Nutella Brioche Star Recipe

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine bread flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Whisk together with a fork. Add warmed milk, egg yolks (reserve whites), and melted butter. Attach the dough hook and knead on medium speed until the dough forms a smooth, elastic ball (approximately 10 minutes).

Lightly oil a large bowl with vegetable oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning to coat. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (1 to 2 hours).

Gently punch down the risen dough on a lightly floured surface to release the air. Form the dough into a flat oblong shape, then roll it into a log. Divide the log into 4 equal pieces. Keep the dough covered with a damp cloth to prevent drying while working.

Lightly flour your work surface. Roll out one piece of dough into a thin circle, approximately 8 inches in diameter. Use an 8-inch pan or plate as a guide to cut out a perfect circle.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Carefully transfer the dough circle to the prepared baking sheet. Briefly warm the Nutella in the microwave until it's easily spreadable. Spread about one-third of the Nutella evenly over the dough circle.

Repeat steps 4 and 5 with two more pieces of dough and the remaining Nutella. For the final piece of dough, roll it out, cut it into an 8-inch circle, and place it on top of the Nutella-layered stack. Use the pan or plate again to trim and ensure a clean, even circle.

Place a small drinking glass (or a small, oven-safe bowl) in the very center of the dough circle. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into quarters from the edge of the glass to the outer edge of the dough. Then, cut each quarter into halves (eighths), and finally, cut each eighth into halves again (sixteenths).

Take two adjacent dough slices and twist them away from each other twice. Repeat with the remaining pairs of slices all the way around the circle. Pinch the ends of each twisted pair together to seal. Cover the formed star with a damp cloth and let rise for an additional 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a small bowl, lightly beat the reserved egg whites. Brush the egg whites gently over the entire surface of the brioche star.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool slightly on the baking sheet before serving. Best enjoyed warm!