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Easy Christmas Bread Recipe: Festive Sprinkles & Vanilla Icing (90 Minutes)

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.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 1 loaf (12 slices)
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Holiday
Calories: 299
Ingredients Method Notes

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

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven: Heat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray.
  2. Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar for 3–4 minutes until light and fluffy.
  3. Add wet ingredients: Mix in eggs and vanilla until smooth, then add sour cream and milk.
  4. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  5. Combine mixtures: Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined.
  6. Fold in sprinkles: Gently fold in Christmas sprinkles with a spatula, being careful not to overmix.
  7. Bake: Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 60–70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool: Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. 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.