Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Stir the starter into the milk until dissolved, whisk in the egg and sugar, then add the flour and salt and knead 5 minutes by machine or 8 by hand.
- Knead in the dough butter a tablespoon at a time, then 6 to 8 minutes more until smooth and glossy.
- Cover and rise at 75 to 78°F (24 to 26°C) for 5 to 6 hours, until about 50% larger.
- Cover and refrigerate the dough for 8 to 12 hours.
- Rub the zest into the filling sugar, mix in the filling butter and the chopped cranberries, and divide into 3 portions.
- Divide into 4 pieces of about 210 g, roll each into a 10-inch round and stack them with filling between the layers, leaving the top round plain.
- Mark a 2½-inch center, cut 16 strips out to the edge, then twist each pair of neighboring strips away from each other twice and pinch into 8 points.
- Proof 1 to 2 hours until slightly puffy, brush with egg wash and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 22 to 28 minutes, until 190°F (88°C) in the center.
- Whisk the powdered sugar and orange juice, cool the star 15 minutes, then drizzle with the glaze.
Notes
This recipe is Research-backed and has not been through a Bake-Keeper kitchen test yet. The shaping follows the standard star bread method, with 4 stacked rounds cut into 16 strips and twisted into 8 points, on a sourdough timeline built around an overnight chill.
The twist is the step to slow down on. Two twists per pair is plenty, and every pair should twist in the same direction so the star looks even.
