If you’re looking for a holiday baking project that’s as joyful to make as it is to eat, you’ll love this Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread: A Festive and Moist Holiday Favorite Recipe. It’s the perfect treat to whip up when you want a colorful, tender loaf that feels like Christmas morning in every bite. Whether you’re enjoying it during cozy family breakfasts or as a sweet snack with your afternoon coffee, this bread invites smiles with its joyful sprinkles and velvety texture.
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In the Kitchen
This Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread: A Festive and Moist Holiday Favorite Recipe strikes a perfect balance between festive cheer and everyday ease. I love how approachable it is — no fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients, just straightforward steps that yield a gorgeous golden loaf bursting with colorful sprinkles. It’s a crowd-pleaser in my holiday baking lineup.
- Juicy and Tender Every Time: The buttermilk tenderizes while the eggs provide richness, making the crumb soft and moist.
- Golden, Satisfying Finish: A golden crust with a sprinkling of coarse sugar adds a charming sparkle and gentle crunch.
- Simple Ingredients, Big Impact: With pantry staples plus festive sprinkles, you craft something truly special without stress.
- Weeknight to Weekend Ready: Easy enough for a quick bake but festive enough to impress guests during special holidays.
Ingredients at a Glance
Choosing the right ingredients can elevate your Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread: A Festive and Moist Holiday Favorite Recipe from good to unforgettable. Always opt for fresh buttermilk and quality sprinkles to ensure the best texture and festive colors in every slice.
- All-purpose flour: Use fresh, all-purpose flour for structure and a tender crumb.
- Baking powder & baking soda: Make sure these are fresh for a good rise and lightness.
- Unsalted butter: Melted and slightly cooled for even distribution of moisture and richness.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps create a golden crust.
- Large eggs: Room temperature eggs blend better with the batter.
- Buttermilk: Adds moistness and slight tang, keeping the bread tender.
- Vanilla extract: For warm, comforting depth of flavor.
- Red and green sprinkles: Jimmies style sprinkles add festive pops of color without bleeding into the batter.
- Coarse sugar (optional): For a crunchy, sparkling topping.
Heads-Up: Exact measurements are in the printable recipe card at the bottom.
How to Make Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread: A Festive and Moist Holiday Favorite Recipe
Step 1 — Gather and Prep Your Ingredients
Before starting, set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare your loaf pan by greasing it or lining with parchment paper. I always find this step helps prevent sticking while ensuring even baking. Bring your eggs and buttermilk to room temperature—this helps the batter mix more smoothly and bakes up tenderly. Melt the butter and let it cool slightly so it won’t cook the eggs when combined.
Step 2 — Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This keeps everything evenly distributed, so your bread rises perfectly and tastes balanced. Sifting here is optional but can give an even lighter texture.
Step 3 — Blend Wet Ingredients and Sugar
In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter with the granulated sugar until smooth and glossy. This step brings air into the mix and helps dissolve the sugar, which is key for the tender crumb. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each to keep your batter silky. Then stir in the vanilla extract and buttermilk until just combined.
Step 4 — Gently Fold Dry Ingredients and Sprinkles
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet bowl, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix here—overworking the batter will make the bread tough. When it’s nearly incorporated, fold in the red and green sprinkles with a light hand to keep the color intact and prevent them from melting or bleeding.
Step 5 — Bake and Cool
Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. If you like, sprinkle some coarse sugar or extra colorful sprinkles on top for an eye-catching finish. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. You’ll notice your kitchen fills with a warm, sweet aroma as it bakes—a sure sign it’s nearly ready. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes before turning it out onto a rack to cool completely.
Things to Remember
Through my kitchen experiments, I’ve learned a few key tricks to make your Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread: A Festive and Moist Holiday Favorite Recipe turn out just right every time. Paying attention to the batter’s texture and the oven’s temp really makes a difference.
- Doneness Cue: A toothpick should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs—avoid underbaking or your bread will be gummy.
- Temperature Trick: Room temperature eggs and buttermilk help the batter mix smoothly and bake evenly.
