Bring a festive touch to your holiday baking with this Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread—a soft, tender quick bread filled with colorful sprinkles and topped with a sweet glaze. It’s simple to make, beautifully festive, and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or gifting during the holiday season.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Soft & tender texture thanks to buttermilk
- Festive and colorful with holiday sprinkles
- Easy quick bread—no mixer required
- Perfect for gifting or holiday brunch
- Make-ahead friendly
Ingredients
For the Bread:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (or vanilla)
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles (jimmies)
For the Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
- 3 tablespoons buttermilk (plus more if needed)
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- Christmas nonpareils (for topping)
Instructions
1. Preheat & Prepare
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients
In another bowl, whisk egg, buttermilk, melted butter, and almond extract.
4. Combine Batter
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix gently just until combined.
Fold in sprinkles carefully.
5. Bake
Transfer batter to prepared pan.
Bake for 45–50 minutes, until the center is set.
6. Cool
Let bread cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
Cool completely (about 1–2 hours).
7. Add Glaze
Whisk powdered sugar, buttermilk, and corn syrup until smooth.
Drizzle over cooled bread and top with nonpareils.
Tips for Success
- Don’t overmix to keep the bread soft
- Use jimmies inside (colors won’t bleed)
- Use nonpareils only on top
- Let bread cool fully before glazing for clean slices
- Spray pan lightly to help parchment stay in place
Storage
- Room temp: up to 3 days
- Fridge: up to 5 days
- Freezer: wrap tightly and freeze up to 2 months
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread is the kind of cozy, festive treat that makes the holidays feel extra special. It’s simple, colorful, and guaranteed to brighten any table—whether you’re serving it fresh with coffee or wrapping it up as a homemade gift.