There’s something undeniably joyful about the aroma of freshly baked Christmas Bread filling your home. This delightful quick bread is bursting with holiday sprinkles that add a festive crunch and color, making it a cheerful centerpiece for any holiday table. Its soft, moist texture paired with a smooth vanilla glaze creates a taste experience that feels like Christmas morning in every bite.

Perfect for gifting or enjoying with family and friends, this loaf combines simple ingredients with holiday magic, making it an approachable yet impressive dessert. Whether you slice it for breakfast or serve it after dinner, this Christmas Bread brings warmth and sweetness to any festive occasion.

Ingredients

• Unsalted Butter (½ cup, softened): Adds richness and moisture, creating a tender crumb with a buttery flavor.
• Granulated Sugar (1 cup): Sweetens the bread, balancing flavors and contributing to a golden crust.
• Vanilla Extract (2½ teaspoons): Provides a warm, aromatic depth that enhances the overall flavor profile.
• Large Eggs (3): Bind the ingredients and add structure, helping the bread rise.
• Sour Cream (½ cup): Adds moisture and subtle tanginess, resulting in a soft, moist texture.
• Whole Milk (¼ cup): Helps create a smooth batter and tender crumb.
• All-Purpose Flour (1¾ cups): The main structure-builder for the bread, giving it its shape.
• Baking Powder (1 teaspoon): Acts as a leavening agent to make the bread rise light and fluffy.
• Baking Soda (¼ teaspoon): Works with the sour cream to activate rise and tenderness.
• Salt (1 teaspoon): Enhances and balances sweetness, highlighting other flavors.
• Ground Cinnamon (½ teaspoon): Adds subtle holiday warmth and spice for seasonal flavor.
• Christmas Sprinkles (⅔ cup, plus more for topping): Festive and colorful, these bring joyful bursts of sweetness and texture.
• Powdered Sugar (1¼ cups): Base for the icing, offering smooth sweetness.
• Heavy Cream (2 tablespoons): Gives the glaze a creamy, silky finish.

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan

Set your oven to 350°F and spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. Proper pan preparation prevents sticking and promotes even baking.

Cream Butter and Sugar

In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. This step aerates the mixture, ensuring a tender crumb and good rise.

Incorporate Eggs, Vanilla, Sour Cream, and Milk

Add the eggs one at a time to the creamed butter and sugar, mixing just until combined to avoid over beating. Stir in vanilla extract, sour cream, and whole milk until well combined to create a smooth, creamy batter.

Mix Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. This ensures that the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the bread for consistent flavor and texture.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until there are no flour streaks. Avoid over mixing to keep the bread tender without developing gluten.

Fold in Christmas Sprinkles

Carefully fold in the sprinkles, taking care not to overmix to prevent the colors from bleeding. The sprinkles add festive color and a sweet crunch without turning the batter purple or pink.

Pour Batter and Bake

Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top turns a light golden brown. A foil tent can be used if the bread browns too quickly before baking through.

Cool and Prepare Glaze

Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Meanwhile, whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth for the vanilla glaze.

Glaze and Decorate

Spread the glaze evenly over the cooled bread with a rubber spatula, then sprinkle with additional Christmas sprinkles for a festive finish. Allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.

Storage Tips

Store Christmas Bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer freshness, refrigerate for up to a week or freeze slices, thawing before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this festive bread sliced with a cup of hot cocoa, coffee, or tea for a perfect holiday treat. It also pairs wonderfully with cream cheese or butter for extra indulgence.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of sprinkles?

Yes, but choose non-chocolate sprinkles to avoid color bleeding. Traditional hard sprinkles hold up best in baking.

Can I make this bread gluten-free?

Yes, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend that works one-to-one with regular flour for best results.

How long does the bread stay fresh?

Keep it at room temperature wrapped tightly for 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week. Freezing extends shelf life.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, double ingredients and bake in two loaf pans, adjusting baking time slightly to ensure even cooking.

Why is sour cream used in this bread?

Sour cream adds moisture and a subtle tang that enhances the bread’s tender texture and flavor complexity.

Can I skip the glaze?

Yes, the bread tastes great without glaze but adding it provides extra sweetness and a festive look.

Christmas Bread

Lana

This festive Christmas Bread is a quick and easy sweet bread dotted with colorful sprinkles, topped with a smooth vanilla glaze, perfect for holiday celebrations and sharing with family.

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 8 people

Calories 448 kcal

Equipment

• 1 9x5-inch loaf pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray
• 1 hand mixer for creaming butter and sugar
• 1 large mixing bowls
• 1 wire cooling rack
• 1 rubber spatula

Ingredients

  

• ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup whole milk
• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ⅔ cup Christmas sprinkles plus extra for topping

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

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix until combined, then incorporate sour cream and milk.
• In a separate large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir gently until just combined with no flour streaks.
• Fold in ⅔ cup of Christmas sprinkles carefully to avoid bleeding the colors.
• Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 60 to 70 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
• Cool the bread in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• While bread cools, prepare the vanilla glaze by whisking powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.
• Spread the glaze evenly over the cooled bread using a rubber spatula.
• Top with additional Christmas sprinkles as desired, allow glaze to set, then slice and serve.

Notes

• If bread browns too quickly, tent with foil during baking.
• Use fresh sprinkles that won't bleed for best appearance.
• Store leftover bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for 2-3 days.