Christmas Star Bread: Pure Holiday Magic Recipes

Christmas Star Bread: Pure Holiday Magic Recipes is the ultimate showstopper—visually striking and packed with rich, irresistible flavor. Whether for a festive holiday spread or a unique treat for any special occasion, this bread brings elegance and warmth to the table.

Bread is such a comfort food, especially homemade, where each layer brings out the depth of flavor and texture. This bread, along with recipes like Grandma’s Perfect Bread, warm Naan, or savory Garlic Bread, creates a lasting impression and delivers that satisfying, made-with-love experience that everyone enjoys.

Christmas Star Bread:

Why’s it called Star Bread? My guess: it’s not just about the shape but because this bread will seriously steal the show at any meal. This isn’t just bread—it’s an edible masterpiece! People will be wowed by how intricate and gorgeous your Christmas Star Bread looks, and then, they’ll love how amazing it tastes. Serve it up for breakfast or brunch, or make a whole spread with some Homemade Breakfast Sausage, Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise, or Orange Cranberry Muffins!

And hey, don’t let the fancy look scare you off! It’s actually a breeze to make. If you can handle a pizza cutter or a knife, you’re good to go. For even more control, use a template or flip a big bowl over to get the perfect circle. The pretty swirls and star shape make this bread as stunning as it is delicious, and the sweet filling? It’s as rich and flavorful as it looks!

Christmas Star Bread: Pure Holiday Magic Ingredients Recipes

Christmas Star Bread: Pure Holiday Magic Ingredients Recipes is a simple enriched dough with milk and butter to give it a little extra structure and that next-level flavor. You probably have most of these ingredients chillin’ in your kitchen already. Check the recipe card below for the exact amounts.

• Milk: Go with whole or 2% milk if you can—it’ll make the dough super soft when it’s baked.
• Butter: Brings in that killer flavor.
• Instant Yeast: Works with active yeast too, no problem.
• Sugar: Feeds the yeast to get that rise going.
• Salt: Keeps the yeast in check and adds some key flavor to the bread.
• Flour: I used all-purpose flour. Unbleached works fine, too

Apple Filling

• Apple Butter: Homemade is always next-level, but store-bought works just fine.
• Egg Wash: Gives that perfect golden look and keeps everything sticking together.
• Egg: Large eggs at room temp work best.
• Milk: Helps mix it all up smooth.
• Powdered Sugar: Totally optional, but dusting it on top makes the bread look amazing!

Creating This Amazing Pull Apart Bread

• Because of the extra richness, the star bread will rise slightly slower than usual.  So don’t worry if it isn’t rising as fast as you think it should. Follow these step-by-step instructions and then you will see just how simple this is!
• Scald: In a small saucepan add the milk and over medium heat bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Turn the heat off and add the cubed unsalted butter. Stir until the butter melts completely. Pour the hot milk mixture into a stand mixer bowl and set aside to cool to below 110 degrees F.
• Bloom: When the milk the mixture is cool enough then add the yeast and stir. Let it sit for 5 min to bloom.
• Mix: In a medium bowl, add the flour, sugar, salt and mix to blend. Then, transfer the flour mixture to the stand mixer bowl with the warm yeast and mix gently.
• Knead: Using a dough hook on speed 2 knead for about 7-10 min. The dough should start pulling away from the side of the bowl.
• Rise: Oil a glass bowl and your hands. Scrape the dough out of the mixing bowl and then shape it into a ball in your hands and place it in the oiled bowl. Over, and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until at least doubled in size

Creating This Amazing Pull Apart Bread

With all that extra richness, this star bread might take a bit longer to rise. No stress if it’s going slow! Just follow these steps, and you’ll see how easy this is.

Scald: Pour the milk into a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer over medium heat, stirring every so often. Turn off the heat, toss in the cubed butter, and stir until it’s fully melted. Pour this warm milk mix into a stand mixer bowl and let it cool to below 110°F.

Bloom: Once the milk mixture cools down a bit, add the yeast and stir it in. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to get all bubbly.

Mix: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add this mix to the stand mixer bowl with the warm yeast and stir it all together.

Knead: Using the dough hook, knead the dough on speed 2 for about 7–10 minutes until it starts pulling away from the sides.

Rise: Oil up a glass bowl and your hands, then scrape the dough out, shape it into a ball, and set it in the oiled bowl. Cover and let it rise in a warm spot for 1–2 hours, until it’s doubled in size.

Forming the Star

Cut: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, then divide it into 4 equal pieces and shape each into a ball.

Roll: Roll one of the dough balls into a circle about 9-10 inches wide. Place it on a piece of parchment paper, and spread 2 tablespoons of apple butter over the top.

Layer: Roll out the next dough ball to match the first one, lay it on top, and spread another 2 tablespoons of apple butter. Keep going like this with the 3rd and 4th dough balls. You’ll end up with 4 dough layers and 3 layers of apple butter in between.

Mark: Use the back of a round cookie cutter or cup to gently mark a 3-inch circle in the center. Then, cut the dough into 16 sections around that center, leaving the middle circle uncut.

