Christmas Bread Easy Recipe

Christmas Bread easy recipe has genuinely saved my hide more times than I can count. Ever found yourself, like me, staring at plain toast around mid-December, wishing for something cozy that smells like pure holiday magic? That’s literally why I started hunting for the easiest possible holiday bread, but with all the wow and none of the fuss. If busy mornings or last-minute guests have you side-eying your kitchen, keep reading, this might be your new holiday hack.

Why This Christmas Bread Is a Holiday Favorite

Okay, let me tell you. This Christmas Bread is the one thing my family actually requests, like, irritably, if I even hint at skipping it. It’s warm, with a gently sweet crumb and little pockets of fruit or nuts. Plus, the smell? It fills up your house like you hired a full-time baker. Honestly, it’s just that good. Whether you’ve got a gang to impress or you want something simple to spice up breakfast, this bread just slaps. You could say it’s the star of our whole Christmas recipes lineup.

Ingredients for Christmas Bread

Let’s dive in, no fancy stuff. Most ingredients you probably have already:

• Bread flour (yes, you can sub if you need, more below)
• Sugar
• Active dry yeast
• Eggs
• Milk (whole milk’s my fave, but use what you got)
• Butter
• Dried or candied fruit (or skip for plain)
• Almond or vanilla extract
• Salt
• Powdered sugar (for glaze, if you want)

Now, that’s just the basics, but trust me: you can jazz it up with far more. Scroll for those ideas.

Dough Ingredients (Enriched Yeast Dough)

This dough leans into all the enriched business, basically, it has eggs, butter, sugar. That’s what separates it from a sad slice of Wonder Bread. The trick is letting the yeast bloom in warm milk first. Once that’s alive and kicking, you mix in sugar, eggs, melted butter, a splash of extract. Then flour and salt join, and suddenly it starts cooperating. Knead until it’s smooth and a bit springy. If you’re too impatient to knead, check out our easy bread baking guide for tips.

Filling & Flavor Options (Fruit, Cinnamon, Almond)

This is where you make it your own. I usually go for dried cranberries and thin-sliced almonds, but orange zest, chopped apricots, or even chocolate chips totally work. Feeling spicy? Toss a little cinnamon sugar inside before braiding. Almond extract is great for that classic bakery vibe. If you’ve got nut allergies in the family, dried cherries alone bring a lot of flavor. See? Customizable, and takes almost no more effort.

Glaze, Toppings & Decorations (Powdered Sugar, Sprinkles, Nuts)

Once you pull that golden loaf out, don’t skimp on the decorations. For a classic glaze, just whisk a little powdered sugar with milk. Drizzle like you’re Jackson Pollock. Feeling extra? Throw on holiday sprinkles or crushed pistachios. My niece once covered the whole thing in Christmas sugar cookies for a lumpy, cheerful look. Not pretty, but memorable.

How to Make Braided Christmas Bread Step-by-Step

Mix, wait, shape, repeat after me. Here’s how I do it, honestly without any fancy techniques:

1. Warm the milk and bloom the yeast with a spoonful of sugar, about five minutes, till foamy.
2. Combine with eggs, rest of sugar, melted butter, and extract.
3. Add flour and salt gradually, mixing until shaggy, then knead till smooth (about ten minutes by hand, or cheat with a mixer).
4. Let it rise till doubled, patience is key here, maybe go wrap a gift or watch a bit of Snowmen Truffles Christmas.
5. Flatten it out, spread on fillings, and roll into three ropes for braiding. Braid, then curve into a wreath shape.
6. Rise again, bake at 350°F till golden and hollow-sounding.
7. Cool, glaze, decorate, and pile on those toppings.

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Braiding Techniques for a Festive Christmas Wreath

Braiding sounds fancier than it really is. I mean, if you’ve ever braided hair (or string cheese?), you can do this. Divide the dough into three equal ropes, pinch one side, and start crossing them one over the other. Curve into a big circle and pinch the ends. Don’t stress if it’s a little lopsided, imperfections make it artisan, right? For a video demo, check literally any “braided bread” clip, or visit our pumpkin streusel bread guide for visuals.

