Description
This Christmas Bread is a festive showstopper — moist, tender, and filled with the nostalgic warmth of the holidays. Featuring vibrant sprinkles, a hint of cinnamon, and a silky vanilla glaze, this recipe is easy enough for beginner bakers yet impressive enough for gifting or entertaining. Ready in just 90 minutes, it’s a modern take on a timeless holiday classic.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2½ tsp vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅔ cup Christmas sprinkles (plus more for topping)
For the Icing:
- 1¼ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Heat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar for 3–4 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients: Mix in eggs and vanilla until smooth, then add sour cream and milk.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Combine mixtures: Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined.
- Fold in sprinkles: Gently fold in Christmas sprinkles with a spatula, being careful not to overmix.
- Bake: Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 60–70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare icing: Whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla until smooth. Spread over cooled loaf and top with extra sprinkles.
Notes
For best results, use room-temperature ingredients and high-quality jimmies-style sprinkles to avoid color bleeding. Do not overmix the batter—stop as soon as the flour is incorporated. This loaf keeps well for up to 4 days at room temperature or can be frozen for up to 3 months unfrosted. Perfect for gifting, brunch, or dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60–70 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Holiday
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 299
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 246mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 72mg
Keywords: Christmas bread, holiday loaf, festive baking, cinnamon vanilla bread, Christmas dessert recipe