeast

2 Tbsp. granulated sugar

1 Tbsp orange zest


For filling:

1 egg, beaten


For finishing:

1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

2 Tbsp. powdered sugar

Savory Spice ingredients in this recipe

  • Pure Orange Extract

    Our baking extracts are getting an upgrade! The labels look different, but the flavors are the same. Find them at a local spice store near you comi...

    View full details
  • Kosher Salt

    This flaky Kosher Salt is pure, unrefined sea salt perfect for all types of cooking. Use kosher salt as a substitute for fine salt (1 tsp. Kosher S...

    View full details
    New
  • Cinnamon Sugar

    Our blend of Cinnamon Sugar seasoning is proof that sometimes spice blends don’t need to be complex to have a big flavor impact and endless possibi...

    View full details

Directions

Step 1: Make dough

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or paddle attachment, add flour, potato flour, dry milk, water, butter, Pure Orange Extract, yeast, sugar, orange zest, and Kosher Salt. Mix on low to start, then increase speed to medium-low for 3 to 4 min. to knead into a soft, smooth dough. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour, until nearly doubled in size.

Step 2: Roll and layer dough

Divide the dough into four equal pieces and shape into balls. On a lightly greased or floured work surface, roll one piece of dough into a 10" circle. Place the circle on a piece of parchment and brush a thin coat of beaten egg. Evenly sprinkle with 1/3 of the Cinnamon Sugar, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Roll out a second piece of dough to the same size and place it on top of the first. Repeat the layering process with the remaining egg (reserve a small amount for a final egg wash), Cinnamon Sugar, and dough, leaving the top layer bare.

Step 3: Form star

Leaving a 3-inch circle in the center, use a sharp knife to cut 16 equal strips extending out from the center, like the rays of the sun. Gently pick up the ends of two adjacent strips, one in each hand, and simultaneously twist them away from each other twice so that the top side is facing up again. Pinch the ends together to secure them and create a point. Repeat with remaining strips to create 8 points.

Step 4: Rise & bake

Transfer the star and the parchment to a baking sheet stacked onto a second baking sheet. Cover the star and let rise for 40 to 45 min. until noticeably puffy. While the star is rising, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush the top of star with a thin coat of the remaining beaten egg. Bake for 12 to 15 min. until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 200 degrees at the center. Remove the loaf from the oven and brush with melted butter. Cool for 10 min., then dust with powdered sugar.