Welcome the holiday season with this vibrant and festive Christmas Bread that fills your kitchen with the warm aroma of cinnamon and vanilla. This quick bread is bursting with colorful holiday sprinkles, adding a joyful crunch and sweetness to every bite.
Perfect for a cozy winter morning or a delightful dessert, this loaf is topped with a luscious vanilla glaze and an extra sprinkle celebration, making it an irresistible centerpiece for any holiday table.
- A hassle-free quick bread that brings festive cheer with colorful holiday sprinkles inside and out.
- Rich vanilla glaze adds a smooth sweetness, elevating the bread’s flavor and presentation.
- Simple ingredients come together quickly for a perfect holiday treat any baker can enjoy.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter: Provides a rich, creamy base to the bread, adding moisture and buttery flavor.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the bread and helps create a tender crumb texture throughout.
- Vanilla extract: Infuses a warm, aromatic vanilla flavor that complements the festive spices beautifully.
- Large eggs: Bind ingredients together while contributing to the bread’s soft structure.
- Sour cream: Adds moisture and a slight tang, ensuring the bread stays tender and moist.
- Whole milk: Lightens the batter and provides additional moisture for a soft crumb.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the structure of the bread, giving it a soft yet firm texture.
- Baking powder: Leavens the bread by producing gas bubbles for a light, fluffy texture.
- Baking soda: Works with sour cream acidity to help the bread rise and become tender.
- Salt: Enhances overall flavor by balancing sweetness and enriching the ingredients.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and cozy spice reminiscent of holiday flavors.
- Christmas sprinkles: Festive colorful sprinkles folded into the batter and used as decoration for extra holiday cheer.
- Powdered sugar: Forms the base of the vanilla glaze for a smooth, sweet topping.
- Heavy cream: Helps create a creamy, spreadable consistency for the glaze.
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan
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Set your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan well with non-stick spray. This step ensures the bread bakes evenly and releases easily once done.
- Cream Butter and Sugar
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In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This process incorporates air, which helps achieve a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla
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Mix in the eggs one at a time with the vanilla extract, blending just until everything is combined to avoid overmixing that could toughen the bread.
- Incorporate Sour Cream and Milk
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Stir in sour cream and whole milk until evenly combined, adding moisture and a subtle tang that enhances flavor complexity.
- Mix Dry Ingredients Separately
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In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices for a uniform batter.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
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Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Overmixing here could lead to a dense bread, so stop when no flour streaks remain.
- Fold in Sprinkles
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Carefully fold the Christmas sprinkles into the batter, taking care not to overmix to prevent the colors from bleeding and dulling the festive appearance.
- Bake the Bread
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Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 60 to 70 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the crust turns golden brown. If the bread browns too quickly, loosely tent foil over the top to protect it.
- Cool and Prepare Glaze
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Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Meanwhile, whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla until smooth for the glaze.
- Glaze and Decorate
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Spread the vanilla glaze evenly over the cooled bread using a rubber spatula, then sprinkle extra holiday sprinkles on top to finish with a colorful festive touch.
- Slice and Serve
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Let the glaze set slightly before slicing the bread. Serve as a sweet snack or festive dessert to enjoy the holiday season with family and friends.
- The bread’s baking time can vary depending on your oven; check doneness with a toothpick.
- Using sprinkles without a high sugar coating helps prevent excessive bleeding and color streaks.
- Cool the bread completely before glazing to avoid melting the icing into the bread.
Storage Tips
Store Christmas Bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate to keep it fresh for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze the loaf wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
This festive bread pairs beautifully with hot cocoa, coffee, or spiced tea. It also makes a charming gift when wrapped in cellophane tied with a holiday ribbon.
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth mixing and optimal texture.
- Fold in sprinkles gently last to maintain their shape and bright colors.
- Adding a foil tent during baking prevents over-browning without affecting texture.
FAQs
- Can I substitute sour cream with yogurt?
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Yes, plain Greek yogurt can be used as a substitute, providing similar moisture and tanginess to the bread.
- What types of sprinkles work best?
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Use traditional Christmas colored jimmies or nonpareils; avoid large sugar crystals which might not soften during baking.
- Can I make this bread vegan?
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This recipe relies on eggs, butter, and dairy, so a vegan version would require significant substitutions and is not recommended as-is.
- How do I prevent sprinkles from bleeding colors?
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Fold sprinkles in gently and avoid overmixing; also use sprinkle types less prone to bleeding, such as jimmies.
- Can I double the recipe?
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Yes, but bake in two loaf pans separately to ensure proper cooking and texture.
- What if my bread is still undercooked after 70 minutes?
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Continue baking in 5-minute increments, checking with a toothpick until it comes out clean.
Christmas Quick Bread
Equipment
- 1 9x5-inch loaf pan
- 1 hand mixer
- 1 wire rack
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 spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and vanilla extract; mix until just combined, then mix in sour cream and milk until incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients and stir just until no flour streaks remain.
- Fold in Christmas sprinkles gently to avoid bleeding.
- 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 lightly golden.
- Cool bread in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare glaze by whisking powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Spread glaze evenly over cooled bread and top with additional sprinkles.
- Allow glaze to set before slicing and serving.
Notes
- If bread browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil while baking.
- Use nonpareil or similar small sprinkles to avoid color bleeding.
- Store covered at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