Decorative Holiday Garnishes (Candied Fruit, Almond Slices)

Go wild here! Scatter candied cherries around the top, dust with powdered sugar “snow,” or add sliced almonds for crunch. Even mini gingerbread men perched on top are cute. If you want color that pops, green and red candied fruit can look straight out of a Hallmark movie. Yeah, I overdo it sometimes, but no one’s ever complained.

Tips for Working With Yeast Dough in Winter

Houston, we have a cold kitchen. In winter, dough can be stubborn. Try proofing your dough in the microwave (with the door open and light on), or set it near your stove if you just cooked dinner. I also cover mine with a towel and let it rise next to a mug of hot water. Takes the chill off, and helps it puff up faster, no matter how cold the house feels.

Variations of Christmas Bread You Can Make

Don’t limit yourself! I’ve stuffed this thing with chopped apples, made a pumpkin swirl (try the cinnamon swirl pumpkin bread minis), and even slathered the top with orange marmalade. Add a swirl of cinnamon sugar for a sticky, gooey center, or go totally left field and create savory options, think cheese and herbs. Swap out almond for vanilla or rum extract. The basic dough is your blank canvas.

German Hefekranz

Ever tried German Hefekranz? This is the original inspiration. The method is similar, but sometimes includes more candied fruit, maybe a splash of rum. Germans take holiday bread seriously! It’s like Christmas Bread’s overachieving cousin. If you want to go authentic, look up a Hefekranz recipe, it’ll level up your Christmas breakfast game for sure.

Funfetti Christmas Bread (Sprinkles)

Kids go absolutely bananas for this version. You just toss in 1/3 cup of red and green sprinkles right before the final knead. Suddenly, your simple loaf becomes a party in every slice. I once caught my nephew sneaking the sprinkles straight from the bag. Admit it, we all want our food to cheer us on.

Orange Zest or Cinnamon Swirl Flavor

For big orange flavor, add a couple teaspoons of orange zest straight into the dough. Want a cinnamon swirl, just like the best deli pastries? Spread softened butter over rolled-out dough, scatter cinnamon sugar, then roll and braid as usual. You could even do both if you’re bold. Go for it, I won’t judge.

Make-Ahead, Freezing & Reheating Instructions

You can totally make this ahead. After braiding, wrap it tight, and stick it in the fridge overnight. Bring to room temp before baking. For longer storage, freeze after baking and cooling. Thaw at room temp, then pop slices in the toaster, or rewarm wrapped in foil at 325°F. Tastes just as good as day one, maybe better, because you didn’t have to slave over it that morning.

Serving Suggestions for Holiday Breakfast & Brunch

Here are my go-tos:

• Thick slice with salted butter and raspberry jam, try our Christmas jam recipe for a burst of flavor.
• Served alongside creamy scrambled eggs.
• As a sweet base for festive French toast (seriously, so good).

The best part? It dresses up your breakfast spread instantly. I sneak a few slices when prepping our brunch and nobody notices except my dog.

Christmas Morning Brunch Ideas

So picture this: you, hot mug of cocoa, cozy pajamas, and Christmas Bread as the centerpiece. You can keep it simple with butter and honey, or fan out slices around a bowl of fruit. Feeling ambitious? Make it the main event in a dessert buffet with Halloween breadstick bones or sweet potato cornbread. Joy in every bite.

How to Slice & Present the Wreath Shape

Let it cool just a little or risk a squished mess. Use a serrated knife, no hacksaws, please! Slice across the circles to get pretty, diagonal pieces. Arrange them in a fan on a platter for maximum “oohs and ahhs.”

Edible Gift Packaging Ideas

Wrap thick slices in clear cellophane and tie with ribbon, seriously looks like you bought it at a five-star bakery. For neighbors or co-workers, tuck a slice in a cute tin or mug with a little packet of cocoa. Homemade Christmas Bread with a handwritten note goes far, trust me.

Common Mistakes & Troubleshooting

The biggest oops I see? Dough that won’t rise. Double-check your yeast (I mess this up yearly, don’t feel bad). Too dry? Add a splash of milk. Overbaked? Cover with foil for the last ten minutes. If it cracks while braiding, press and move on, it’ll be hidden by glaze anyway.

