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Almond Star Bread is a stunning piece of soft, tasty bread filled with sweet almond paste filling. This start shaped bread is a grand piece but it will be gone pretty fast!
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Almond Star Bread

Not a regular Almond bread, this stunning piece of soft, tasty star bread is filled with sweet almond paste filling. It is a grand piece but it will be gone fast!
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine Western
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 16 servings
Calories 204kcal
Author sanna

Ingredients

For the Bread

  • 1/4 cup warm water 110-115 F
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 3/4 cup warm milk 110-115 F
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 and 1/4 cups to 3 and 3/4 all purpose flour

For the Almond Filling

  • 1 cup ground almonds
  • 1/2 cup icing sugar
  • 2 tbsp softened butter
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • 1 large egg white beaten

For Finishing

  • melted butter for brushing on the baked bread
  • sugar for sprinkling on top

Instructions

  • In a small bowl dissolve the yeast in warm water and let stand for about 5 minutes, or until foamy. In a large bowl, combine milk, butter, sugar, egg, and salt. Add the yeast mixture and 3 cups of the flour. Use a wooden spoon to stir the ingredients until everything is incorporated. 
  • Add enough of the remaining flour just until the mixture is cleaning the sides of the bowl and is gathered in the center, forming a soft dough.
  • Turn dough over onto a floured surface and knead for 6-8 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Place dough in a bowl, cover it with a clean towel and let rise n a warm place for 1 hour.
  • Punch the dough down.  Divide it into 4 equal portions. On a floured board, roll one portion into an 11-inch circle and place it on a 14-inch pizza pan that is lined with parchment paper. Spread 1/3 of the almond filling to the surface of the circle but leave about an inch of border on the edges. Roll a second portion into an 11-inch circle and place it on top of the first circle, covering the almond filling. Repeat the steps by spreading 1/3  of the almond filling again, topping it with another circle, spreading all the remaining filling and finishing everything with a bare circle of dough (the fourth one) on top. You can pass the rolling pin a few times to even the edges of the circles.
  • Place a 2 and 1/2 inch cutter on the center of the circle. Do not press it down. cut 16 equal strips starting from the cutter down to the edge of the circle.  remove the cutter. Now using your fingers, grab two adjacent strips and rotate them twice away from each other's direction, then pinch the edges together.
  • Cover the star dough loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let rise for about 30 minutes, until puffy. Preheat oven to 375 F. Bake for  18-22 minutes or until the surface is lightly golden. Brush bread with melted butter and then sprinkle with sugar,  if desired.

To Make the Almond Filling

  • Combine ground almonds, sugar and melted butter in the bowl of stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until combined and add the almond extract and the beaten egg white. Transfer paste to a container and store in the fridge until ready to be used. This can be stored up for up to two days in advance.

Notes

Preparation time does not include rising times.
Dough recipe adapted from Taste of Home

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 172mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 170IU | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1.4mg