Description
Festive Christmas Bread is a soft, aromatic, and golden loaf that brings the warm flavors of cinnamon, orange, and dried fruit to your holiday table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2¼ tsp) instant yeast
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp orange zest
- ¾ cup warm milk
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup mixed dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, chopped apricots, or candied peel)
- ½ cup chopped nuts (optional)
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, orange zest, and yeast. Mix well.
- Warm milk slightly, then whisk in butter and egg. Pour into dry ingredients and stir until a soft dough forms.
- Knead on a lightly floured surface for 6–8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Add dried fruit and nuts, kneading gently to incorporate.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and shape it into a round loaf (or place it in a greased loaf pan).
- Cover again and let rise for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake for 30–35 minutes or until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- Let cool slightly, then dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
- If you prefer a nuttier loaf, increase nuts to ½ cup or more.
- Use a mix of dried fruits for color and flavor; chopped apricots and cranberries work well.
- Oven times vary; check for a hollow sound when tapping and adjust bake time accordingly.
- For a make-ahead option, refrigerate the shaped dough overnight and bake the next day.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 loaf)
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: Festive Christmas Bread, Christmas bread, holiday loaf, cinnamon orange bread, fruit and nut bread, cozy holiday bake