Festive Christmas Bread is more than just a recipe it’s a warm hug in the form of baked goodness that fills your home with the scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and holiday magic. But let’s be honest: have you ever pulled a loaf from the oven only to find it dense, dry, or lacking that tender, fluffy texture you were dreaming of? I’ve been there, and I know how disappointing it can be when your holiday baking doesn’t turn out quite right.
That’s why I’m sharing this Festive Christmas Bread recipe with you today a cozy, aromatic loaf studded with dried fruits and kissed with warm spices that practically melts in your mouth. After years of experimenting in both professional kitchens and my own home, I’ve perfected this recipe to guarantee a soft, flavorful bread that’s become a holiday staple at FoodFansy.
Hey there! I’m Emeli, and at FoodFansy, I believe that the best holiday traditions are the ones made in the kitchen. This Christmas bread recipe was inspired by a cold December morning in a small European bakery I stumbled upon during my travels. The baker, with flour-dusted hands and a warm smile, shared her secret: proper yeast activation and patience during the rise. Since then, I’ve made this bread my own, adding orange zest and a blend of spices that fill my home with memories of cozy holiday gatherings and laughter around the table.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through choosing the right ingredients, mastering the perfect dough consistency, timing your rises for maximum fluffiness, and troubleshooting common bread-baking pitfalls. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned baker, you’ll have a gorgeous loaf ready to share (or keep all to yourself I won’t judge!).
Why This Festive Christmas Bread Recipe Works
This Festive Christmas Bread isn’t just another holiday recipe it’s designed for real life, real kitchens, and real people who want bakery-quality results without the stress. Here’s why it works:
Perfect for any skill level. The recipe uses straightforward techniques and common pantry ingredients, making it accessible whether you’re kneading dough for the first time or the hundredth.
Maximum flavor, minimum fuss. With a simple 5-minute yeast activation and a flavor-packed combination of warm spices, orange zest, and dried fruits, you’ll get a complex, delicious taste without complicated steps.
Flexible and forgiving. The dough is easy to work with and adapts well to your schedule if you need to extend the rise time by 30 minutes because life happens, this bread won’t punish you for it.
Makes your home smell like Christmas. There’s something about the aroma of this bread baking that instantly creates a cozy, festive atmosphere. It’s the kind of smell that makes people drift into the kitchen asking, “What are you making?”
Perfect for gifting or sharing. This bread stays fresh for days and can be wrapped beautifully to give as a heartfelt homemade gift, or sliced thick for holiday brunches and tea time.
Choosing the Right Ingredients for Festive Christmas Bread
The magic of this Festive Christmas Bread starts with selecting quality ingredients that work together to create that perfect, tender crumb and rich flavor.
Best Flour for This Recipe
All-purpose flour is your best friend here. It provides enough structure to support the dried fruits without making the bread tough. Look for unbleached all-purpose flour for the best flavor. If you want a slightly more rustic texture, you can substitute up to 1 cup of the all-purpose flour with bread flour, which has a higher protein content and creates more gluten structure.
Yeast Selection Tips
Active dry yeast works beautifully in this recipe. Make sure to check the expiration date expired yeast won’t activate properly, leaving you with a dense loaf. When proofing, the milk should be warm to the touch (about 105-110°F), not hot. Too much heat will kill the yeast; too little won’t activate it. You’ll know it’s working when the mixture becomes frothy and bubbly after 5 minutes.
Choosing Your Dried Fruits
The beauty of Festive Christmas Bread is its versatility. Traditional mixed dried fruits might include raisins, currants, cranberries, and chopped apricots. For the best flavor, look for plump, soft dried fruits rather than hard, overly dried ones. You can also customize based on preference dried cherries add a tart sweetness, while chopped dates bring a caramel-like richness.
Ingredients & Prep for Festive Christmas Bread
Getting your ingredients measured and prepped properly is half the battle when making this Festive Christmas Bread. Here’s everything you need to know.
Baking Prep Essentials for Festive Christmas Bread
Accuracy matters. Use measuring cups for dry ingredients and liquid measuring cups for wet ingredients. Spoon flour into the cup and level it off rather than scooping directly this prevents you from packing in too much flour, which can make your bread dense.
Temperature is key. Bring your butter, milk, and eggs to room temperature before starting. Cold ingredients can prevent proper dough development and slow down yeast activity. Simply set them out 30-60 minutes before baking.
Proof your yeast properly. Combine warm milk (not hot!), a pinch of the sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy. This step ensures your yeast is alive and active before you commit all your ingredients to the dough.
