There's something magical about a loaf that looks as joyful as it tastes – that's exactly why I'm excited to share this Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe with you. It’s soft, slightly spiced, and bursting with colorful sprinkles that make every slice feel like a celebration. This bread is perfect for sharing or savoring with a cozy cup of coffee during the holiday season!

A rectangular white plate holds a sliced loaf cake with three visible slices fanned out in front of the remaining loaf, each slice showing a light beige cake speckled with red and green spots inside. The cake is topped with a smooth white icing layer that drips slightly over the edges, decorated with red, green, and white round and rod-shaped sprinkles. Behind the cake, a clear glass filled with milk shows a white and green striped straw. All items rest on a red cloth on a white marbled surface, with some sprinkles scattered around the plate. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m not kidding when I say this is one of my all-time favorite holiday breads—it’s not just pretty to look at, but it tastes like a sweet, festive hug. I first made it when I needed a last-minute treat that still felt special, and it stole the show.

Bright and cheerful: The colorful sprinkles scattered throughout bring instant holiday cheer.
Perfectly tender crumb: Thanks to the sour cream and butter, the bread stays moist and soft for days.
Simple ingredients: You probably already have everything you need in your kitchen.
Versatile icing: The light glaze adds just enough sweetness without overpowering the bread.

A rectangular cake lies on a white cutting board with a handle on the top left side, covered with smooth white frosting. The frosting is sprinkled evenly with small red, green, and white candy sprinkles in various shapes, adding bright color across the cake surface. The cake edges peek out slightly underneath the frosting, showing a brown color. A red cloth is underneath the board on a white marbled surface, adding warmth to the scene. Near the cake, there is a glass bottle filled with milk tied with a simple string, and two paper straws, one with green and white zigzag stripes and the other with red and white stripes, lie on the marble surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe combines classic baking staples with a touch of holiday magic. Each ingredient has its role: fat for tenderness, leaveners for rise, and sprinkles for fun. Here’s why you’ll want to pay attention to each one:

Flat lay of a small mound of unsalted butter, a white ceramic bowl of granulated sugar, a small white bowl with translucent vanilla extract, three whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl of thick sour cream, a small white bowl filled with whole milk, a neat pile of all-purpose flour, a small mound of baking powder powder, a pinch of baking soda powder, a small heap of salt crystals, a sprinkle of ground cinnamon powder, a small white bowl heaped with colorful Christmas sprinkles, a small white bowl of powdered sugar, a small white bowl with heavy cream, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: Provides rich flavor and a tender texture; make sure it’s softened for easy mixing.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the bread and helps with browning.
Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and depth — don’t be shy with it.
Large eggs: Act as a binder and contribute to the structure.
Sour cream: The secret to moistness and a slightly tangy richness.
Whole milk: Helps thin the batter slightly, ensuring a soft crumb.
All-purpose flour: The main structure builder of your bread.
Baking powder and baking soda: Work together to give the bread a lovely rise.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
Ground cinnamon: Gives a festive spice note that’s subtle but unmistakable.
Christmas sprinkles: The festive stars! Add them last and fold gently to keep their shape and color.
Powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract (for icing): Whisked together to create a smooth glaze that’s sweet but not cloying.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One thing I adore about this Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe is how easy it is to customize. I often swap out the sprinkles for mini chocolate chips or even chopped nuts for a different texture – depending on who I'm serving it to.

Variation: Once, I tried it with peppermint extract instead of vanilla for a cool holiday twist — it was a hit at my office party!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe

Step 1: Cream The Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy

Start by bringing your butter to room temperature — this helps with creaming. Using a hand mixer, beat the softened butter and sugar on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes until it's light and fluffy. This aerates the mixture, making your bread tender and soft.

Step 2: Add Eggs, Vanilla, Sour Cream & Milk

Mix in your eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla. Once combined, mix in the sour cream and milk. The sour cream is what gives this bread its beautiful moist texture. Don’t worry if the batter looks a bit thick – that’s exactly what you want!

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients Separately

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in another bowl. This step is key to even distribution of leavening agents and spices, so every bite is consistent.

Step 4: Gently Fold in Dry Ingredients, Then the Sprinkles

Add dry ingredients to the wet and gently stir until just combined; don’t overmix! Then fold in the sprinkles with a light hand to avoid color bleeding. Your batter should look festive with colorful spots dotted throughout.

Step 5: Bake and Cool

Pour the batter into a greased 9x5-inch loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake at 350°F for about 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. If you notice the bread is browning too quickly, tent it with foil. Let it rest for 5 minutes in the pan before turning it out to cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 6: Drizzle with Icing and Add Extra Sprinkles

Whisk your powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla until smooth and pourable. Spread this glaze over the cooled bread, then sprinkle extra festive sprinkles on top. Let it set before slicing.

Top Tip

I've made this bread more times than I can count, and a few tricks really help get it just right every time.

Use Room Temperature Ingredients: It makes mixing smoother and ensures even baking.
Don’t Overmix the Batter: Overmixing can lead to tough bread and cause your sprinkles to bleed color.
Tent with Foil If Browning Too Fast: I learned this the hard way—if the top looks done but toothpick isn’t clean, cover loosely with foil.
Cool Completely Before Icing: Otherwise, your glaze will melt and slide off, losing that pretty sparkle.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe

Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like keeping it simple with extra sprinkles on the icing. Sometimes, a dusting of powdered sugar adds a snowy effect and pairs beautifully with the vanilla glaze.

Side Dishes

This bread pairs wonderfully with a hot cup of cocoa, festive mulled wine, or even alongside a creamy bowl of eggnog. If you're serving it for brunch, a side of fresh fruit makes the perfect balance.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I love slicing the bread thick and arranging it on a wooden board with little bowls of extra sprinkles and spreads like cream cheese or honey butter. It makes for a colorful, festive centerpiece.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover bread covered tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days. I usually wrap it well in plastic wrap and then place it inside a zip-top bag to keep it from drying out.

Freezing

This bread freezes beautifully. I slice it beforehand, wrap individual slices in plastic, and then place them in a freezer-safe bag. That way, you can pop slices in the toaster for a quick treat anytime.

Reheating

When reheating, I like to warm slices lightly in a toaster oven or microwave for 15-20 seconds. It brings back the softness and makes the sprinkles sparkle again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use gluten-free flour in this Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe?

Absolutely! You can substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend, but make sure it’s suitable for baking. You might need to add a bit more moisture depending on the blend you use.

Why do the sprinkles sometimes bleed color in the bread?

Sprinkles bleed color if they’re mixed too vigorously or the batter is too wet. To prevent this, fold them in gently at the very end, and try not to overmix the batter after adding them.

Can I make this bread ahead of time for a holiday party?

Yes, you can bake the bread up to two days in advance and keep it wrapped tightly. For best results, add the glaze right before serving so it stays fresh and shiny.

What’s the best pan to bake the Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe in?

A 9×5-inch loaf pan is ideal because it gives the bread a nice shape and cooks it evenly. Using a dark or non-stick pan helps, but if you have a light-colored pan, spraying it well with non-stick spray and lining with parchment paper works wonders.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe holds a dear place in my holiday baking rotation because it’s as joyful to make as it is to eat. Whether you’re gifting a loaf or enjoying it yourself, it adds just the right sprinkle of festive spirit to your kitchen. I hope you love it as much as I do — happy baking and even happier holidays!