Christmas Bread is a delightful festive treat that instantly brings the warmth and joy of the holiday season to your kitchen. With its soft, tender crumb bursting with colorful holiday sprinkles, every slice feels like a celebration in your mouth. Topped with a smooth vanilla glaze and even more sprinkles, this bread is as beautiful as it is delicious.

This quick bread is perfect for holiday breakfasts, dessert trays, or gifting to friends and family. Easy to make and irresistibly festive, it’s a must-have addition to your Christmas baking repertoire.

Ingredients

• Unsalted Butter (1/2 cup): Softened to room temperature for easy creaming, providing richness and moisture to the bread.
• Granulated Sugar (1 cup): Adds sweetness and helps create a light, fluffy texture when creamed with butter.
• Vanilla Extract (2 1/2 teaspoons): Enhances flavor with warm, sweet notes essential for holiday baking.
• Large Eggs (3): Provide structure and bind the ingredients while contributing to tender crumb.
• Sour Cream (1/2 cup): Adds moisture and a slight tang, keeping the bread soft and flavorful.
• Whole Milk (1/4 cup): Adds hydration and richness to the batter, improving texture.
• All-Purpose Flour (1 3/4 cups): The base of the bread, providing structure and body.
• Baking Powder (1 teaspoon): Leavening agent that helps the bread rise and become fluffy.
• Baking Soda (1/4 teaspoon): Reacts with sour cream to aid leavening and tenderness.
• Salt (1 teaspoon): Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
• Ground Cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon): Adds warm, subtle spice evoking holiday flavors.
• Christmas Sprinkles (2/3 cup, plus more for topping): Festive colorful sprinkles that brighten the bread and add joyful crunch.
• Powdered Sugar (1 1/4 cups): For the smooth vanilla glaze, providing sweetness and a lovely finish.
• Heavy Cream (2 tablespoons): Creates a creamy, pourable icing consistency.
• Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon): Boosts the flavor of the glaze with sweet, aromatic notes.

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare the Pan

Set your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray. Properly preparing the pan ensures the bread releases easily and bakes evenly.

Cream Butter and Sugar

In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This step is crucial to aerate the batter, ensuring a tender crumb.

Add Eggs, Vanilla, Sour Cream, and Milk

Mix in the eggs one at a time with vanilla extract until just combined, then add sour cream and whole milk. Combining wet ingredients this way keeps the batter smooth and creamy.

Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. This distributes the leavening agents and spices evenly for consistent flavor and rise.

Mix Dry Ingredients into Wet

Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until no flour streaks remain, taking care not to overmix. Overmixing can lead to a tough texture.

Fold in Christmas Sprinkles

Gently fold in the sprinkles, being careful not to overwork the batter to prevent the colors from bleeding. This step adds cheerful color and subtle crunch.

Bake the Bread

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown. If browning too quickly, tent with foil midway to prevent burning.

Cool Before Glazing

Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling fully is essential so the glaze sets properly without melting.

Prepare Vanilla Glaze

Whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust thickness if needed by adding more cream or sugar for desired spreading consistency.

Glaze and Decorate

Spread the vanilla glaze evenly over the cooled bread using a rubber spatula. Sprinkle with additional Christmas sprinkles on top for an extra festive touch and let the glaze set before slicing.

Storage Tips

Store leftover Christmas Bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months; thaw before glazing.

Serving Suggestions

This festive bread pairs beautifully with a hot cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate for cozy holiday mornings. It also makes a lovely addition to dessert platters or as a thoughtful homemade gift.

FAQs

Can I use different sprinkles?

Yes, you can use any colorful, holiday-themed sprinkles you like, just avoid large sugar pearls which might sink during baking.

Can I make this bread dairy-free?

You can substitute butter with dairy-free alternatives and use plant-based milk and cream, but the texture may vary slightly.

How should I store leftover bread?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze wrapped for longer storage.

Can I prepare the batter ahead of time?

It’s best to bake the bread immediately after mixing for optimal rise and texture, but batter can be refrigerated overnight if needed.

Why is my bread dense?

Overmixing the batter or using expired leavening agents can cause dense bread. Always mix just until combined.

Can I omit the glaze?

Yes, the bread is delicious on its own, but the vanilla glaze adds moisture and a lovely sweet finish.

Christmas Bread

Lana

This festive Christmas Bread is a quick, easy dessert featuring holiday sprinkles and a smooth vanilla glaze. It’s a colorful, sweet treat perfect for holiday gatherings and celebrations.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course bread, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 1 people

Calories 3586 kcal

Equipment

• 1 9x5-inch loaf pan
• 1 hand mixer
• 1 wire rack

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup Christmas sprinkles plus more for topping

• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy using a hand mixer.
• Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix just until combined.
• Mix in the sour cream and whole milk until fully incorporated.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined with no flour streaks remaining.
• Gently fold in the Christmas sprinkles, being careful not to overmix to avoid color bleeding.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden.
• Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• While the bread cools, whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract to make the glaze.
• Spread the glaze evenly over the cooled bread and smooth with a spatula.
• Sprinkle additional Christmas sprinkles on top if desired, allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.

Notes

• If the bread starts browning too quickly, tent it with foil to prevent over-browning.
• Store leftover bread covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• For variation, substitute sprinkles with chopped nuts or dried fruit.