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Easy Christmas Bread for Breakfast and Gifts

This Christmas Bread is a warm, festive, cinnamon-swirled holiday loaf that fills your home with cozy aromas and brings a touch of tradition to every slice.
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Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 12 -15 servings
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 ½ cups 420g all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • ¼ cup 50g granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons 1 packet active dry yeast
  • 1 cup 240ml warm milk
  • ¼ cup 60ml unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • ¾ cup 150g packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts optional
  • ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries optional
  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 cups 240g powdered sugar
  • 2-4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Method
 

  1. Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and yeast together in a large bowl.
  2. Mix warm milk, melted butter, and beaten eggs in a separate bowl.
  3. Combine wet and dry ingredients and stir until dough forms.
  4. Knead 6-8 minutes until smooth.
  5. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and rise 1-1.5 hours.
  6. Mix softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and optional nuts or fruit for the filling.
  7. Punch down dough and roll into a 12x18-inch rectangle.
  8. Spread filling evenly, roll into a log, and seal.
  9. Slice into 12-15 rolls and place in a greased 9x13-inch pan.
  10. Rise 30-45 minutes.
  11. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes until golden.
  12. Beat cream cheese and butter, add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make glaze.
  13. Spread glaze over warm bread before serving.

Notes

For best results, allow the dough to rise fully and frost while warm so the glaze melts into each swirl.