Description
A soft, buttery, and festive Christmas bread filled with warm spices, dried fruits, and a touch of citrus perfect for holiday breakfasts or gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/2 cup mixed dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, chopped apricots)
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 tbsp melted butter (for brushing)
- Optional glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp milk
- 1/4 tsp almond or vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, sugar, yeast, salt, and spices.
- 2. Add warm milk, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and orange zest. Mix until smooth.
- 3. Gradually add the remaining flour to form a soft dough.
- 4. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 6–8 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
- 5. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- 6. Punch down the dough and knead in the dried fruits.
- 7. Shape into a round or braid, then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- 8. Cover and let rise for another 30–40 minutes.
- 9. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
- 10. Brush warm bread with melted butter and cool slightly before glazing.
- 11. Whisk glaze ingredients together and drizzle over cooled bread before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute dried fruits with chocolate chips or chopped nuts for variation.
- For extra flavor, soak the dried fruits in orange juice or rum (for adults) before adding.
- This bread makes a beautiful holiday gift when wrapped in parchment and tied with ribbon.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: Christmas bread, holiday baking, sweet bread, festive loaf, spiced bread