Holiday Star Bread

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yeast, warm water, and warm milk. Let stand for 15 minutes, or until foamy. (15 minutes)

Add the sugar, egg, melted butter, cardamom, flour, and salt to the yeast mixture. Knead with the dough hook attachment on low speed until a smooth, elastic dough forms, about 5-7 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, add flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl. (5-7 minutes)

Form the dough into a ball, place it in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1.5-2 hours. (90-120 minutes)

While the dough is rising, prepare the cinnamon sugar: In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon. In another small bowl, whisk together the egg and melted butter for the egg wash.

Once the dough has doubled, gently punch it down on a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions using a digital scale for precision.

Roll one portion of the dough into an 11-inch circle. Transfer to a sheet of parchment paper. (5 minutes)

Brush the circle generously with egg wash, leaving a small border. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the cinnamon sugar, cranberries, raisins, almonds, and pistachios. (3 minutes)

Roll another portion of the dough into an 11-inch circle and carefully place it over the filling. Repeat the layering process with the remaining dough and filling, ending with the final dough circle. (10 minutes)

Place a 3-inch pastry cutter or glass in the center of the dough stack. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut from the edge of the circle to the outer edge of the dough, dividing it into 16 equal sections. (5 minutes)

Take two adjacent sections and twist them away from each other twice. Pinch the ends together to seal. Repeat with the remaining sections. (15 minutes)

Carefully transfer the parchment paper with the star bread onto a baking sheet. (2 minutes)

Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let proof for 30-40 minutes in a warm place. (30-40 minutes)

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Brush the entire surface of the star bread with egg wash. (5 minutes)

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. (20-25 minutes)

Dust generously with powdered sugar before serving.