Chocolate Spread Star Bread Recipe (Step by Step)

Chocolate Spread Star Bread looks beautiful and is deliciously indulgent. Although it might look complicated, it’s actually very easy to make the dough and shape it into a star. And you get to dig into this chocolatey heaven after! It’s perfect for Christmas or any other occasion.

Customise your star bread

I used Pan di Stelle spread but you can use Nutella or any chocolate spread that you like. You can switch it up and make it more festive by using a cranberry or raspberry jam and fresh fruit, or give it a warm spice kick with a cinnamon + sugar + butter mixture.As for the dough, it is the same sweet yeast dough that I use to make cinnamon rolls. If you prefer you can shape them into rolls, buns, or knots instead of a star.

How to make star bread – Step by step instructions

Roll 1 layer of the dough into a circle on parchment paper.
Spread a thick layer of chocolate spread. Repeat 3 times.
Make a dent with the edges of a plate and trim edges. Mark circle with a glass.
Slice into 4 triangles (leaving the circle whole), then 8 triangles, then 16 strips.
Grab 2 adjacent strips and twist in opposite directions (away from each other) twice.
Pinch edges together. Repeat all around until you have 8 points.
Let rest for 30 minutes covered in plastic wrap. Lightly brush the dough with egg whites.

The result is really pretty and super yummy. Chocolate star bread is the perfect treat to share with friends or family. Have some fun pulling at the edges and then the best part…the delicious ultra chocolatey centre is so good, it’s worth fighting over.

Ingredients

Sweet Yeast Dough

2 3/4 cups 00' flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp dry instant yeast
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 medium egg

Other

3/4 cup chocolate spread (Pan di Stelle, Nutella, or other)
1 egg white
Powdered sugar

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In a separate bowl, gently melt together the butter and milk. Once it's warm (not hot), pour into the dry ingredients and stir everything together. Add the vanilla and egg and use your hands to form into a dough. On a floured surface, knead and stretch gently for around 6 minutes. To test if the dough is ready, gently press with your fingertip. The dough should spring back.
Lightly oil a large glass bowl, place the dough inside and cover in plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. Let dough rise for around 1 1/2 hours. Once the dough has risen (around double its original size), punch it back down. Divide into 4 equal balls of dough (weigh to ensure they are equal) for 4 layers.
(Step by step photos below). Roll out one of the doughs thinly into a 25cm circle on parchment paper. Warm chocolate spread to an easily spreadable consistency and evenly spread a thick layer onto the dough. Roll out another 25cm circle of dough and repeat process until you have 4 layers of dough and 3 layers of spread in between.
Gently go over the dough with a rolling pin to combine layers together. Make a circular dent with the edges of a large plate and trim off the excess to create a neat circle. Make a smaller circle dent in the centre with an upside down glass.
Slice the dough into 4 equal triangles (as you would a pizza) but leaving the circle in the middle whole. Again slice each triangle in half and repeat until you have 16 strips all around the circle. Grab 2 adjacent strips and twist in opposite directions (away from each other) twice then pinch edges together. Repeat all around until you have 8 points.
Let rest for 30 minutes covered in plastic wrap or parchment. Pre-heat oven to 180°c. Lightly brush the dough with egg whites. Bake for around 12-15 minutes or until golden. Let cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy!

Notes

Storage: Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to a week.
Yeast: To check if your yeast is still ok, simply mix 1 tsp of yeast, 1/2 tsp of sugar and 2 tbsp of warm water and set aside for 10 minutes. If it bubbles, it means it is still active.
Filling: Instead of chocolate spread, you can also fill the bread with jam and fruit or a cinnamon roll spread (butter, sugar, and cinnamon). For added crunch, you can also add crushed cookies.
Dough: This recipe is for a sweet yeast dough, which is the same one I use to make cinnamon rolls. If you prefer you can shape into rolls instead of a star.
Shaping: You can find step by step photos below. Scroll to the top of the blog post to find simplified instructions to go along with the photos on how to shape the star bread.

Chocolate Spread Star Bread Recipe (Step by Step) - The Sweet Balance (9)

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Chocolate Spread Star Bread Recipe (Step by Step) - The Sweet Balance (2024)

FAQs

Do you put Nutella on bread or toast? ›

Yet, somewhat contradictorily (and unlike the banana and Nutella sandwich, below), eating Nutella plain on untoasted white sliced creates a juvenile, sweet, gummy mouthful that quickly gets nauseating. Toasted white bread is much better. Toasting dials down the bread's sweetness, gives it a tempering, savoury edge.

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What is the best bread for Nutella? ›

Brioche or Challah: An egg-based soft bread like brioche or challah toasts beautifully and is an excellent choice for creating your tartine Nutella. Mini baguette slices: I found sliced sweet baguette at a local grocery and thought they would be perfect, allowing me to create and taste lots of different toppings.

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How do you eat bread with Nutella? ›

Directions. Slice the bread and toast in oven or toaster. Spread desired amount of Nutella spread and serve while toast are still warm.

What is the best thing to put Nutella on? ›

There are endless ways to enjoy Nutella, but some of our favorites include on toast, in oatmeal, as a dip for fresh fruit, and in crepes. No matter how you enjoy it, there's no doubt that Nutella is delicious.

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What are you supposed to eat Nutella with? ›

Here are some popular ideas for using Nutella: Spread on fruits such as bananas, strawberries, or apples for a delicious and healthy snack. Mix Nutella with cream cheese or Greek yogurt for a tasty dip or topping for pancakes or waffles. Use Nutella as a filling for cakes, pastries, or crepes.

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Do you toast a Nutella sandwich? ›

Grill the bread until toasted 2 minutes per side. Spread the Nutella over one piece of grilled bread and top with second piece of toast. The directions do not state to add butter to grille the bread but I did put a thin layer of butter on the bread to grille it.

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What is good to eat Nutella on? ›

spread it on toast usually, peanut butter and Nutella sandwich(very lightly toasted bread to give it support while spreading it) or a Nutella and Fluff sandwich with the same method of bread use. Dip animal crackers or marshmallows in it. Spread on cookies, you can bake with it as well.

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Chocolate Spread Star Bread Recipe (Step by Step) - The Sweet Balance (2024)