Description
Old-Fashioned Christmas Spice Loaf — a cozy holiday bread bursting with warm cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Perfect for Christmas morning, holiday brunch boards, and giftable slices. This easy one-bowl loaf has a tender, oil-based crumb that stays moist for days. Add walnuts, cranberries, or a caramel glaze for a bakery-style finish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup oil
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Optional: 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans
- Optional: 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan.
- Whisk oil, sugar, and eggs until smooth.
- Add milk and whisk to combine.
- Mix flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and baking powder in a second bowl.
- Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined.
- Add any optional nuts or fruit.
- Pour batter into loaf pan and smooth top.
- Bake 45–55 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool 10 minutes in pan, then transfer to a rack.
Notes
- Do not overmix; fold gently.
- Use room-temperature eggs for a smoother batter.
- Add a cinnamon-sugar swirl for bakery-style texture.
- Let loaf cool fully before glazing.
- Replace some milk with Greek yogurt for added moisture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45–55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
Keywords: Christmas spice loaf, holiday loaf, cinnamon bread, nutmeg, cloves, Christmas baking