Christmas Star Bread 3 Ways

Christmas Star Bread 3 Ways

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A festive sourdough brioche centerpiece for your holiday table

There’s something magical about pulling a star-shaped loaf of bread out of the oven at Christmas. It looks intricate and impressive, but the truth is — once you know the method, it’s surprisingly simple.

This Christmas Star Bread 3 Ways starts with a rich, buttery sourdough brioche dough, then branches into three irresistible versions:

  1. Classic Cinnamon Star Bread
  2. Chocolate Swirl Star Bread
  3. Double Chocolate Cherry Star Bread

Soft layers, beautiful twists, and flavors that feel truly festive — this is the kind of bread that becomes a holiday tradition.

Base Sourdough Brioche Dough (For Star Bread)

This dough is rich, soft, and flexible — perfect for shaping.

Ingredients

  • 500 g bread flour
  • 100 g active sourdough starter (100% hydration, bubbly)
  • 120 g whole milk, room temperature
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 100 g granulated sugar
  • 10 g fine sea salt
  • 170 g unsalted butter, very soft

Mixing

  1. Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl or stand mixer.
  2. Add sourdough starter, milk, and eggs. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
  3. Cover and rest 30 minutes.
  4. Add butter one tablespoon at a time, fully incorporating before adding more.
  5. Knead until the dough is smooth, elastic, and passes the windowpane test

    Mixer: 8–12 minutes
    By hand: 15–18 minutes

Bulk Fermentation

  • Cover and ferment at 70–74°F for 4–6 hours until slightly puffy.
  • Refrigerate overnight (highly recommended).

Chocolate Sourdough Brioche Dough (For Chocolate Stars)

Ingredients

  • 440 g bread flour
  • 60 g Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 100 g active sourdough starter
  • 120 g whole milk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 120 g granulated sugar
  • 10 g fine sea salt
  • 170 g unsalted butter, very soft

Instructions

Follow the same method as the base brioche dough, whisking the cocoa powder into the flour before adding wet ingredients.

🍥 Cinnamon Swirl Filling

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 10 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, very soft
  • 130 g brown sugar

Instructions

Cream butter and brown sugar until smooth, then mix in cinnamon and nutmeg to form a thick, spreadable paste.

🍫 Chocolate Swirl Filling

Ingredients

  • 78 g unsalted butter, very soft
  • 65 g powdered sugar
  • 45 g Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 1¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of fine sea salt
  • Optional: 40–50 g mini chocolate chips

Instructions

Mix all ingredients into a smooth, spreadable chocolate paste. Fold in chocolate chips if using.

🍒 Double Chocolate Cherry Star Bread (Extra Note)

For the double chocolate version:

  • Use chocolate brioche dough
  • Spread with chocolate swirl filling
  • Sprinkle dried cherries evenly over the filling of the middle layer before layering the next dough round

The cherries add just the right pop of sweetness and make this version especially festive.

How to Shape Christmas Star Bread

Shaping star bread looks impressive, but it’s actually very approachable — and forgiving. The twists hide any imperfections beautifully.

What You’ll Need

  • Rolled dough rounds
  • Your chosen filling
  • A small jar or glass
  • A sharp knife

Step-by-Step Star Shaping

  1. Divide your dough into 4 equal pieces.
    Roll each piece into a circle about 10 inches wide.
  2. Layer the dough.
    Place one dough circle on parchment. Spread filling evenly, leaving a small border around the edge.
    Add the next dough circle and repeat.
    Finish with the final dough circle on top (no filling on the top layer).
  3. Mark the center.
    Place a small jar or glass gently in the middle of the stacked dough. This keeps the center intact.
  4. Cut the star.
    Using a sharp knife:
    Cut the dough into quarters
    Cut each quarter in half to make 8 sections
    Cut each section in half again to make 16 strips
  5. Twist the points.
    Take two strips next to each other.
    Twist them away from each other twice, then pinch the ends together to form one point of the star.

  1. Repeat all the way around.
    Continue twisting and pinching until all 8 star points are formed.
  2. Final proof.
    Cover loosely and proof at room temperature until puffy and slightly jiggly.

🔥 Baking

  • Brush gently with egg wash (1 egg + 1 Tbsp milk)
  • Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes
  • Tent loosely if browning too quickly

✨ A True Holiday Showpiece

Whether you choose cinnamon, chocolate, or double chocolate cherry, this Christmas Star Bread is meant to be shared — torn apart at the table, enjoyed warm, and remembered long after the holidays are over.

DOWNLOAD the Recipe HERE

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Want More Seasonal Sourdough Magic?

If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out these other fall favorites on the blog:

Pumpkin Pie Sourdough with Brown Sugar Pecan Filling

Maple Pecan Swirl Sourdough

Savory Sage & Cheddar Sourdough

And don’t forget — I’ve put together everything you need to bake amazing sourdough bread all in one place.

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