Easy Sourdough Cranberry Orange Star Bread Recipe

Cranberry Orange Sourdough Star Bread is a festive treat featuring a fluffy sourdough star filled with a delightful homemade orange cranberry sauce, creating a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. The decorative star shape is dusted with confectioner’s sugar, adding a visually stunning touch to this holiday-inspired baked delight.

During the Holiday Season, indulge in the joy of Christmas Morning with a delicious Cranberry Orange Sourdough Star. This great recipe, crafted with simple ingredients and an active sourdough starter, not only promises sweet, gut-healthy benefits but also captures the essence of this festive time of year!

Each layer of the star reveals a burst of flavor from a homemade cranberry orange sauce, featuring the tartness of cranberries and the warmth of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg – the perfect combination for this special time of year.

Though the design may seem complex, creating this star is surprisingly simple, making it an ideal choice for seasonal baking. This showstopping dessert, topped with confectioner’s sugar for a snowy finish, is perfect for sharing during holiday gatherings. 

Picture the joy on Christmas Morning as you present this edible work of art, complemented by a citrusy orange glaze that adds a zesty twist to the sweetness. Elevate your festivities with the Cranberry Orange Sourdough Star – a great recipe that embodies the spirit of the Holiday Season.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Festive

Sweet bread swirled with homemade cranberry sauce with hints of citrusy orange is the perfect holiday flavor combination for all of your holiday cravings. Shape it into a decorative star shape and dust it with powdered sugar for a magical presentation. 

Shareable

This Sourdough Cranberry Orange Star Bread is a perfect sweet treat for you and your guests. Easily tear off a part of the star and share it with your whole party. 

Visually Stunning

There’s no debate about it, this Cranberry Orange Bread is just stunning to look at! Almost too pretty to eat…well almost!

Versatile

Cranberry Orange isn’t the only filling option for this Sourodugh Star recipe. You can easily swap out this homemade jam for jams like raspberry, strawberry, or more. More of a chocolate fan? You can also use chocolate hazelnut spread for a chocolate lover’s dream! Or spread butter on each layer and then dust with cinnamon sugar for another delicious option.

Ingredients

Sourdough Star Bread

All-Purpose Flour

Active Sourdough Starter

Milk

Sugar

Salt

Eggs

Butter

Vanilla Extract

Egg Wash

Homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce

Fresh Cranberries

Sugar

Fresh Orange Juice

Spices – Ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, and ground ginger provide the perfect festive flavor profile for this homemade cranberry sauce, but you can also add ground cloves or allspice to your liking. 

Supplies

Stant Mixer

Large Mixing Bowls

Baking Sheet

Parchment Paper

Rolling Pin

10″ Bowl

3″ Bowl

Sharp Knife or Dough Scraper

Cooling Rack

Immersion Blender

SAMPLE BAKER’S SCHEDULE 1 –

Day 1

8 am – Mix dough

8:15 am – Knead dough

8:30 am – Continue bulk fermentation at room temperature

* Make filling while dough rises *

8:30 pm – Shape, cover and place in fridge overnight

Day 2

6 am – Remove from the fridge for second rise

10:00 am – Bake

** This schedule is made for a 68-70 degree environment. Higher temperatures will quicken the process. Lower will lengthen the process.

SAMPLE BAKER’S SCHEDULE 2 –

Day 1

6 pm – Mix dough

6:15 pm – Knead dough

6:30 pm – Continue bulk fermentation at room temperature

* Make filling while dough rises *

Day 2

6 am – Shape & second rise

8 am – Bake

** This schedule is made for a 68-70 degree environment. Higher temperatures will quicken the process. Lower will lengthen the process.

How to Make Cranberry Orange Sourdough Star Bread

Make the Dough

In a stand mixer with paddle attachment, mix the room-temperature milk and sugar until all of the sugar is dissolved. Add the active starter, room-temperature eggs, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until combined.

Then, add the flour and mix on medium speed until a dough forms. Leave to rest for 15 minutes.

Switch the paddle attachment to the dough hook. Knead the dough on medium speed while adding bits of the butter to the bowl at a time. Continue to knead the dough until it is smooth, elastic-looking, and pulls away from the side of the bowl, about 5-6 minutes.

Once the dough is smooth, cover the mixing bowl with a bowl cover or plastic wrap. Store in a warm environment and allow the dough to double in size for the bulk rise, about 8-12 hours. Rise times depend greatly on the temperature of your kitchen. The warmer your kitchen, the faster the dough will rise. The cooler, the opposite is true.

Prepare the filling

Place cranberries, orange juice, sugar, and spices into a medium-sized saucepan. Cook over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes, or until the cranberries have softened. Stir occasionally. 

Use an immersion blender to puree the orange cranberry sauce. Continue to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. 

Remove from the heat and pour into a separate bowl. Allow to cool to room temperature before using as a filling. 

Assembly

Once the dough has doubled, remove the bread dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces, about 260g each. 

With a floured rolling pin, roll each out to a thin 10-inch circle. I like to place a 10-inch bowl on top and cut away the edge of the dough for a perfect circle shape. 

Line a rimmed baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Place the bottom layer on the prepared baking pan. 

Spread 1/4 cup of the orange cranberry sauce on top of the dough. For best results, leave 1/2 inch of the dough exposed along the edges. Continue to top with the other layers and fillings. 

Place a small 3-inch bowl in the center of the dough. This will be the center of the dough. With a sharp knife or bench scraper, cut 4 evenly spaced cuts around the circle. Continue to cut until you have 16 equal strips.

Grab 2 pieces of the dough. Twist them away from each other, then crimp the edges of the dough together. Continue until 8 star points are formed. 

Lightly cover the dough with a clean towel and allow it to rise for 30 minutes. 

In the meantime, preheat the oven to 350 degrees f. Prepare the egg wash by whisking together one egg and a splash of milk. 

After 30 minutes, lightly coat the top of the dough with the egg wash for a beautiful golden finish. 

Bake the Cranberry Orange Sourdough Star Bread for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool slightly on a wire rack. Lightly dust with confectioner’s sugar and serve warm!

How to Serve

For a stunning work of art, lightly dust the top of the sourdough star bread with confectioner’s sugar. You could also serve this delicious bread with a simple orange glaze for a touch of extra sweetness. 

Mix 1 3/4 cup of confectioner’s sugar with 1/4 cup of fresh orange juice, 1 Tablespoon orange zest, and 1 teaspoon of melted butter. 

Drizzle on top of the loaf or serve on the side. 

How to Store

Leftover Cranberry Orange Sourdough Star Bread should be stored in an airtight container and kept at room temperature for 2-3 days. Before serving, I always like to reheat it quickly in the microwave.

FAQs:

Can I make this Sourdough Star Bread without a stand mixer?

If you do not have access to a stand mixer, this dough can be mixed by hand.

Can I add nuts or other ingredients to customize?

Absolutely! Sourdough Star Bread is perfectly versatile! For more texture or crunch you could add dried cranberries or chopped nuts. You can also swap the cranberry orange filling for chocolate hazelnut spread, cinnamon, and sugar, or your favorite jams or jellies.

Can I prepare the dough ahead of time and store it in the fridge overnight?

Yes! After shaping, cover the Cranberry Orange Sourdough Star Bread with plastic wrap and store the baking sheet in the fridge. The next morning, remove the bread dough from the fridge and allow it to return to room temperature before topping it with the egg wash and baking. 

Happy baking!

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