CHRISTMAS STAR TWISTED BREAD

This gorgeous sweet bread swirled with jam may look tricky, but it’s not. The best part is opening the oven to find this star-shaped beauty in all its glory.

Darlene Brenden, Salem, OR

Prep: 45 min. + rising • Bake: 20 min. + cooling • Makes: 16 servings

1 pkg. (1/4 oz.) active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water (110° to 115°) 3/4 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°) 1 large egg, room temperature

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. salt

31/4 to 33/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam 2 Tbsp. butter, melted

Confectioners’ sugar

1. Dissolve the yeast in warm water until foamy. In another bowl, combine milk, egg, butter, sugar and salt; add yeast mixture and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough.

2. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic,

6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover; let dough rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

3. Punch down dough. Turn onto lightly floured surface; divide into 4 portions. Roll 1 portion into a

12-in. circle. Place on a greased

14-in. pizza pan. Spread one-third of the jam to within 1/2 in. of edge.

4. Repeat twice, layering dough and jam, ending with final portion of dough.

5. Place a 21/2-in. round cutter on top of the dough in center of circle (do not press down). With a sharp knife, make 16 evenly spaced cuts from round cutter to edge of dough, forming a starburst.

6. Remove cutter; grasp 2 adjacent strips and rotate twice outward. Pinch the ends together. Repeat with the remaining strips. Cover; let rise until almost doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°. Bake until golden brown, 18-22 minutes. (Watch during final 5 minutes for any dripping.) Remove from oven; brush with melted butter, avoiding areas where jam is visible. Cool bread completely on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.

1 PIECE 193 cal., 5g fat (3g sat. fat), 24mg chol., 192mg sod., 33g carb. (13g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g pro.