Flavor Mix for Festive Christmas Bread
Here’s your complete ingredient list:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour – the foundation of your bread
- ½ cup sugar – for subtle sweetness and helps with browning
- 2 tsp active dry yeast – makes it rise beautifully
- 1 tsp cinnamon – warm, classic holiday spice
- ½ tsp nutmeg – adds depth and complexity
- 1 tbsp orange zest – brings bright, citrusy notes
- ½ cup mixed dried fruits – texture and pockets of sweetness
- 1 cup warm milk – creates a tender crumb
- 2 eggs – richness and structure
- ¼ cup butter (softened) – for that melt-in-your-mouth texture
Pantry Staples for Festive Christmas Bread
Don’t skip the salt! A pinch of salt (about ½ teaspoon) enhances all the other flavors and balances the sweetness. It’s a small ingredient that makes a huge difference in the final taste of your Festive Christmas Bread.
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions for Festive Christmas Bread
Let’s walk through each stage of making this Festive Christmas Bread so you feel confident every step of the way.
Pre-Baking Prep for Festive Christmas Bread
Start by activating your yeast. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup warm milk (105-110°F), a tablespoon of the sugar, and 2 teaspoons yeast. Stir gently and let it rest for 5 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the surface becomes frothy and slightly bubbly this means your yeast is alive and ready to make your Festive Christmas Bread rise beautifully.
Mixing & Kneading Your Festive Christmas Bread
Once your yeast mixture is frothy, add the eggs and softened butter, whisking them in until well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, remaining sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and orange zest.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes. You’re looking for a smooth, elastic texture the dough should spring back when you press it with your finger. If it feels too sticky, add flour a tablespoon at a time. If it’s too dry, wet your hands slightly and continue kneading.
First Rise for Festive Christmas Bread
Shape your kneaded dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Turn it once so the top is lightly greased, then cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm, draft-free spot for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until it has doubled in size. A good trick: place the bowl in your oven (turned off!) with the light on the gentle warmth creates the perfect rising environment for your Festive Christmas Bread.
Shaping & Second Rise for Festive Christmas Bread
Once doubled, punch down the dough gently to release the air. Flatten it into a rectangle and sprinkle the dried fruits evenly over the surface. Fold and knead gently for 1-2 minutes to distribute the fruits throughout the dough.
Shape the dough into a loaf by flattening it into a rectangle about 9 inches wide, then rolling it tightly from the short end. Pinch the seams to seal and place it seam-side down in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan. Cover again and let it rise for 30 minutes, or until it’s puffed up and risen about an inch above the pan.
Baking Your Festive Christmas Bread
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once the second rise is complete, place your loaf in the center of the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. The Festive Christmas Bread is done when it’s golden brown on top and sounds hollow when you tap the bottom. If you have an instant-read thermometer, the internal temperature should reach 190-200°F.
Cooling Your Festive Christmas Bread
Remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely. This resting period allows the structure to set so you get clean slices instead of a gummy mess. Once cooled, you can dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk.
Pro Tips for Perfect Festive Christmas Bread
Want to take your Festive Christmas Bread from good to absolutely incredible? Here are my hard-earned secrets.
Avoiding Dense or Dry Festive Christmas Bread
Don’t rush the rises. Bread baking is about patience. If your dough hasn’t fully doubled, give it more time. A rushed rise means less flavor development and a denser texture.
Measure flour correctly. Too much flour is the number one reason for dry, dense bread. Always spoon and level your flour measurements rather than scooping directly from the bag.
Don’t overbake. Check your Festive Christmas Bread at the 25-minute mark. Overbaking dries it out quickly. Remember, it continues cooking slightly even after you remove it from the oven.
Tool Recommendations for Festive Christmas Bread
A kitchen thermometer takes the guesswork out of yeast activation and checking doneness. For around $10, it’s one of the best investments you can make.
A stand mixer with a dough hook makes kneading effortless, especially if you plan to bake bread regularly. However, hand-kneading works beautifully and gives you a better feel for the dough’s texture.
A good loaf pan (9×5 inches) ensures even baking. Light-colored pans work better than dark ones, which can cause over-browning.
Storage & Reheating Festive Christmas Bread
Store your cooled Festive Christmas Bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, wrap it well and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, then warm slices in a toaster or oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes to refresh that just-baked taste.
Flavor Variations for Festive Christmas Bread
One of the joys of this Festive Christmas Bread is how easily you can customize it to suit your taste or dietary needs.
Holiday Spice Twist for Festive Christmas Bread
Add ½ teaspoon of ground ginger and a pinch of cloves along with the cinnamon and nutmeg for a deeper, more complex spice profile. This variation makes your Festive Christmas Bread taste even more traditionally “Christmas-y.”
Chocolate Lover’s Festive Christmas Bread
Swap half of the dried fruits for mini chocolate chips. The melted pockets of chocolate pair beautifully with the warm spices and create an indulgent twist that kids (and adults!) absolutely love.
