Christmas Bread is an easy quick bread recipe loaded with sprinkles and topped with vanilla glaze. It’s perfect for Christmas morning and so delicious.
If you enjoy the flavor of Funfetti Cookies, this recipe for Christmas Bread will be a hit. You get tons of sprinkles in each bite and more on top for a festive treat in December.
It’s moist and delicious while being studded with red and green for the holidays. Serve it for brunch or dessert but be prepared for guests to go crazy over it. I also like to make this for the perfect gift.
Table of contents
Why We Love This
Christmas Bread recipe calls for mostly pantry stables you probably already have. The bread is so decadent, and the sour cream makes it moist. We make it every year during the Christmas season and it’s something we all look forward to.
I also love to make Cinnamon Bread and Easy Eggnog Bread for more easy recipes.
Ingredients
Bread
- All-purpose flour. While some recipes call for bread flour, we use regular all purpose flour.
- Baking soda. Did you run out of baking soda? Try one of the Best Baking Soda Substitutes.
- Ground cinnamon. If you like the taste of cinnamon, you can increase the amount.
- Butter. Softened at room temperature but not melted.
- Large eggs. Beat the eggs before adding to the mixture.
- Sour Cream. Regular, full fat sour cream is best. The fat content makes the bread rich and moist.
- Whole Milk. I don’t recommend reduced fat milk as whole milk helps to make it rich.
- Christmas Sprinkles. Make sure to leave some or topping the bread.
Glaze
- Powdered Sugar. Sift before using so the glaze will be smooth.
- Vanilla Extract. Pure vanilla extract will result in the best taste.
Get the complete list of ingredients at the bottom of the page.
Variations
- Cinnamon and Sugar. Instead of icing, sprinkle a cinnamon sugar mixture on the batter before baking.
- Cream Cheese Icing. Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting is another great topping option.
- Dried Fruit. Instead of sprinkles, add chopped candied fruit for another Christmas themed option. Try cranberries, apricots, cherries or golden raisins.
- Add nuts. Try adding walnuts or pecans to the batter.
- Chocolate. Toss in a handful of chocolate chips or white chocolate chips into the batter.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1. First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9X5 loaf pan with a non-stick cooking spray.
- Step 2. Get out a large mixing bowl. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon and salt.
Step 3. Use a separate large bowl and beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy.
Step 4. Next, add the eggs, vanilla extract, sour cream and milk. Reduce to a low speed and mix until combined.
Step 5. Combine the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir together with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined.
Step 6. Carefully stir in part of the sprinkles. Make sure not to over mix or the sprinkles might bleed into the batter.
Step 7. Finally, pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 60-70 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.
Step 8. The bread needs to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then carefully move to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Step 9. While the bread is cooling, make the glaze for the bread. Whisk together the glaze ingredients in a mixing bowl. Spread the glaze over the cooled bread and top with the remaining sprinkles.
Storage
Store the bread inside an airtight container at room temperature. It will last up to 3 days.
You can freeze the bread up to 3 months in a freezer bag or container. I like to freeze it without the glaze. Then thaw when ready to serve and make the glaze to add when ready.
Expert Tips
- Cover in foil while baking. If the top of the bread is getting too brown when baking and the inside is not cooked through, tent the loaf pan with foil to finish baking until the bread is cooked through.
- Mini Loaves. Make this recipe in mini loaf pans for smaller servings perfect for gifts. Make sure to reduce the baking time.
- Mix until just combined. Do not overmix the batter or the bread will be tough.
More Sweet Bread Recipes
It’s your turn to make this yummy Christmas Bread. Don’t forget to come back and leave a star rating and comment.
Christmas Bread
Ingredients
For the Bread:
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp Baking soda
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 cup Butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Sour Cream
- 1/4 cup Whole Milk
- 3/4 cup Christmas Sprinkles divided
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
- 2 Tbsp Whole Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9X5 loaf pan with a non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon and salt.
- In a separate bowl of a stand up mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add in the eggs, vanilla extract, sour cream and milk. Mix until just combined.
- Then add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and stir in with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined.
- Gently stir in ½ cup of the sprinkles and make sure not to over mix or the sprinkles might bleed into the batter.
- Pour the batter into a prepared pan. Bake for 60-70 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then carefully move it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the bread is cooling, whisk together the glaze ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Spread the glaze over the cooled bread and top with the remaining sprinkles.
- Then the bread is ready to slice, serve and enjoy!
So festive for Christmas. It was very easy to make and so moist.