Christmas Bread
This Christmas Bread is a soft, spiced loaf filled with dried fruit and nuts, perfect for gifts or a family breakfast.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
- 1 cup warm milk Use warm (not hot) milk for the yeast to stay active.
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Add-Ins
- 1/2 cup dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, or currants)
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) Can be omitted or replaced with chocolate chips.
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
- In a separate bowl, mix warm milk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until combined.
- Stir in dried fruits, nuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth, about 5-7 minutes.
- Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Baking
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Punch down the dough, shape it into a loaf or braid, and place in a greased loaf pan.
- Let it rise again for 30 minutes.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool before slicing and enjoy!
Notes
Slice the bread thin or thick while it’s cool. Serve with butter, cream cheese, or jam. Enjoy with coffee or tea.