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A beautiful, golden-brown baked Christmas star bread filled with chocolate hazelnut spread, heavily dusted with powdered sugar, and served on crinkled parchment paper next to a festive teacup.

Festive Nutella Christmas Star Bread

A stunning, pull-apart holiday star bread featuring four layers of soft, enriched yeast dough filled with rich Nutella and dusted with powdered sugar.

Equipment

  • Stand mixer or mixing bowls
  • Greased pizza pan
  • Pizza Cutter
  • 2-3 inch round lid

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pkg active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 1 large egg room temp
  • 3/4 cup warm milk
  • 1/4 cup soft butter
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 to 3 3/4 cups flour divided
  • 3/4 cup Nutella or fruit jam
  • Melted butter for brushing
  • Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, combine the 1 pkg yeast and 1/4 cup warm water. Let it dissolve until foamy.
  • In a large bowl, combine the 1 egg, 3/4 cup warm milk, 1/4 cup soft butter, 1 tsp salt, and 3 cups of flour.
  • Beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
  • Stir in more flour (1/4 to 3/4 cup) until a soft dough forms.
  • Turn onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.
  • Place in a greased bowl, turning the dough once to grease the top. Cover and let rise until double (about 1 hr). Tip: Place on a heating pad on low.
  • Punch down the dough and divide into 4 equal portions.
  • Roll 1 portion into a 12-inch circle. Place on a greased pizza pan and spread with 1/4 cup of Nutella or jam, leaving a 1/2 inch border.
  • Repeat 2 more times with dough and filling. Place the final 4th plain portion of dough on top.
  • Place a 2-3 inch round lid in the middle of the dough. Using a pizza cutter, make 16 equal cuts around the dough from the lid to the edge. Remove the lid.
  • Take 2 adjacent strips and rotate them outward (away from each other) for 2 complete turns. Pinch the ends together. Repeat with remaining strips to form 8 star points.
  • Cover and let rise about 30-40 minutes.
  • Bake at 375°F for 18-22 minutes until a nice gold brown. Keep an eye out for any dripping during the last 5-7 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and lightly brush with melted butter, careful to avoid areas with Nutella or jam.
  • Cool completely, then dust with powdered sugar.

Notes

Ensure your liquids are warm, not hot, so you don't kill the yeast.
Let the bread cool completely before adding powdered sugar, or the sugar will melt.