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Perfect Christmas Bread Recipe with 5 Festive Toppings

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This Perfect Christmas Bread is soft on the inside, golden-brown on the outside, and topped with festive decorations that make it almost too pretty to eat. Perfect for gifting, sharing, or indulging yourself, this recipe has become a holiday staple.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 ½ cups (420g) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp or 7g) instant yeast
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¾ cup (180ml) warm milk (about 110°F/43°C)
  • ¼ cup (60ml) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • Powdered sugar for dusting
  • Candied cherries (red and green for holiday cheer)
  • Chopped nuts (e.g., pecans or walnuts for crunch)
  • White chocolate drizzle (optional)
  • Sprinkles or edible glitter

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  2. In another bowl, combine the warm milk, melted butter, and eggs. Whisk until smooth.
  3. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
  4. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes, or until it’s smooth and elastic. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment for 5 minutes.
  5. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
  6. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your loaf pan or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  7. Punch down the dough and shape it into a loaf or braid, depending on your preference. Place it in the prepared pan or on the baking sheet.
  8. Let the shaped dough rest for 20-30 minutes to rise again slightly.
  9. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
  10. Let the bread cool on a wire rack before adding your festive toppings.
  11. Decorate with powdered sugar, candied cherries, chopped nuts, white chocolate drizzle, and sprinkles. Get creative and make it as festive as you like!

Notes

[‘Make sure your milk is warm but not hot (around 110°F/43°C) to avoid killing the yeast.’, ‘Give your dough enough time to double in size for fluffy, airy bread.’, ‘Check your bread around the 30-minute mark while baking. Cover it loosely with foil if it’s getting too dark on top.’, ‘Experiment with festive toppings to personalize the bread.’, ‘A fully baked loaf will sound hollow when tapped or reach an internal temperature of around 190°F (88°C).’]

Nutrition

Keywords: Christmas bread, holiday bread, festive bread, homemade bread, Christmas recipe

Find it online: https://katedishes.com/perfect-christmas-bread-recipe-with-5-festive-toppings/