🎄 Easy Made Festive Christmas Bread

Festive Christmas Bread ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Beloved by holiday bakers everywhere)
🍞 Soft | 🍒 Fruity | ✨ Beautifully Festive
If you want a show-stopping holiday bread that’s soft, lightly sweet, and dotted with festive fruits, this Festive Christmas Bread is the nostalgic holiday bake your table needs. It’s cozy, aromatic, and perfect for breakfast, gifting, or enjoying warm with butter by the tree.

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Bread

🍽️ Servings: 10–12
⏱️ Prep Time: 20 minutes
⏳ Rise Time: 1 hour
🔥 Bake Time: 30 minutes
💰 Estimated Cost: Budget-friendly
✨ Texture: Soft, fluffy, lightly sweet
🎁 Perfect For: Gifting, Christmas morning, potlucks

Ingredients – Soft, Sweet, and Festive

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup milk (warm)
• ½ cup warm water
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup melted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract (optional but delicious)
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup dried mixed fruit (or dried cranberries + raisins)
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1 egg (for egg wash)
• Optional: coarse sugar for topping

How to Make Festive Christmas Bread

Step 1: Activate the Dough
In a bowl, whisk warm water, warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy.
Step 2: Build the Dough
Add melted butter, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, salt, orange zest, and 3 cups of flour. Mix, then add remaining flour until a soft dough forms.
Step 3: Knead and Rise
Knead on a floured surface for 6–8 minutes. Knead in dried fruit. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour or until doubled.
Step 4: Shape the Holiday Loaf
Punch down dough. Shape into a round loaf, braid, or place in a loaf pan—your choice!
Step 5: Brush and Bake
Brush with egg wash and sprinkle coarse sugar. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 28–32 minutes, or until golden. Cool before slicing (if you can wait!).

Notes – Helpful Tips for Perfect Christmas Bread

• For extra richness, swap water for more milk.
• Add white chocolate chips or nuts for variation.
• If fruit is very dry, soak in warm water or orange juice for 10 minutes.
• For a shiny finish, brush with melted butter after baking.

Festive Christmas Bread

This Festive Christmas Bread is soft, lightly sweet, and studded with colorful dried fruit, nuts, and warm holiday spices. It tastes like Christmas morning in every slice and makes a beautiful centerpiece for brunch or gifting.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Rise 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Servings: 8 slices

Course: Bread, Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American, European-inspired

Calories: 250

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Bread:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 packet 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 3/4 cup warm milk
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup golden raisins or chopped dried apricots
• 1/3 cup chopped nuts pecans, walnuts, or almonds

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 to 2 tbsp milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Holiday sprinkles optional

Equipment

• Mixing bowl
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Measuring cups
• Cooling rack

Method

 

Activate Yeast

1. Mix warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy.

Make the Dough

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add yeast mixture, melted butter, egg, and vanilla. Stir, then knead for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth.

Add Mix-Ins

1. Knead in dried cranberries, raisins/apricots, and nuts until evenly distributed.

First Rise

1. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.

Shape & Bake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Shape dough into a round loaf and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 28 to 32 minutes until golden and cooked through.

Glaze

1. Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla into a smooth glaze. Drizzle over cooled bread and garnish with sprinkles.

Notes

• For extra richness, add 1/4 cup candied citrus peel.
• This bread freezes well for up to 2 months.
• Make it ahead: Bake the day before and glaze right before serving.

FAQ – Festive Christmas Bread

If you’re building a festive holiday table, pair this Christmas Bread with a timeless favorite like this Easy Made Classic Pumpkin Pie—a must-have for any celebration.”