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!
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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.

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:

- 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.
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

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:
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.
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.
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.
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!
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Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This festive Christmas Bread is a sweet, buttery loaf bursting with colorful sprinkles and a smooth vanilla glaze, perfect for holiday celebrations and gifting. With a tender crumb and a bright, cheerful appearance, it's an easy-to-make treat that brings joy to any breakfast or dessert table.
Ingredients
Bread
- 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
- ⅔ cup Christmas sprinkles plus more for topping
Icing
- 1¼ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare loaf pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray; set aside for later.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add eggs, vanilla, sour cream, and milk: Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract just until combined, then add the sour cream and whole milk, stirring until incorporated. Set this wet mixture aside.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon thoroughly.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined with no visible flour streaks.
- Fold in sprinkles: Carefully fold in the Christmas sprinkles, being cautious not to overmix to prevent the colors from bleeding into the batter.
- Bake the bread: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the preheated oven for 70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top has turned golden.
- Cool the bread: Remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the icing: While the bread cools, whisk together the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Glaze the bread and finish: Spread the icing over the cooled loaf using a rubber spatula, smooth it out, and sprinkle additional Christmas sprinkles on top if desired. Let the glaze set before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Place a foil tent over the bread if it starts to brown too quickly while baking to prevent over-browning.
- Use room temperature butter and eggs for best mixing results and a tender crumb.
- Do not overmix once the dry ingredients are added to avoid a dense texture.
- Extra sprinkles on top add a festive touch and a bit of crunch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of loaf)
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg


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