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Cranberry orange sourdough star bread

Cranberry Orange Sourdough Star Bread

A naturally leavened enriched sourdough layered with orange sugar and dried cranberries, twisted into an eight-point star and finished with an orange glaze.
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 25 minutes
Rise and Chill Time 15 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 16 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 16 pieces
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 210

Ingredients
  

  • 100 g (about ½ cup) active sourdough starter, 100% hydration
  • 190 g (about ¾ cup) whole milk, lukewarm
  • 50 g (1 large) egg
  • 40 g (about 3 tablespoons) granulated sugar, for the dough
  • 400 g (about 3⅓ cups) bread flour
  • 7 g (about 1¼ teaspoons) fine salt
  • 50 g (3½ tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened, for the dough
  • 40 g (about 3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened, for the filling
  • 50 g (¼ cup) granulated sugar, for the filling
  • 6 g (from 1 large orange) orange zest
  • 75 g (about ½ cup) dried cranberries, finely chopped
  • 50 g (1 large) egg, beaten, for the wash
  • 60 g (½ cup) powdered sugar, for the glaze
  • 15 g (1 tablespoon) orange juice, for the glaze

Equipment

  • Kitchen scale
  • Stand mixer or large mixing bowl
  • Rolling Pin
  • Pizza cutter or sharp knife
  • Small round glass or cutter, 2½ inches (6 cm)
  • Baking sheet and parchment paper
  • Instant-read thermometer
  • Pastry brush

Method
 

  1. 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.
  2. Knead in the dough butter a tablespoon at a time, then 6 to 8 minutes more until smooth and glossy.
  3. Cover and rise at 75 to 78°F (24 to 26°C) for 5 to 6 hours, until about 50% larger.
  4. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 8 to 12 hours.
  5. Rub the zest into the filling sugar, mix in the filling butter and the chopped cranberries, and divide into 3 portions.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.