Gluten-Free Option for Festive Christmas Bread
Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend in place of all-purpose flour. You may need to add an extra tablespoon of milk if the dough seems too dry, and the texture will be slightly more crumbly, but the flavor remains delicious.
Flavor Variations Comparison
| Variation | Key Changes | Best For | Flavor Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Original recipe as written | Holiday purists | Warm spices, citrus, fruity |
| Holiday Spice Twist | Add ginger and cloves | Those who love bold spice | Deep, warming, complex |
| Chocolate Lover’s | Half chocolate chips instead of fruits | Families with kids | Sweet, indulgent, festive |
| Gluten-Free | GF flour blend, extra milk | Gluten sensitivities | Similar to original, slightly denser |
| Nutty Delight | Add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans | Texture lovers | Crunchy, rich, earthy |
| Citrus Burst | Double orange zest, add lemon zest | Bright flavor fans | Light, fresh, aromatic |
Serving Suggestions for Festive Christmas Bread
This Festive Christmas Bread is incredibly versatile and shines in many different serving scenarios.
For breakfast or brunch, toast thick slices and spread with butter, cream cheese, or your favorite jam. The toasting brings out the spices and creates a crispy exterior that contrasts beautifully with the soft interior.
As a dessert, serve slices slightly warmed with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The warm spices pair wonderfully with creamy, cold toppings.
For gifting, wrap a cooled loaf in parchment paper, tie it with kitchen twine, and attach a handwritten recipe card. Homemade Festive Christmas Bread makes a thoughtful, personal gift that shows you care.
Beverage pairings: Enjoy with spiced chai tea, hot cocoa, mulled wine, or a rich espresso. The warm spices in the bread complement these cozy winter drinks perfectly.
FAQs About Festive Christmas Bread
Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?
Yes! Instant yeast can be mixed directly into the dry ingredients without proofing. Use the same amount (2 teaspoons) and proceed with the recipe, though I still recommend proofing it to ensure it’s active.
My dough didn’t rise. What went wrong?
The most common culprits are expired yeast, milk that was too hot (killing the yeast), or a too-cold environment. Make sure your yeast is fresh and your milk is warm, not hot (105-110°F is ideal).
Can I make Festive Christmas Bread ahead of time?
Absolutely! Bake it 1-2 days in advance and store it wrapped at room temperature. It actually tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together. You can also freeze the baked loaf for up to 3 months.
Can I add nuts to this recipe?
Yes! Chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds (about ½ cup) can be added along with the dried fruits for extra texture and richness.
How do I know when my Festive Christmas Bread is fully baked?
The bread should be golden brown on top and sound hollow when you tap the bottom of the loaf. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 190-200°F.
Is this recipe safe during pregnancy?
Yes! All ingredients are cooked and safe for pregnant women. If you have specific dietary concerns, consult with your healthcare provider.
Conclusion
There you have it your complete guide to baking the most delicious, aromatic Festive Christmas Bread that will become a cherished tradition in your home. This recipe brings together everything I love about holiday baking: the comforting ritual of kneading dough, the anticipation as it rises, and that magical moment when you pull a golden, fragrant loaf from the oven.
So what are you waiting for? Gather your ingredients, turn on some holiday music, and let’s create some kitchen magic together. This Festive Christmas Bread is calling your name, and I promise it’s easier than you think.
Join the thousands of home bakers at FoodFansy who’ve made this their go-to holiday recipe! Share your baking creations with me on social media I love seeing your beautiful loaves and hearing about the memories you’re creating.
Want more cozy holiday recipes? Try my Spiced Cranberry Orange Muffins or Cinnamon Roll Wreath next for more festive baking inspiration. And if you’re looking for savory options to round out your holiday table, don’t miss my Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast guide.
Happy baking, and may your holidays be filled with warmth, love, and the irresistible smell of fresh bread!
If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to share it with your friends or save it for later! I’d love to see your unique twist feel free to post your photos on Pinterest!
Festive Christmas Bread – A Cozy Holiday Baking Favorite!
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Festive Christmas Bread – A Cozy Holiday Baking Favorite! is a soft, golden loaf infused with warm spices, orange zest, and dried fruits perfect for cozy mornings and holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp yeast
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp orange zest
1/2 cup mixed dried fruits
1 cup warm milk
2 eggs
1/4 cup butter (softened)
1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
1. Proof yeast in warm milk with sugar.
2. Mix in eggs, butter, spices, and flour.
3. Knead until smooth and elastic.
4. Let rise until doubled (1 hour).
5. Add dried fruits, shape loaf, and rest 30 minutes.
6. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes until golden.
7. Cool, slice, and serve.
Notes
For a vegan version, replace eggs with flaxseed and butter with coconut oil.
Dust with powdered sugar before serving for a festive look.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Holiday, Christmas
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: Festive Christmas Bread, Holiday Baking, Sweet Bread