Brown Sugar and Chai Spiced Star Bread with Maple Glaze

I’ve always loved these kind of breads but was intimidated to make them. Thinking it would take forever to make and be really intricate. But it’s actually so easy. If you own a pizza cutter you can make it. It’s just layers of dough with brown sugar and chai spices and then cut and twisted together. It’s like a mix between a cinnamon roll and a pull apart bread. The center is so fluffy and buttery with a perfect amount of sugar and spice. It’s really perfect for any Sunday morning breakfast or small gathering.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp. dry active yeast
• 3 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup whole milk, warm
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 2 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground cardamom
• 1 tsp. all spice
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. fresh grated nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• pinch of black pepper
• egg wash

Maple Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup maple syrup

Directions

In a large stand mixer mix together the dry active yeast, granulated sugar and warm milk. Let it sit until the yeast gets foamy about 5 minutes.

Then add in the softened butter, egg, flour and salt. Mix on low until the dough starts to come together. Then dump it out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until it’s a smooth ball. Place back into a greased bowl, cover with a towel and let rise in a warm spot for about 1-2 hours until it’s doubled in size.

While the dough is rising mix together the chai spice in a small bowl, the cinnamon, cardamom, all-spice, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.

Once the dough is ready preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Punch the dough down and cut into four pieces. Working on a floured piece of parchment, roll each into a ball, then use a rolling pin to roll each one out to about 10 inch circle, 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle a 1/3 of the brown sugar and a little of the chai spice onto the first layer of dough, place another circle on top. Then repeat a layer of dough with the brown sugar and chai spice. Ending with the top layer of dough. It should be a nice round layered circle.

Take a 3 inch circle and place in the center, making the center of the star. Now using the pizza cutter, cut 16 even strips. Using both hands grab 2 strips and twist them away from each other twice then press the ends together to make the point. The star bread will make 8 points. Brush the bread with egg wash. Slide the parchment onto a baking pan and bake for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

To make the glaze just whisk together the powdered sugar and maple syrup until smooth and then drizzle over the warm star bread. Pull apart and eat it warm. It will keep on the counter for about 1-2 days and in the fridge for 4-5 days covered. Enjoy!!