Soft, festive Christmas Bread with a tender, buttery crumb and sweet holiday flavors. Ideal for gifting, breakfast, or dessert during the holidays.
Christmas Bread is a soft and buttery holiday treat that’s perfect for sharing with family and friends. Packed with seasonal flavors, it brings warmth and cheer to any holiday table. Whether served for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, this Quick Bread Recipe is a festive favorite.
What makes this Christmas Bread special is its tender, fluffy texture and sweet glaze on top. It’s easy to slice and serve, it’s perfect for holiday gatherings, gifting, or simply enjoying with a cup of coffee or cocoa by the fire. I also love to make Easy Eggnog Bread during the holidays.
Another fun dessert to try is Christmas Dessert Lasagna and Snowman Oreo Balls.
Table of contents
Why We Love This
- Soft and tender: The bread has a buttery, fluffy texture that melts in your mouth.
- Festive flavors: Each bite is delicious and sure to be a holiday classic.
- Easy to customize: Add nuts, chocolate or more for extra flair.
- Perfect for gifting: Slices beautifully and makes a thoughtful homemade holiday gift.
- Versatile serving: Ideal for breakfast, brunch, or dessert during the holidays.
Ingredients
Bread
- All-Purpose Flour: While some recipes use bread flour, regular all-purpose flour works perfectly for a tender texture.
- Baking Soda: Helps the bread rise. If you’re out, check out alternatives with the Best Baking Soda Substitutes.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm, festive flavor. Increase the amount if you love a stronger cinnamon taste.
- Butter: Softened at room temperature for easy mixing; do not melt, or the bread texture may be affected.
- Large Eggs: Beat the eggs before adding to the batter for even incorporation.
- Sour Cream: Full-fat sour cream adds richness and moisture to the bread. Avoid using light versions.
- Whole Milk: Provides a creamy, rich texture; reduced-fat milk is not recommended.
- Christmas Sprinkles: Reserve some for topping the bread to give it a festive appearance.
Glaze
- Powdered Sugar: Sift before using to ensure a smooth, lump-free glaze.
- Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor and aroma in the glaze.
Get the complete list of ingredients at the bottom of the page.
Variations
- Cinnamon and Sugar: Instead of a glaze, sprinkle a cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter before baking for a sweet, spiced crust.
- Cream Cheese Icing: Top with Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe for a rich and creamy alternative.
- Dried Fruit: Replace sprinkles with chopped candied or dried fruit, such as cranberries, apricots, cherries, or golden raisins, for a festive touch.
- Add Nuts: Fold in chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds to the batter for extra crunch and flavor.
- Chocolate: Mix in chocolate chips or white chocolate chips for a sweet, indulgent variation.
- Citrus Zest: Add orange or lemon zest to the batter for a bright, seasonal flavor.
- Glaze Flavors: Swap vanilla in the glaze for almond or maple extract for a unique twist.
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
Room Temperature: Store the bread in an airtight container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap. It will stay fresh for 2–3 days.
Refrigerate: Keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week to extend freshness, especially if the bread has glaze or frosting.
Freeze: Wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil, or place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Expert Tips
- Cover in Foil While Baking: If the top of the bread browns too quickly but the inside isn’t fully cooked, tent the loaf with foil to finish baking evenly.
- Mini Loaves: Make smaller servings by using mini loaf pans. Reduce baking time slightly and keep an eye on doneness.
- Mix Until Just Combined: Overmixing the batter can result in a dense, tough bread. Stir until ingredients are just incorporated.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room-temperature eggs, butter, and milk ensures even mixing and a tender crumb.
- Check for Doneness: Insert a toothpick in the center of the bread; it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
- Cool Before Slicing: Let the bread cool completely in the pan for easier slicing and to prevent crumbling.
- Storage Prep: Wrap cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap to maintain moisture if storing or gifting.
More Delicious and Easy Quick 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
See how we calculate recipe costs.
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.