Description
Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread is a festive and moist holiday favorite, bursting with colorful red and green sprinkles throughout its tender crumb. This quick bread combines classic buttermilk richness with a sweet vanilla flavor, perfect for celebrating the season with a fun and cheerful treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (210g)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 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 and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agents and salt for balanced rising and flavor.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the melted unsalted butter with granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition to incorporate air and achieve a smooth batter. Stir in the vanilla extract and then the buttermilk for richness and moisture.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent the bread from becoming tough.
- Fold in Sprinkles: Carefully fold in the red and green jimmies-style sprinkles to add festive color without bleeding. Mix gently to keep the batter tender and prevent color from spreading.
- Prepare for Baking: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. If desired, sprinkle the top with coarse sugar and extra sprinkles for a decorative, crunchy finish.
- Bake the Bread: Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This indicates the bread is fully cooked and moist.
- Cool the Bread: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes to set. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing to maintain the bread’s texture and shape.
Notes
- Use jimmies-style sprinkles instead of nonpareils to prevent the colors from bleeding into the batter.
- Do not overmix the batter as this can make the bread dense and tough; fold in ingredients gently.
- Wrap the completely cooled loaf in wax paper and tie with twine for a charming, gift-ready presentation during the holidays.
- This recipe can be adapted to make muffins—bake at 350°F (175°C) for 18 to 22 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 1/8 of loaf)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
