Description

This Ultimate Christmas Bread recipe combines the festive sweetness of holiday sprinkles with a rich, tender crumb that stays moist for up to five days, thanks to sour cream and whole milk. Topped with a smooth vanilla glaze, it’s the perfect centerpiece for your holiday table or a thoughtful homemade gift.

Ingredients

Scale

½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2½ teaspoons vanilla extract
3 large eggs, room temperature
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup whole milk
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
⅔ cup Christmas sprinkles, plus extra for topping
Vanilla Icing:
1¼ cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes.
Add eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until combined. Stir in sour cream and milk until smooth.
In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until evenly combined.
Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
Fold in Christmas sprinkles carefully to prevent color bleeding.
Pour batter into loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Whisk powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla to make glaze. Spread over cooled bread and top with more sprinkles.

Notes

Ensure ingredients are at room temperature for best texture. Mix gently to maintain tenderness. For a lighter version, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or substitute half the sugar with applesauce.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 60-70 minutes
Category: Holiday Bread
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 299
Sugar: 29g
Sodium: 220mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Carbohydrates: 44g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 70mg

Keywords: christmas bread, sweet holiday loaf, festive quick bread, vanilla glaze, holiday baking recipes