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Almond Star Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 50 reviews

This Almond Star Bread is a beautifully layered, twisted bread featuring a rich almond paste filling and a crunchy slivered almond topping. Perfect as a festive centerpiece or a delightful treat, this soft and buttery bread combines the sweetness of almond and brown sugar with a light, fluffy texture, baked to golden perfection.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 1 cup warm milk
  • 1 tablespoon instant dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons softened salted butter
  • 1 egg
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

Almond Filling

  • 1/2 cup almond paste (softened)
  • 1/4 cup softened butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

Topping

  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds

Instructions

  1. Prepare Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine warm milk, instant dry yeast, granulated sugar, salt, softened salted butter, and whole egg. Mix briefly to combine.
  2. Add Flour and Knead: Gradually add all-purpose flour while mixing with a dough hook on low speed. Once flour starts incorporating, increase to medium speed, adding more flour as needed until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and feels soft and tacky but not sticky to the hands.
  3. First Rise: Transfer the dough to a lightly greased mixing bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
  4. Divide and Roll Dough: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a large circle roughly the size of your baking sheet.
  5. Layer and Fill: Place one dough circle onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread one-third of the almond filling mixture (almond paste, softened butter, and brown sugar combined) evenly, leaving a 1/4 inch border around the edge. Repeat layering with the second and third circles with filling. Place the fourth circle on top plain.
  6. Cut and Twist: Mark the center of the layered dough stack using a small bowl or by eye, then cut 16 equal strips from the edge toward the center circle, leaving the small center intact. Take two adjacent strips, twist them in opposite directions 2-3 times, and pinch the ends together to seal. Repeat this twisting with all strips to form a star shape.
  7. Apply Egg Wash and Add Topping: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg white and water. Brush the surface of the shaped bread with the egg wash. Sprinkle slivered almonds evenly over the top for a crunchy finishing touch.
  8. Bake: Bake immediately in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. No additional rising time is needed before baking.
  9. Cool and Serve: Allow the bread to cool completely on a wire rack. Serve plain, dusted with powdered sugar, or frosted as desired.

Notes

  • Ensure the milk is warm but not hot to activate the yeast properly without killing it.
  • Adding flour should be done gradually; the dough should be soft and tacky but not overly sticky.
  • The almond filling can be varied by adding a few drops of almond extract for more intense flavor.
  • Use room temperature eggs and butter to ensure better dough incorporation.
  • The bread freezes well once baked; thaw at room temperature before serving.

Keywords: almond star bread, twisted bread, almond paste bread, sweet bread recipe, festive bread

Find it online: https://platedandproud.com/almond-star-bread-recipe/