Nothing says festive and fun quite like a slice of colorful, sweet bread packed with surprises in every bite. This Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe is my go-to for holiday baking – it’s cheerful, easy to whip up, and makes your kitchen smell heavenly. Let me tell you, once you try this, you’ll want to make it all season long.

A white rectangular plate holds a sliced cake with three large slices arranged in a slightly overlapping way. The cake has a light beige color filled with red and green specks inside. It is covered with a smooth white frosting on top and sides, decorated with red, green, and white thin and round sprinkles. The plate sits on a red cloth, with a clear glass jug of milk next to it, partially visible with a green and white striped straw. The background is a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe is such a festive treat that combines simplicity with eye-catching charm. I adore how quick it comes together and how the sprinkles add a burst of joyful color – perfect for sharing with family and friends!

Festive Fun: The rainbow of sprinkles inside and on top makes each slice a party in your mouth and a feast for the eyes.
Easy to Make: It’s a straightforward batter you can throw together even when holiday chaos hits.
Moist & Soft Texture: Thanks to sour cream and butter, the bread stays tender and melts in your mouth.
Perfect Gift or Breakfast Treat: Wrap it up or serve warm with coffee – either way, it’s a crowd-pleaser.

This image shows one large rectangular cake on a white ceramic serving board with a handle on the left side. The cake has one thick bottom layer of light brown color covered with a smooth layer of white frosting spread evenly on top. The frosting is decorated with small, round, and stick-shaped sprinkles in red, green, and a few white colors scattered all over its surface. The board and cake are placed on a white marbled surface with a bright red cloth underneath. To the right of the cake, there is a tall glass bottle filled with white milk tied with a thin string around its neck. Two colorful paper straws, one green and white striped and the other red and white striped, lie diagonally near the cake. A few sprinkles are also scattered loosely on the surface around the cake photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe plays a special role. The balance between butter, sour cream, and milk keeps the crumb moist, while the cinnamon adds a subtle seasonal warmth. And, of course, the sprinkles bring the fun!

Flat lay of a small mound of unsalted butter, a small white bowl filled with granulated sugar, three whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl of sour cream, a small white bowl of whole milk, a neat pile of all-purpose flour, a small white bowl containing baking powder, another small white bowl with baking soda, a small white bowl of salt, a small white bowl with ground cinnamon, a small white bowl holding colorful Christmas sprinkles, a small white bowl of powdered sugar, a small white bowl with heavy cream, and a small white bowl with vanilla extract—all arranged symmetrically and balanced on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: Softened for easy creaming with sugar, providing richness and moisture.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the bread and helps create that tender crumb texture.
Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, comforting note that complements the sprinkles well.
Eggs: Act as a binder and help create a light, airy structure.
Sour cream: Boosts moisture and keeps the bread soft and slightly tangy.
Whole milk: Adds that extra bit of moisture and richness to the batter.
All-purpose flour: The base for structure – be sure to measure it properly!
Baking powder & baking soda: These leavening agents ensure your bread rises beautifully.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
Ground cinnamon: Adds a cozy, festive spice note that feels just like Christmas.
Christmas sprinkles: The star of the show – colorful and festive, but be gentle folding them in to avoid color bleed.
Powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla for icing: They create a smooth glaze that seals in flavor and adds sweetness on top.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love playing around with the sprinkles—sometimes I swap to holiday-themed shapes or colors to match the season. You can also tweak the cinnamon level depending on how much spice you like. Feel free to add some chopped nuts or white chocolate chips to make it your own special creation.

Variation: One year, I added orange zest and chopped cranberries—it gave the bread a fresh holiday twist that everyone raved about.
Dairy-Free: Substitute sour cream with coconut yogurt and use a dairy-free butter to keep it plant-based.
Gluten-Free: Try a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, but watch the bake time closely as it may vary a bit.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe

Step 1: Get Your Pan Ready and Preheat

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Grease your 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray or butter and line it with parchment paper if you’d like an easier release later. This ensures your bread will come out perfectly without sticking, which is a small step but saves a lot of frustration.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until it looks light, fluffy, and pale in color—that usually takes about 3-4 minutes. This step is key because it incorporates air into the batter, giving your bread a tender texture. Don’t rush it!

