Ease of preparation: Medium
Yield: 1 star bread
Ingredients:
Bread
2 teaspoons (10 ml) dry active yeast
¼ cup (60 ml) warm water + more if needed
¼ cup (60 ml) sugar
2/3 cup (160 ml) warm milk
3 tablespoons (45 ml) unsalted butter, room temperature + more for greasing
½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
2 cups (480 ml) flour
1/3 cup (80 ml) potato flour
Filling
¼ cup (60 ml) sugar
¼ cup (60 ml) brown sugar
2 teaspoons (10 ml) cinnamon
1 apple, peeled, cored, and diced
¼ cup (60 ml) chopped pecans
1 egg, beaten, for egg wash
Maple dip
1 cup (240 ml) icing sugar
2 tablespoons (30 ml) maple syrup
1 tablespoon (15 ml) milk
Method:
Let’s get baking!
To make the bread, in a bowl, combine yeast with warm water and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Let sit until it becomes frothy.
Add milk, butter, salt, remaining sugar and mix in. Add flour and potato flour and continue mixing. Add more water if needed – the dough should come together and be smooth.
Grease a bowl with butter and add dough. Cover and let rest 1 hour or until doubled in size.
To make the filling, in a small bowl, mix together sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, apple pieces, and pecan pieces.
Break the dough into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece out into a large round. Place one round on a piece of parchment paper. Brush the round with egg wash. Spoon ½ the filling on top and spread evenly to cover.
Place another round on top. Brush with egg wash. Spoon remaining filling onto it and spread evenly to cover.
Place the last round on top.
Place a round cookie cutter or inverted tea cup in the centre of the dough – do not press in. Cut 16 equal strips from the cookie cutter to the edge of the dough.
Remove the cookie cutter.
Pick up 2 strips and twist them away from each other, turning the strips completely around twice to form a spiral. Repeat for all strips
Squeeze the ends of two strips together. Repeat until you have 8 pairs.
Carefully lift up the parchment paper and place it on a baking sheet. Brush strips with egg wash and allow to rise for 15 minutes.
Once risen, bake at 375 F (190 C) for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and let cool until just warm.
To make the maple dip, whisk together icing sugar, maple syrup, and milk. Pour into a small bowl and serve with star bread for dipping.