Description
Celebrate the festive season with this delightful Christmas Funfetti Quick Bread, packed with colorful holiday sprinkles and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze. This moist and tender quick bread combines a tender crumb with the joyful crunch of Christmas-colored sprinkles, making it a perfect treat to share during the holidays or serve at your festive brunch.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Funfetti Bread:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ cup Christmas-colored sprinkles (red, green, and white)
For the Sweet Glaze (Optional):
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Extra Christmas sprinkles, for topping
Instructions
- Preparing the Pan and Dry Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to ensure the bread doesn’t stick after baking. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
- Creaming the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps incorporate air into the batter for a tender crumb.
- Adding Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time to ensure even incorporation, then stir in the vanilla extract for a warm, sweet aroma and flavor.
- Incorporating Sour Cream and Milk: Mix in the sour cream until smooth, which adds moisture and richness to the bread. Gradually add the milk while stirring until the batter is well combined and smooth.
- Combining Wet and Dry Ingredients and Sprinkles: Slowly add the dry flour mixture to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to avoid overmixing, which can make the bread dense. Gently fold in the Christmas-colored sprinkles so they are evenly distributed without melting into the batter.
- Pouring and Baking the Batter: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula for even baking. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the bread is fully baked.
- Cooling the Bread: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes to set before transferring it onto a wire rack to cool completely, which helps the bread firm up for easier slicing.
- Preparing the Optional Sweet Glaze: While the bread cools, prepare the glaze by whisking powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract together until smooth. Adjust the glaze consistency to your preference by adding more milk for a thinner glaze or more sugar for a thicker one.
- Glazing and Garnishing: Once the bread is completely cool, drizzle the glaze evenly over the top and sprinkle extra Christmas sprinkles for a festive and colorful finish that adds texture and holiday cheer.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added, to maintain a tender crumb.
- Use festive Christmas sprinkles resistant to melting to keep their shape in the bread.
- The glaze is optional but adds a lovely sweetness and decorative touch to the bread.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute the butter and sour cream with plant-based alternatives.
