Ingredients
DOUGH
7 g fast action dried yeast
275 ml whole milk, warm
50 g unsalted butter, melted
80 g caster sugar
1 egg, medium
1 tsp Taylor & Colledge Vanilla Paste
500 g plain flour
FILLING
250 g cream cheese
100 g caster sugar
2 tbsp Taylor & Colledge Vanilla Paste
1 egg, medium
COATING
1 egg, medium
1 tbsp whole milk
DECORATION
Pomegranate seeds, icing sugar
Instructions
Step 1: Lets make your own vanilla star bread. Combine warm milk and yeast in a mixing bowl. Leave to stand until very foamy, about 10 minutes.
Step 2: Add the melted butter, sugar, egg, vanilla paste and flour. Mix on a low speed using the dough hook. Increase speed to medium-low, and continue kneading until a sticky and elastic dough is formed, about 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 3: Cover and leave to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Step 4: To make the filling beat the cream cheese and caster sugar in a bowl until the sugar has dissolved. Add vanilla paste and egg and mix until combined.
Step 5: Once risen, place the dough onto a floured surface and cut into 4 equal pieces and shape into balls.
Step 6: Roll out one ball into a 28 cm circle. Place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Add two tbsp of filling onto the dough and spread thinly.
Step 7: Roll another dough ball out the same size and place on top of the first. Top with two tbsp filling.
Step 8: Repeat with the other 2 balls of dough.
Step 9: Mark a 7 cm circle in the middle of the dough circle with the back of a round cookie cutter or a cup.
Step 10: With a very sharp knife, cut the dough into quartes leaving the circle in the middle untouched.
Step 11: Cut each quarter in half, and then each of those in half again. (You should end up with 16 little triangles connected at the center.)
Step 12: Take two dough strips and twist them 3 times away from each other.
Step 13: Press the end together to form the star point. Repeat with the remaining dough. You should end up with 8-star points.
Step 14: Cover and leave to rise for about 20 minutes.
Step 15: Preheat the oven to 180 °C /160°C fan/ gas mark 4
Step 16: Beat 1 egg with a tablespoon of milk. Brush over the top of the star bread and bake for 30 minutes until golden brown.
Step 17: Decorate your vanilla star bread with a dusting of icing sugar and pomegranate seeds before serving it warm or let cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 30 min.
- Resting Time: 90 min.
- Cook Time: 30 min.