- Make-Ahead Move: This bread freezes beautifully. Slice before freezing for easy toast-ready portions later on.
- Common Pitfall: Don't overmix once you add flour and sprinkles to prevent a dense or dull crumb.
Ways to Serve It
Finishing Touches for Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread: A Festive and Moist Holiday Favorite Recipe
To really elevate this festive bread, I love spreading a thin layer of cream cheese or honey butter on warm slices. The cream cheese adds a smooth tang that pairs beautifully with the sweet sprinkles, while honey butter brings an irresistible gloss and extra sweetness that feels celebratory.
Plays Well With
This bread shines alongside a cup of rich hot chocolate or a festive spiced latte. For Christmas morning, I like pairing it with scrambled eggs and crisp bacon to balance sweet and savory flavors. Fresh seasonal fruit—think clementines or pomegranate seeds—adds a juicy pop to the plate.
Simple Plating Upgrades
Dress up your slices with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup for a little extra glam. You can also arrange slices overlapping on a festive platter surrounded by holly leaves for a charming holiday touch when entertaining friends or family.
Make-Ahead & Keeping Fresh
Storing Leftovers
Wrap your Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you refrigerate, it can last up to a week, but be aware it might dry out a bit. Let it come to room temp before serving to bring back softness.
Freezing Tips
This bread freezes wonderfully, which is a lifesaver during busy holiday seasons. Slice it first, arrange pieces on a tray to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw slices overnight in the fridge or on the counter for a few hours.
Reheating Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread: A Festive and Moist Holiday Favorite Recipe Without Drying Out
To warm slices without drying them out, wrap in a slightly damp paper towel and zap in the microwave for 15–20 seconds. For a crispier crust, toast gently in a toaster oven or air fryer at 320°F for 3 to 4 minutes. Avoid overheating—this bread is best enjoyed soft and moist!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can substitute regular milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar per cup to mimic buttermilk’s acidity, which helps tenderize the bread. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
Nonpareils tend to dissolve or bleed their color into the batter, creating a less neat, muddy appearance. Jimmies style sprinkles hold their shape better and maintain distinct festive colors.
With the right gluten-free flour blend, you can. Choose a blend designed for baking with xanthan gum included, and keep an eye on the batter’s texture as it may need slight adjustments in liquid.
Gently toss the sprinkles in a bit of flour before folding them into the batter. This helps suspend them evenly throughout the loaf rather than sinking.
Final Thoughts
Making this Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread: A Festive and Moist Holiday Favorite Recipe has quickly become a highlight in my holiday baking tradition. It’s approachable, joyful, and flexible enough to charm novice bakers and seasoned pros alike. With just a little love and a sprinkle of patience, you’ll have a loaf that’s bursting with festive color, tender crumb, and warm flavors. So next time the holidays roll around, give this recipe a try—you’ll feel like you brought a little extra magic to the table.
PrintFull Printable Recipe
Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread: A Festive and Moist Holiday Favorite Recipe
This Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread is a festive and moist holiday favorite, combining tender buttermilk bread with colorful red and green sprinkles for a joyful twist. Perfect for holiday breakfasts or sweet treats, it's lightly sweetened and wonderfully soft with a golden crust and optional sugary topping.
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (210g)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled (1 stick)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk (240ml)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup red and green sprinkles (jimmies style; avoid nonpareils)
Optional Topping
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar
- Additional sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×5-inch loaf pan to prepare for baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and buttermilk until fully combined.
- Incorporate Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the bread tender.
- Add Sprinkles: Gently fold in the red and green sprinkles, taking care not to overwork the batter to avoid color bleeding.
- Prepare for Baking: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Sprinkle the top with coarse sugar or additional sprinkles if desired for a festive finish.
- Bake: Bake for 55 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, indicating the bread is fully cooked.
- Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use jimmies-style sprinkles as they hold up better during baking compared to nonpareils.
- Do not overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added; this keeps the bread tender and moist.
- Allowing the bread to cool completely improves sliceability and flavor.
- The coarse sugar topping adds a nice crunchy texture but is optional.
- Store leftovers wrapped in plastic or airtight container to preserve freshness for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
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