Description
Christmas Bread is a festive, spiced loaf filled with dried fruits and holiday cheer. It’s perfect for breakfast, snacking, or sharing with loved ones throughout the season.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup dried fruits (cranberries, raisins, etc.)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Add yeast mixture, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. Mix to form a dough.
- Knead the dough for 10 minutes until smooth.
- Fold in the dried fruits and knead until evenly distributed.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Punch down dough, shape into a loaf, and place in a greased loaf pan. Let rise 30 minutes.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden brown. Let cool before slicing.
Notes
To keep your bread extra moist, store it tightly wrapped once cooled. For gifting, dust the top with powdered sugar and wrap in parchment with a festive ribbon.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Holiday
Keywords: Christmas bread, holiday loaf, fruit bread, festive baking