How to Store Braided Christmas Bread

Once it’s cool, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, or pop in an airtight container. If it survives a whole week (doubtful), keep in the fridge, or freeze for up to a month. Just don’t leave it out on the counter for days like my cousin did. Dry bread is nobody’s friend.

Nutrition Information (Per Slice)

Alright, I’ll be honest. Nobody’s winning the low-calorie Olympics with this one, but for special occasions? Worth it. Each slice is about 230 calories, give or take, with 6 grams protein, 4 grams fat, and less sugar than most donuts. Add-ins like nuts will bump that up.

Per slice*

Nutrition Facts – Braided Christmas Bread

Calories

230

–

Total Fat

6 g

8% DV

  Saturated Fat

3 g

15% DV

Cholesterol

35 mg

12% DV

Sodium

160 mg

7% DV

Total Carbohydrate

38 g

14% DV

  Dietary Fiber

1 g

4% DV

  Total Sugars

10 g

–

  Added Sugars

9 g

18% DV

Protein

6 g

–

Iron

1.8 mg

10% DV

*Estimates for 1 slice (1/12 of loaf) of enriched braided Christmas bread with light glaze. Add-ins (nuts, chocolate, extra glaze) will change values. % Daily Value (DV) is based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Methodology & Sources

Calculations use standard ingredient profiles and FDA Daily Values. Ingredient data cross-referenced with USDA FoodData Central (flour, milk, butter, sugar, eggs) and FDA Nutrition Facts guidelines. Typical enriched bread benchmarks informed by King Arthur Baking learning resources.

Tools & Equipment You’ll Need

No need for a chef’s arsenal:

• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Whisk and wooden spoon
• Baking sheet or round cake pan
• Clean kitchen towel (for rising)
• Sharp knife for slicing

A stand mixer helps, but hands + elbow grease work fine.

Leftovers & Creative Uses

Maybe you made too much. Or maybe you just love leftovers like I do? Toast slices for a crunchy snack, run them under the broiler with cheese (sounds weird, is amazing), or cube for a bread pudding. You can even press slices into ramekins, pour egg mixture, and bake into breakfast casseroles. Waste nothing!

Expert Tips for Stunning Holiday Presentation

Here’s the fun stuff. Layer on the color, use bright glazes, edible glitter, or crushed candy canes. If you have kids, let them “help” (aka dump everything on top). Display on a pretty cake stand next to other festive treats like sourdough garlic bread recipe for a bakery-worthy table.

Colorful Icing & Festive Toppings

Mix a bit of food coloring into your glaze. Add rainbow sprinkles, silver dragées, or chopped candied ginger for sparkle. For a frosty look, dust with extra powdered sugar right before serving. Even plain, it’s a showstopper.

Can I make this without a stand mixer?

Absolutely. I never had one growing up! Just use a sturdy wooden spoon and knead by hand. It’s good for your biceps and your holiday spirit.

Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour?

Yep, you can swap all-purpose for bread flour in this Christmas Bread easy recipe. The texture will be slightly less chewy, but honestly, most people won’t even notice.

Can this recipe be made dairy-free?

For sure! you can use any plant-based milk and swap butter for margarine. It might not taste exactly the same, but it’s still yummy. Just keep an eye on it since dairy-free doughs may rise a hair faster.

Why is my dough so sticky?

That’s a good sign! This enriched dough can be pretty soft. If it’s unworkable, just dust your hands and work surface with a tiny bit more flour. Don’t overdo it though, or you’ll get tough bread.

Is it possible to make individual buns instead of a wreath?

You can! Just cut the dough into smaller portions after the first rise, roll each, and bake spaced out. They’ll be adorable and perfectly shareable for brunch or snacks.

Ready to Make Christmas Bread This Year?

There you go! my take on Christmas Bread easy recipes, shared with as much zest (literal and otherwise) as possible. If you want other delicious ideas, peek at holiday breads and baking or browse top-rated Christmas recipes here. If you want a deep-dive into bread science, check out this King Arthur Baking resource.