Twist: Grab two sections, twist them away from each other, and pinch the ends to form a star point. Repeat until you’ve got 8 points for the star shape. Cover and let it rise for about 20 minutes.

Bake: Beat an egg with a tablespoon of milk, and brush it lightly over the star bread. Bake for around 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Christmas Star Bread: Pure Holiday Magic Recipes

Don’t sweat it! Making yeast bread might sound tough, but it’s really easy once you get the hang of it. If you want to practice first, check out some classics like Texas Roadhouse Rolls, quick cinnamon rolls, or Parker House Rolls. You’ll be adding star bread to your recipe lineup in no time, and it’ll wow everyone at the table!

• Yeast Options: I used instant yeast here, which you can skip activating if you want. If you’re using active yeast, though, mix it with the warm milk to get it working.
• Perfect Milk Temp: Make sure your milk is between 80-110°F—hotter will kill the yeast, and cooler won’t activate it. A thermometer is a good backup here!
• Quick Trick: If you’re not ready to make dough from scratch, you can use two loaves of frozen bread dough. Just thaw, divide each loaf in half, and roll out your four circles.
• Imperfect Circles are Fine: If your dough circles aren’t perfect, no worries! It’ll still look awesome and taste fantastic.
• Twist for Style: You really only need to twist each section twice to get that beautiful star shape!

Christmas Bread Variations

There are so many ways to fill this bread, but apple butter is one of my all-time faves. Its smooth, sweet richness with just the right amount of tart and spice is a total game-changer. But the possibilities? Endless!

• Cinnamon and sugar for that classic flavor
• Your go-to jam—think raspberry, strawberry, or apricot
• Nutella for that chocolatey, hazelnut goodness
• A zesty orange combo with butter, orange juice, zest, and sugar
• Cinnamon, nuts, and raisins for a cozy touch
• A glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to drizzle over the top instead of powdered sugar
• Turn it savory with pesto, tomato sauce, herbs, pepperoni, sausage, or cheese—get creative!

Storing Baked Star Bread

This bread is ridiculously good, and it’s even better as leftovers! Here’s how you can store it for later:

Room Temperature: Once your bread’s cooled down, pop it in an airtight container and keep it at room temp for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

Freeze: If you want to freeze it, go for it! After it’s cooled, wrap it up tight in plastic wrap, then foil it. Don’t forget to label it with the date! It’ll stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to dig in, just let it thaw at room temp and enjoy!

Pro Tips for Killer Star Bread

Recipe by umairCourse: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Serving

12

people

Prep time

45

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

15

minutes

Star Bread is a show-stopping, deliciously rich sweet bread that’ll have everyone talking. Perfect for holidays or any special occasion, this beautiful and irresistible bread is sure to steal the spotlight!

Ingredients Dough

• 1 cup whole milk

• 2 oz unsalted butter

• 2 tsp instant yeast

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• 1 tsp kosher salt

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• Extra flour for rolling out the dough

• Filling
  

• 6 tbsp apple butter

• Egg wash

• 1 large egg

• 1 tbsp milk

• Powdered sugar for a dusting

Directions

• Heat up the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring every now and then. Once it starts to simmer, turn off the heat and toss in the cubed butter, stirring until it melts all the way. Pour the hot milk and butter mix into a stand mixer bowl and let it cool down to below 110°F.
• Once it’s cool enough, mix in the instant yeast and let it sit for about 5 minutes to get nice and bubbly.
• In a separate bowl, add your flour, sugar, and salt. Give it a good stir to combine. Then, dump it into the bowl with your milk mixture and use the dough hook to knead it on speed 2 for about 7-10 minutes. The dough should start pulling away from the sides of the bowl.
• Coat a glass bowl and your hands with a little oil, then scrape the dough out and shape it into a ball. Toss it into the oiled bowl, cover it up, and let it rise for about 1-2 hours until it’s doubled in size.
• Once it’s ready, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and cut it into 4 equal pieces. Roll those into balls.
• Now, roll one of the dough balls into a 9-10 inch circle, and place it on a sheet of parchment paper. Spread 2 tbsp of apple butter over it. Roll out another dough ball to the same size, place it on top, and spread another 2 tbsp of apple butter. Repeat with the other two dough balls. You should have 4 layers of dough and 3 layers of apple butter.
• Grab a round cookie cutter or a cup, and use it to mark a 3-inch circle in the middle. Cut the dough into 16 sections, leaving the circle in the middle untouched.
• Take two of the sections and twist them apart, then press the ends together to form the points of your star. You should have 8 points. Cover it up and let it rise for about 20 minutes.
• Preheat your oven to 350°F.
• Mix 1 egg and 1 tbsp of milk to make your egg wash, then brush it lightly over the top of the bread. Bake it for about 30 minutes until it’s golden brown.
• Once it’s done, pull it out of the oven and let it cool on a wire rack. Dust it with powdered sugar before serving, and you’re good to go!