Christmas Bread

Getting the kindergarten reminder email at 7am that today was the last day before winter break and teachers appreciate gifts sent me into immediate panic because I'd forgotten completely while other parents probably had presents wrapped for weeks. The Christmas bread recipe that came together in 90 minutes including baking time saved me from showing up empty handed looking like the parent who doesn't appreciate educators keeping small humans alive all day.

What is Christmas Bread

Christmas bread is a sweet festive quick bread featuring vanilla cake like texture studded with colorful holiday sprinkles and topped with simple powdered sugar glaze that creates gift worthy holiday treat. Unlike yeast breads requiring rising time and complicated techniques, this quick bread uses baking powder for leavening and comes together fast like banana bread or pound cake. The festive red and green sprinkles throughout make it unmistakably Christmas themed without requiring food coloring or complicated decorating skills that would take all day.

How to Make Christmas Bread

What Makes Our Version Special

Using buttermilk in the batter creates tender crumb with slight tang that balances sweetness and keeps bread moist for days. We fold in sprinkles at the end rather than mixing them throughout which prevents colors from bleeding into batter turning everything gray green. The simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk takes 2 minutes to whisk together and creates bakery worthy finish without complicated frosting techniques. Baking in standard loaf pan makes slicing and gifting easy while maintaining impressive presentation that looks like you spent hours instead of minutes.

Christmas Bread Ingredients

For the Bread:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup butter, softened (1 stick)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract optional
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ½ cup Christmas colored sprinkles (nonpareils or jimmies)

For the Glaze:

• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 3 to 4 tablespoons milk or cream
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons Christmas sprinkles for topping

Step by Step Method

Prepare Pan and Preheat Oven

• Grease 9x5 inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper for easy removal
• Preheat oven to 350°F allowing full temperature before baking
• Room temperature oven creates uneven baking and dense texture
• Prepared pan prevents sticking and makes clean slicing possible

Mix Dry Ingredients Together

• Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl
• Whisking distributes leavening evenly preventing bitter spots
• Set aside while preparing wet ingredients
• Don't skip this step or baking powder clumps make texture uneven

Cream Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy

• Beat softened butter with sugar for 3 minutes until pale and increased volume
• Light fluffy mixture incorporates air creating tender crumb
• Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition
• Mix in vanilla and almond extracts until combined

Alternate Adding Dry and Wet

• Add one third of flour mixture to butter mixture and mix on low
• Add half the buttermilk and mix just until combined
• Repeat alternating flour and buttermilk ending with flour
• This method prevents overmixing which creates tough bread

Fold in Sprinkles Gently

• Use rubber spatula to gently fold Christmas sprinkles into batter
• Don't stir vigorously or colors bleed turning batter muddy gray
• Fold just until sprinkles are distributed throughout
• Some sprinkles will sink during baking creating fun pattern

Bake Until Golden and Set

• Pour batter into prepared loaf pan spreading evenly
• Bake 50 to 60 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
• Top should be golden brown and spring back when touched lightly
• Let cool in pan 15 minutes before removing to wire rack

Make Glaze While Bread Cools

• Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable
• Adjust milk amount for desired consistency
• Too thick won't drip down sides, too thin runs off completely
• Glaze should slowly drip when lifted with whisk

Pour Glaze and Add Sprinkles

• Place cooled bread on serving plate or cutting board
• Pour glaze over top letting it drip naturally down sides
• Immediately sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles before glaze sets
• Let glaze harden 15 minutes before slicing or wrapping

What Pairs Well With Christmas Bread?

This sweet Christmas bread pairs naturally with hot coffee, tea, or hot chocolate for holiday breakfasts and brunch gatherings. Serve it at Christmas morning breakfast alongside scrambled eggs, fruit salad, or yogurt parfaits. For gift giving, pair with coffee beans, holiday tea blends, or flavored butter in festive packaging.

Christmas Bread Variations

Cranberry Orange Christmas Bread

• Fold in 1 cup dried cranberries and 1 tablespoon orange zest with sprinkles
• Add orange extract instead of almond to glaze
• Creates more sophisticated adult flavor profile
• Perfect for hostess gifts at holiday parties

Chocolate Chip Christmas Bread

• Replace half the sprinkles with mini chocolate chips
• Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to flour mixture
• Top with chocolate drizzle instead of white glaze
• For chocolate lovers who want festive breakfast treat

Eggnog Christmas Bread

• Replace buttermilk with eggnog for holiday flavor
• Add ½ teaspoon nutmeg to dry ingredients
• Creates creamy spiced version perfect for Christmas morning
• Tastes like drinking eggnog in bread form

Mini Christmas Bread Loaves

• Divide batter among 4 mini loaf pans instead of one large
• Reduce baking time to 30 to 35 minutes
• Perfect for gifting multiple teachers or neighbors
• Smaller portions look more intentional as gifts

Equipment You'll Need

Essential Tools:

• 9x5 inch loaf pan
• Electric mixer for creaming butter
• Mixing bowls for wet and dry ingredients
• Rubber spatula for folding sprinkles
• Wire cooling rack
• Whisk for making glaze

Storage Tips That Keep It Fresh

Best Fresh

• Christmas bread tastes best within first 3 days when texture is moist
• Glaze stays shiny and sprinkles maintain color before fading
• Butter in recipe keeps bread tender before going stale

Make Ahead Strategy

• Bake bread completely and store unglazed up to 2 days ahead
• Glaze right before gifting or serving for freshest appearance
• Freeze baked unglazed loaves up to 2 months wrapped tightly
• Thaw overnight and glaze when ready to present

Storing Baked Bread

• Wrap cooled glazed bread tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature
• Keeps 5 days stored properly without refrigeration
• Don't refrigerate as it makes bread dry and stale faster
• Freeze slices individually for quick holiday breakfast options

Christmas Bread FAQs

Teacher Gift Hero Status

The 7am reminder email panic resulted in teacher gift that looked thoughtfully planned weeks in advance instead of frantically assembled in pajamas before school drop off. Cellophane wrapping and ribbon transformed last minute baking into impressive presentation that made me look like parent who has life together. Sometimes the best gifts come from scrambling to fix forgotten obligations rather than perfectly organized advance planning, and teachers don't need to know the truth about panic baking timelines.

Ready for more quick bread recipes? Try our Cinnamon Swirl Apple Fritter Bread for autumn inspired sweetness, or explore our Banana Nut Bread for classic comfort. For minimal ingredients, our Banana Bread Recipe 2 Bananas uses up ripe fruit perfectly.

Share your Christmas Bread! Tag us @HannahAndSproutKitchen with #ChristmasBread—we're dying to see your festive loaves and hear about your teacher gift victories!

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