Star Bread Recipe (Putok Bread)

If you’re looking for a Star Bread Recipe that creates soft, fluffy, and extra dense bread with a beautifully cracked sugar topping, you’ve come to the right place. This Filipino bakery favorite, also known as Putok Bread, is one of the easiest homemade breads you can make using simple pantry ingredients. Its signature “putok” or cracked top is created by making a cross cut before baking, giving it its iconic flower or star-like appearance.

Unlike regular dinner rolls, Putok Bread has a slightly denser crumb while remaining soft and delicious. It is lightly sweet, making it perfect for breakfast, merienda, or paired with coffee, hot chocolate, or milk. Many Filipinos grew up enjoying this bread from neighborhood bakeries, and now you can easily recreate it at home with this beginner-friendly recipe.

This Star Bread Recipe uses bread flour to achieve better gluten development, giving the bread its satisfying chewy texture while still remaining soft. The sugar topping caramelizes beautifully during baking, adding a delicate crunch that perfectly complements the fluffy interior.

Whether you’re an experienced baker or trying homemade bread for the first time, this recipe is easy to follow and produces consistently delicious results.

Star Bread Recipe 8 Tips

1. Bloom the Instant Yeast

Although instant yeast can usually be mixed directly with flour, blooming it first helps confirm that your yeast is still active. If it becomes foamy after 5 to 10 minutes, it’s ready to use. If it doesn’t foam, your yeast may already be expired.

2. Use Bread Flour Instead of All-Purpose Flour

Bread flour contains more protein, allowing stronger gluten development. This creates the signature chewy yet soft texture that makes authentic Putok Bread so satisfying.

3. Don’t Add Too Much Flour While Kneading

The dough may feel sticky during the first few minutes of kneading. This is completely normal. Resist the urge to keep adding flour because doing so can make the bread dry and tough. Continue kneading, and the dough will gradually become smoother and easier to handle.

4. Knead Until Smooth and Elastic

Proper kneading develops the gluten network that gives the bread its structure. A well-kneaded dough should feel smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky.

5. Let the Dough Rise Completely

Allow the dough to double in size before shaping. Under-proofed dough will produce dense and heavy bread.

6. Don’t Skip the Cross Cut

Using kitchen scissors to make a shallow cross cut creates the classic “putok” appearance that gives the bread its name.

7. Brush Generously with Egg Wash

The egg wash gives the bread its attractive golden brown color while helping the sugar stick to the surface.

8. Bake Until Deep Golden Brown

A nicely browned crust adds flavor and ensures the bread is fully baked inside.

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Easy Star Bread (Putok Bread) Recipe That Everyone Will Love

This Star Bread Recipe creates soft, extra dense Filipino Putok Bread with a lightly sweet flavor and a beautifully cracked sugar topping. Made with bread flour, butter, evaporated milk, and yeast, this homemade bakery-style bread is perfect for breakfast, snacks, or merienda.

Author Onyok Kokok

Ingredients

Dough

2 cups bread flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon iodized salt
1/2 cup evaporated milk
3 tablespoons butter room temperature

Yeast Mixture

1½ teaspoons instant yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 tablespoon white sugar

Egg Wash

1 egg
1 tablespoon evaporated milk

Additional

White sugar for sprinkling

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and instant yeast. Stir gently and allow it to bloom for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour, sugar, and iodized salt.
Add the evaporated milk, bloomed yeast mixture, and room-temperature butter.
Mix until a rough dough forms.
Transfer the dough onto a clean work surface.
Knead for 10 to 15 minutes until smooth and elastic. Avoid adding excessive flour even if the dough feels sticky during the first few minutes.
Lightly coat the dough with cooking oil.
Place it inside a lightly greased bowl and cover.
Allow the dough to rise for 1 to 2 hours or until doubled in size.
Gently punch down the dough to release excess air.
Divide into 8 equal portions.
Shape each portion into a smooth ball.
Arrange them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Using clean kitchen scissors, make a shallow cross cut on top of each dough.
Cover and allow to rise again for about 10 minutes.
Mix together one egg and one tablespoon evaporated milk to make the egg wash.
Brush each dough generously with the egg wash.
Sprinkle white sugar generously over each piece.
Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C for 22 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Let the bread cool slightly before serving.
Enjoy your freshly baked homemade Star Bread or Putok Bread.

Other Ways of Cooking – Air Fryer

If using an air fryer, bake at approximately 155°C to 160°C for around 12 to 16 minutes, depending on the size of your air fryer and the bread. Since air fryers cook faster than conventional ovens, check the bread early to prevent over-browning. You may also need to cook in batches.

Storage

Store the cooled bread in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag at room temperature for up to 3 days.

For longer storage, freeze the bread for up to 2 months. Wrap each bread individually before freezing. Thaw at room temperature and warm in the microwave or oven before serving to restore its softness.

Star Bread Recipe – Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called Putok Bread?

“Putok” means “burst” or “crack” in Filipino. The bread gets its name from the cross cut made before baking, which opens up beautifully during baking.

Is Star Bread the same as Putok Bread?

Yes. They are essentially the same bread. Some people call it Star Bread because the cross cut resembles a star or flower.

Why should I bloom instant yeast?

Although instant yeast does not require blooming, doing so helps verify that the yeast is still active before mixing it into the dough. This can prevent wasting ingredients if the yeast is no longer viable.

Why use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour?

Bread flour has a higher protein content than all-purpose flour. This produces stronger gluten, resulting in softer, chewier, and better-structured bread.

Why is my dough sticky?

Freshly mixed dough is naturally sticky. Continue kneading instead of adding too much flour. As gluten develops, the dough becomes smoother and easier to handle.

Can I reduce the sugar?

Yes. You may slightly reduce the sugar if you prefer a less sweet bread, although it may slightly affect the overall flavor.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes. After the first rise, you can refrigerate the dough overnight. Let it return to room temperature before shaping and baking.

Why didn’t my bread rise?

Possible reasons include expired yeast, water that was too hot and killed the yeast, or proofing in a cold environment.

Can I use salted butter?

Yes. If using salted butter, you may slightly reduce the added salt.

Can I add fillings?

Absolutely. Although traditional Putok Bread is plain, you can experiment with cheese, ube, chocolate, or sweet coconut fillings.

Star Bread Recipe Video

For more recipe videos, visit our YouTube channel, Onyok Kokok, by clicking the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/@onyokkokok8538

Discover more step-by-step written recipes by clicking the link below.

Filipino Recipes & Cooking – Onyok Kokok Kitchen

Final Note

This Star Bread Recipe is one of the best homemade Filipino bread recipes you can add to your baking collection. With its signature cracked top, lightly sweet flavor, soft interior, and satisfyingly dense texture, this classic Putok Bread Recipe is a favorite in many Filipino bakeries. Whether you know it as Star Bread or Putok Bread, this recipe delivers bakery-style results using simple ingredients that are easy to find.

One of the biggest advantages of this Star Bread Recipe is that it doesn’t require any special equipment. With just a mixing bowl, a little patience during kneading and proofing, and a reliable oven, you can make fresh homemade bread that rivals your favorite neighborhood bakery. The combination of bread flour, evaporated milk, butter, and properly developed gluten creates bread that stays soft while maintaining the signature dense bite that makes Putok Bread so enjoyable.

I hope this Star Bread Recipe helps you recreate the nostalgic taste of classic Filipino bakery-style Putok Bread right in your own kitchen. If you enjoyed this recipe, don’t forget to share it with your family and friends, and be sure to bookmark it for future baking sessions. Happy baking!