Step 3: Mix in Eggs, Vanilla, Sour Cream & Milk

Add eggs one at a time, mixing just until combined after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract, sour cream, and milk until just incorporated. Avoid over-mixing after adding eggs as it can deflate the batter and result in denser bread.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agents and spice, which helps the bread rise evenly and flavor throughout.

Step 5: Bring It Together

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until you see no flour streaks. Be careful not to overmix here or the bread could be tough. Then, fold in the sprinkles sparingly to avoid their colors bleeding too much into the batter—this keeps the slices bright and festive.

Step 6: Bake and Cool

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for about 60 to 70 minutes, but start checking at the 60-minute mark. Use a toothpick inserted in the center — when it comes out clean, your bread is ready. If the top browns too quickly, tent it with foil. Let it cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 7: Glaze and Decorate

While the bread cools, whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla for the glaze. Spread it over the cooled bread and sprinkle on more Christmas sprinkles for that festive final touch. Let it set before slicing to keep your icing intact.

Top Tip

From my many attempts baking this Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe, these little tips have kept my loaves moist, colorful, and irresistible every time!

Don’t Overmix: Mixing too much after adding flour is the quickest way to dense bread. Fold gently and stop when combined.
Sprinkles Matter: Use quality sprinkles that hold their shape and color during baking. I avoid the cheap ones that melt and color the batter all weirdly.
Foil Tent Trick: If you see your bread browning too fast, tent with foil—this keeps it from burning while the center finishes baking.
Cool Completely Before Glazing: I’ve learned glazing too warm bread makes the icing melt or slide off. Patience pays off here!

How to Serve Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe

Christmas Sprinkle Bread - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love adding a little extra sprinkle on top of the glaze – it’s not just pretty, it gives a satisfying crunch and little pops of sweetness in every bite. To elevate it even more, sometimes I dust with a tiny bit of edible glitter or shredded coconut for a snow-like effect.

Side Dishes

Pair your Christmas Sprinkle Bread with a cozy cup of hot cocoa or a café latte for an unbeatable winter treat. It also goes beautifully alongside fresh fruit like sliced oranges or a simple cream cheese spread for extra indulgence.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I’ve wrapped slices in cellophane tied with colorful ribbons for cute edible gifts. You can also layer slices on a festive platter, alternating with sprigs of pine or holly for that Christmas vibe. It’s pretty enough to be a centerpiece!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, I keep leftover bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature. It stays fresh for about 3 days — perfect for nibbling at breakfast or a sweet snack.

Freezing

This bread freezes super well! I slice it before freezing and separate slices with parchment paper. Then I pop them in a freezer-safe bag. When you want a slice, just thaw at room temperature or toast straight from frozen.

Reheating

To revive a slice, I recommend warming it gently in a toaster oven or microwave for 15-20 seconds — the glaze softens and the bread tastes fresh-baked all over again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular sprinkles instead of Christmas-themed ones?

Absolutely! The key is to use good-quality sprinkles that won’t bleed too much color into your batter. Regular rainbow sprinkles work just fine and still make the bread festive.

Why does the bread sometimes get tough or dry?

Overmixing after adding the flour can develop gluten and make your bread dense or tough. Also, baking too long or at too high a temp can dry it out, so keep a close eye when you bake and test with a toothpick.

Can I make this recipe vegan?

You can make vegan adjustments by using flax eggs or a commercial egg replacer, plant-based butter, and a dairy-free yogurt or sour cream alternative. Just keep in mind the texture may vary slightly from the original.

How do I prevent sprinkles from bleeding color in the batter?

Fold sprinkles in gently right at the end of mixing and avoid overmixing the batter afterward. Using high-quality sprinkles that are meant for baking also makes a big difference in keeping colors bright.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe holds such a special place in my holiday traditions — it’s the kind of cozy, joyful baking that brings instant smiles around the table. Whether you’re making it for your own family, friends, or as a sweet gift, it’s guaranteed to brighten anyone’s day. Give it a try and let those colorful sprinkles brighten up your season!