Christmas Bread brings festive cheer with every bite, filling your kitchen with warm, inviting aromas of cinnamon and vanilla. This colorful quick bread is perfect for holiday mornings or as a sweet treat during your celebrations.
Studded with joyful Christmas sprinkles and topped with a smooth vanilla glaze, this loaf is both delightful to look at and delicious to eat. Its soft, moist crumb and subtle spices make it a memorable holiday classic.
- This bread blends festive colors with classic holiday flavors, making it a hit for all ages.
- The quick bread method means no complicated rising times, perfect for busy holiday schedules.
- The vanilla glaze and extra sprinkles add a charming decorative touch and sweet finish.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter: Softened to room temperature to create a creamy, smooth base for the batter, enhancing moisture and richness.
- Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps to tenderize the bread for a soft texture.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warm, fragrant flavor which complements the cinnamon and enhances overall aroma.
- Large eggs: Bind the ingredients while contributing to the bread’s structure and moisture content.
- Sour cream: Adds moisture and richness, resulting in a tender crumb and slight tanginess.
- Whole milk: Balances texture and moisture helping the batter to mix smoothly and bake evenly.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the structure of the bread, providing the proper balance of protein for soft crumb.
- Baking powder: Acts as a leavening agent to help the bread rise and become fluffy.
- Baking soda: Supports leavening and neutralizes acidity from the sour cream for a balanced rise.
- Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness in the bread.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds festive warmth and a classic holiday spice note.
- Christmas sprinkles: Adds festive color and a touch of sweetness scattered throughout the batter and on top.
- Powdered sugar: Main ingredient in the glaze for a smooth, sweet finish.
- Heavy cream: Combines with powdered sugar for a luscious, pourable glaze.
Instructions
- Prepare Your Baking Pan and Oven
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Preheat the oven to 350°F and thoroughly spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. This preparation ensures the bread doesn’t stick during baking and helps achieve a perfect shape.
- Cream Butter and Sugar
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Using a hand mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. This aeration step helps create a tender texture and an even crumb in the final bread.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla
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Mix in the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla extract until just combined. Incorporating the eggs carefully creates structure without overworking the batter.
- Incorporate Sour Cream and Milk
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Stir in the sour cream and whole milk until everything is fully incorporated, adding moisture and richness to the bread for a tender bite.
- Combine Dry Ingredients
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. This step ensures even distribution of leavening agents and spices for an even flavor and rise.
- Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients
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Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently until no flour streaks remain. Be careful not to overmix to keep the bread light and soft.
- Fold in Christmas Sprinkles
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Gently fold the Christmas sprinkles into the batter, ensuring they are evenly distributed without overmixing. Overmixing can cause the colors to bleed and affect the bread’s appearance.
- Fill Pan and Bake
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Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top gently. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top turns golden brown. Cover with foil if browning too quickly.
- Cool Bread Before Icing
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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. This prevents the glaze from melting and helps it set nicely.
- Prepare and Apply Vanilla Glaze
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Mix the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth. Spread the glaze evenly over the cooled bread and immediately sprinkle extra Christmas sprinkles for a festive finish.
- If the bread edges brown too fast, tent loosely with foil to prevent burning while the center finishes baking.
- You can store this bread airtight for up to 3 days at room temperature or freeze for longer storage.
- Use room temperature ingredients for best mixing and texture results.
Storage Tips
Store the Christmas Bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days to keep it moist. For longer storage, wrap tightly and freeze for up to one month.
Serving Suggestions
Serve slices warm or at room temperature with a pat of butter or a dollop of whipped cream. This bread pairs beautifully with a cup of hot cocoa, coffee, or festive holiday tea.
- Use high-quality sprinkles that hold their shape in batter to avoid bleeding colors.
- Do not overmix after adding flour and sprinkles to maintain a tender crumb and vibrant appearance.
- Allow the bread to cool fully before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting and sliding off.
FAQs
- Can I use different sprinkles?
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Yes, but choose sprinkles designed for baking to prevent color bleeding and maintain texture throughout the bread.
- Can this bread be made dairy-free?
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You can substitute butter with a plant-based alternative and use a non-dairy milk to make it dairy-free, but texture may vary slightly.
- How do I know when the bread is done?
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Insert a toothpick or skewer into the center; if it comes out clean with no wet batter, the bread is fully baked.
- Can I add nuts or dried fruit?
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Yes, you can fold in chopped nuts or dried fruit along with the sprinkles for added texture and flavor.
- Why is my bread dense?
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Overmixing the batter or using expired leavening agents can result in a dense bread. Mix just until combined.
- Can I double the recipe?
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Yes, but bake in two loaf pans or larger pans, adjusting the baking time as needed. Check doneness regularly.
- How should I store leftover bread?
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Wrap any leftover bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container to keep it fresh.
Christmas Quick Bread
Equipment
- 1 9x5-inch loaf pan
- 1 hand mixer
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 spray.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and vanilla; mix until combined, then stir in sour cream and milk.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined without flour streaks.
- Fold in sprinkles gently to avoid color bleeding.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 60-70 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and top is golden.
- Cool bread in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Whisk powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla to make glaze.
- Spread glaze over cooled bread and decorate with additional sprinkles.
- Allow icing to set before slicing and serving.
Notes
- If bread browns too fast, tent with foil during baking.
- Store leftovers wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For variation, swap sprinkles with dried fruit or nuts.
