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Soft and fluffy Star Bread with a sweet and sticky brown sugar cinnamon roll center is the ultimate holiday showstopper! Shaped like a beautiful star, this golden pull-apart bread looks just as impressive on the table as it tastes. Whether you call it Christmas Star Bread or Cinnamon Star Bread, this treat is buttery, festive, and guaranteed to melt in your mouth. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, this homemade star bread recipe will make your celebrations extra special.
What Makes This Star Bread Work
This Star Bread recipe is all about creating the perfect balance of beauty and flavor. The soft, enriched dough bakes up pillowy and golden, while the layers of buttery cinnamon sugar filling give every pull-apart piece a warm, spiced sweetness. It’s a bread that looks like it took hours of effort, but the shaping process is surprisingly simple once you get the hang of it.
Another reason this bread shines is its versatility. You can keep it classic as a cinnamon star bread, or change things up with Nutella, fruit preserves, or even a savory filling. And since it doubles as a stunning centerpiece, this Christmas star bread doesn’t just taste amazing; it also brings a festive touch to any table. It’s the kind of recipe that makes both the baker and the guests feel a little extra special.
What Goes Into Star Bread
This Star Bread recipe keeps things simple, using pantry staples to create a soft, pillowy dough with a rich buttery filling. Here are the key ingredients that make it work:
- Bread Flour: Provides strength and structure, giving the bread its light and fluffy texture while holding the star shape beautifully.
- Egg Yolks: Add richness and tenderness to the dough, helping it bake up soft and golden.
- Brown Sugar: Creates that sweet, sticky filling we love in a classic cinnamon star bread, melting into the layers as it bakes.
- Ground Cinnamon: The star of the filling, this warm spice adds festive flavor and makes this bread perfect as a Christmas star bread.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
How To Make Star Bread
- Activate Yeast: Warm 200 ml milk with the butter to 110°F or 45°C (warm to the touch). Stir in the yeast and let stand 10 minutes until frothy.
- Make Dough: In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Create a well, add the yeast mixture, egg yolks, and vanilla, then mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead Smooth: Knead by hand 10–12 minutes until soft. If dough feels dry, warm the extra milk and add half at a time; stand mixer option: mix 5 minutes on medium.
- First Rise: Lightly oil a large bowl, add the dough, turn to coat, and cover. Let rise in a warm spot 2–3 hours until doubled (an indentation should slowly spring back).
- Prep Pan & Filling: Punch down the dough, cover, and rest 30 minutes. Line a baking sheet with parchment; soften butter and mix brown sugar with cinnamon for the filling.
- Roll Base: Divide dough into 4 pieces; roll one to a 12 inch or 30 cm circle and trim using a plate. Transfer to the sheet and spread with one third of the butter and cinnamon sugar.
- Layer & Shape: Roll and stack the remaining circles, spreading filling between layers and leaving the top bare. Lightly mark a center ring with a small cup, cut into 16 strips, twist pairs away twice, and pinch tips to form a star.
- Final Proof & Bake: Cover loosely with a damp towel and rest 30 minutes. Brush with beaten egg whites, bake at 350°F or 175°C for about 20 minutes until golden, then dust with powdered sugar and a little cinnamon; serve warm.
When it comes to pairing, this Star Bread recipe deserves accompaniments that feel just as festive. Try it with Nutella Stuffed Salted Caramel Blondies, where the gooey center and caramel sweetness complement the spiced bread without overpowering it. For a playful twist, Nutella Stuffed Cinnamon Sugar Donut Pancakes bring fun, indulgent layers of flavor that echo the cinnamon filling in the bread. And if you want something classic yet decadent, an Apple Pie Deep Dish Skillet Cookie adds warm apple-cinnamon notes and a chewy bite that makes every pull-apart piece even more irresistible.
Recipe FAQ’s
A simple mix of softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon is classic. But you can also try Nutella, fruit preserves, or even a savory cheese-and-herb filling for something different.
Usually, it’s because the yeast wasn’t activated correctly or the resting environment was too cold. Make sure the milk is warm (not hot) and give the dough enough time in a cozy, draft-free spot.
Use a plate or cake pan as a guide when trimming your dough circles. Then, cut evenly into 16 strips and twist each pair away from each other twice before pinching the ends together.
Star Christmas Bread
Ingredients
BREAD:
- 200 ml milk plus 50ml extra only if needed
- 1 oz butter 1 1/2 tablespoons
- 1/4 oz instant yeast 1 envelope or 2 1/4 teaspoon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 16 oz bread flour plain or all-purpose flour are fine to use
- 2.5 oz white granulated sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 large egg yolks refrigerate the whites for brushing
FILLING:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
BREAD:
- Heat 200ml of milk and butter together in a microwave or saucepan until temperature reaches 110°F or 45°C (warm to the touch). Add the yeast and let stand for 10 minutes, until frothy on top.
- While yeast is activating, combine flour, sugar and salt in a separate bowl.
