Pull Apart Cinnamon Star

Happy December!!!  Let the Christmas baking begin!!! 

I decided the perfect way to kick off this season of sugar, butter and sprinkles is with a Pull Apart Cinnamon Star.💫  AKA: a cinnamon roll twisted into a star shape.  I wouldn't exactly call mine a star.  It turned out more like a really big, deliciously gooey, cinnamon oval.   It may not have taken on the shape that I had intended but it was still delicious. 😋  The next time that I make this recipe, I'm going to divide the dough in half and make 2 separate Pull Apart Cinnamon Stars. ⭐️   ​

I made this Cinnamon Star at the end of a long day and I accidentally left out the salt, I added 4 whole eggs (instead of the 2 whole and 2 egg yolks called for in the recipe) and I completely eliminated the cream cheese frosting because I ran out of energy.🤦🏻‍♀️  Thank goodness for recipes that are super forgiving.😂  Nobody who ate this complained that it was lacking salt or commented that it was too eggy or was missing the frosting.🤷🏻‍♀️ My own accidental version was actually quite tasty.  Rest assured, I will make this again and next time I'll be fully awake and alert. 😅

Pull Apart Cinnamon Star
1 1⁄2 cups warm whole milk
4 1⁄2 teaspoon instant yeast
1⁄2 cup sugar
2 eggs + 2 egg yolks, room temp
1⁄2 cup melted butter 
6 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt 

Filling:
1 cup brown sugar 
3 Tablespoons cinnamon
1⁄2 cup softened butter 

Other:
1 egg beaten, for egg wash
1 teaspoon powdered sugar for dusting

Add warm milk to bowl of standing mixer.  Sprinkle yeast and 1 t. sugar over top and let stand 10 minutes.  

Add remaining sugar, eggs, yolks and melted butter.  

Add salt and flour and knead dough 8-10 minutes. 

Transfer to a bowl greased with olive oil.  Turn to coat with oil.  

Let rise 1 - 2 hours.  

Combine cinnamon and brown sugar for filling.  

Divide dough into 4ths.  

Roll out each portion of dough into a 10" circle. 

Place 1 dough circle on a silpat lined baking sheet and spread with 1/3 of softened butter.  

Top with 1/3 of filling mixture.  

Repeat process with 2nd and 3d dough circles.  

Top with 4th dough circle.  

Place a 2" cookie cutter in center of dough.  

Cut dough from center out to form 16 triangles.  

Twist each pair of triangles 1 - 2 times away from each other and then pinch them together at the ends.  

Beat egg with 1 teaspoon water and brush over dough.   Preheat oven to 350.

Bake 20 - 30 minutes.  

Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.  

Ciao!

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