Description
This Festive Christmas Bread with Sprinkles is a delightful, moist loaf packed with a rich vanilla flavor and a hint of cinnamon, bursting with colorful Christmas sprinkles both inside and on top. Perfect for holiday breakfasts or as a festive treat, it features a sweet vanilla glaze that adds a beautiful finishing touch to this celebratory bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- 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
- â…” cup Christmas sprinkles, plus more for topping
Icing Ingredients
- 1¼ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy removal of the bread after baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the batter.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract just until combined to prevent overmixing, then stir in the sour cream and whole milk until fully incorporated.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon for even distribution of the leavening agents and spices.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gently add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until you no longer see streaks of flour, taking care not to overmix to keep the bread tender.
- Fold in Sprinkles: Carefully fold in the Christmas sprinkles to evenly distribute them without causing the colors to bleed into the batter.
- Bake the Bread: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top evenly. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is lightly golden. Let the bread cool in the pan for 5 minutes after baking.
- Cool Completely: Transfer the bread to a wire rack and allow it to cool completely before adding the glaze to prevent melting.
- Prepare Icing: Whisk together the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth and spreadable to create a luscious glaze.
- Glaze the Bread: Spread the icing evenly over the cooled bread with a rubber spatula, then sprinkle extra Christmas sprinkles on top for a festive finish.
- Set and Serve: Allow the glaze to set for a few minutes before slicing and serving your festive Christmas bread.
Notes
- Use fresh sprinkles specifically made for baking to avoid color bleeding.
- Letting the bread cool completely before glazing ensures the icing sets properly.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- You can substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt if preferred.