- Create a well in the centre of the flour. Add the yeast mixture, egg yolks and vanilla into the well. Mix into the flour until combined.
- Knead by hand for 10-12 minutes until dough is soft and elastic. If the dough is too dry: warm up the extra milk, create a well in the dough and add in half of the milk. Knead and if you still feel it’s still too dry, add in the remaining amount of milk.FOR A STAND MIXER: Mix for 5 minutes on medium speed until dough is soft and elastic.
RISE:
- Lightly oil a large bowl with a pastry brush or your fingertips. Place dough into bowl, turning once to coat in the oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set in a warm place for about 2-3 hours, or until doubled in size.(To check if dough is ready, gently press two fingers into dough. If an indentation remains, dough has not risen enough.)
- Punch dough down, cover and let rest for an additional 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
- While dough is rising, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
PREPARE FILLING:
- Get your butter ready, make sure it is softened and spreadable. Then, in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
DIVIDE INTO STRANDS:
- When dough is ready, divide the dough into 4 pieces. Lightly flour a clean work surface and use a rolling pin to roll one ball out into a 12 inch/30 cm disc.
- Place a plate on top and cut away any excess dough around the plate with a sharp knife. Remove the plate. Place dough disc onto prepared baking sheet.
LAYER:
- Spread dough with 1/3 of the softened butter and 1/3 of the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture. This is your bottom layer (the base).
- Roll out the second ball of dough, like above, and place on top of the bottom layer. Spread with 1/3 of the butter and brown sugar/cinnamon mixture.Repeat with the rest of the dough, layering each with butter/sugar/cinnamon. (The top dough will not have any butter or brown sugar/cinnamon on it.)
SHAPE INTO A FLOWER/STAR:
- Place a small cup in the middle of the layered dough and very lightly mark a ring in the centre to use as a guide.
- Cut the dough first with four lines: 3 o’clock, 6o’clock, 9o’clock and 12 o’clock. Cut each quarter into 2 pieces, then cut each of those into 2 pieces so you end up with 16 strands connected to the middle circle.
- Take 2 strands that are side-by-side and twist them away from each other two times. Connect the two strands at the end, pinching the ends together to form a point. Do this with all of the strands and create a star flower!
- Cover star bread loosely with a damp cloth or towel and let rest one more time for 30 minutes.
BAKE:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Beat egg whites leftover from the yolk and brush whites evenly over the surface of the bread.
- Bake bread for 20 minutes or until lightly browned and golden.
- Decorate with powdered sugar (confectioners sugar or icing sugar), and a little ground cinnamon.Serve warm!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I tried this recipe and it came out perfect! Brilliant piece of bread to look at and absolutely delicious!! Am super proud. Thank you for this recipe. I wish I could post a picture.
I was wondering if the bread can be made with a egg and milk free dough?
Could you add in apples for a “twist” on it?
Recipe worked wonders! I’ve never made one and felt inspired to bake something festive and outside my comfort zone. Turned out perfect and delicious. Can’t wait to make different fillings with this.
Wondering if you can make the dough, or the whole star, ahead and freeze?
Dear Karina,
This was the first recipe I’ve tried from your website to make it. It turned out beautiful and delicious.
Can’t wait to try othere recipes.
Thank you for the detailed recipe.
Sheida
This looks so good! I usually make cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning and do it the night before, refrigerate, proof in the oven with hot water, etc. I’m wondering if I could freeze this BEFORE the bake step, like make it up to the point where the star is twisted/made, then frozen for a few days, thawed overnight in the fridge and then proceed on with the proofing in the oven step? Just wondering because usually when I’m making something like this it’s for guests and I would love to get things done in advance so I can enjoy my guests while at the same time spoiling them!
Did this work because i am wondering the same thing now haha 🙂
Hi Karina! I made this today for My Son’s girlfriend who arrived early this morning from San Francisco. It was a huge hit. I will be making this again! Thank you!!!?
You’re most welcome Halima!
Karina,
I just want to clarify, because I was a little unsure fromm a couple of your replies to comments above regarding preparing this ahead of time. Am I right in thinking that there are two options for how much you leave to do for the day of:
1. Assembly and baking. (All other steps except for assembly and baking completed a day or 2 previously and refrigerated.)
2. Just baking. (Assembly completed beforehand , refrigerated, and on the day you want to serve it, you let it sit out for 30 minutes before baking.)
Hi Therese! Yes that’s correct.
Hi Karina,
Can’twait to make this with my step granddaughter she asked me to make this. Everyone input helped to answer my question in re: if it can be made day before and baked the next day thank you for great recipes
This looks great! I look forward to making it.
I’m considering adding currents and chopped walnuts to the filling. Not traditional, I realize–but do you think it would work? I assume the nuts would have to be chopped small so the star points would twist properly.
Hi Tom. Absolutely yes! Crushed nuts and chopped currents would work really well and taste amazing mixed through the brown sugar syrup! You should have no problem twisting it. Please let me know hoe you go!