This festive Christmas Bread recipe combines the ease of a boxed cake mix with the magic of the season. With its soft, moist crumb, bursts of red and green sprinkles, and a sweet vanilla glaze, it’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Perfect for celebrating with family and friends, it’s a holiday favorite whether served with morning coffee or as an after-dinner treat!
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Simple to make and full of festive charm, this Christmas funfetti bread also makes a thoughtful homemade gift for neighbors, teachers, or holiday hosts. Wrap it up with a ribbon or serve it sliced on your dessert table—either way, it’s guaranteed to spread cheer and become a new seasonal tradition!
For more delicious homemade gift ideas, check out my recipes for Seafoam Candy, Sponge Candy, Homemade Cordial Cherries, and Christmas Cool Whip Truffles—perfect for sharing holiday cheer!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for Gift-Giving: Bake multiple batches, wrap them in plastic, and tie with festive ribbon for a sweet homemade gift everyone will love.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with staple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen, it’s an easy, no-fuss holiday treat.
- Versatile: Split the batter into mini-loaves or double the recipe to make several batches—perfect for sharing or gifting. Just adjust the baking time as needed.
- Family-Friendly Fun: This recipe is simple to make and a great way to get the kids involved. Let them mix, add sprinkles, or drizzle the glaze for a fun and festive activity!
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make this festive Christmas bread!
- White cake mix is the perfect base for this Christmas bread recipe, with a subtly sweet flavor that is easily enhanced by the other vanilla ingredients.
- Instant vanilla pudding makes this bread smooth, moist, and adds great vanilla flavor.
- Red and green sprinkles add a holiday touch to this sweet bread and blend perfectly with the batter as it bakes.
- Powdered sugar helps to create a smooth, silky glaze
- Heavy whipping cream is rich, creamy, and creates the perfect texture for your glaze.
- Vanilla enhances the flavor of the Christmas bread and adds the ideal amount of sweetness.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Sprinkle Varieties: Have fun with endless sprinkle options! Try mini Christmas trees, snowflakes, stars, or any festive designs to top your bread with holiday cheer. I love using similar sprinkles on my Christmas Sugar Cookie Cake Bars for an equally colorful treat.
- Extra Holiday Flavor: Add a hint of cinnamon or a splash of almond extract to give your bread an extra layer of holiday flair.
- For Chocolate Lovers: Mix in regular or white chocolate chips for a burst of chocolatey goodness in every bite.
- Holiday Variations: Swap out the sprinkle colors to match other holidays or special occasions throughout the year—this bread is perfect year-round!
- Oil Substitutions: If you want to reduce the fat content, you can substitute the vegetable oil with canola or sunflower oil. The flavor and texture may vary slightly, but your bread will still turn out delicious.
- Glaze Options: Add a touch of flavor to the glaze by mixing in a drop of almond or peppermint extract, or a pinch of cinnamon for a warm holiday twist.
- Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds on top of the glaze for added texture and flavor.
- Citrus Twist: Add a teaspoon of orange or lemon zest to the batter or glaze for a bright, refreshing flavor. If you're a citrus fan, don't miss out on my Lemon Lush Dessert!
How to Make Christmas Bread Using Cake Mix
Once you've gathered all your ingredients, preheat the oven to 350ºF and follow the steps below.
- Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, add white cake mix, vanilla pudding mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Beat until smooth.
- Step 2: Add ¼ cup sprinkles to batter and stir just until blended.
- Step 3: Transfer batter to a greased bread pan and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Step 4: Let the bread cool for 10 minutes, loosen it with a knife, and transfer to a plate to cool completely, about 1 hour.
- Step 5: For the glaze, mix powdered sugar, vanilla, and 3 tablespoons of heavy cream, adding more cream as needed for desired consistency.
- Step 6: Drizzle glaze over top of bread along with remaining sprinkles. Slice and serve.
Helpful Tips
- Check for Doneness: Use the toothpick test—insert a toothpick into the center of the bread, and if it comes out clean, your bread is ready.
- Grease Well: Be sure to grease your bread pan thoroughly, especially in the corners, to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
- Perfect Glaze Consistency: Adjust the glaze to your liking—add more heavy cream for a light, drizzly finish or use less for a thicker, frosting-like texture. This glaze is similar to the one I use in my Pistachio Quick Bread, and it adds the perfect sweet touch to this festive treat.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can make the bread dense and cause the sprinkle colors to bleed.
- Cool Completely Before Glazing: Let the bread cool completely before adding the glaze to prevent it from melting and sliding off.
- Slice Cleanly: For even slices, use a sharp serrated knife to gently cut through the glazed bread without smudging the toppings.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! While white cake mix is recommended for its neutral flavor, you can use vanilla, yellow, or even spice cake mix for a different taste. Just be sure to match the flavors of your glaze or added ingredients.
A standard 9x5” loaf pan will work perfectly, but if you want to use a different sized pan, you’ll want to adjust your baking time accordingly. The toothpick test is a great way to make sure your bread is ready before you take it out of the oven if you aren’t sure.
To keep your sprinkles from bleeding, avoid overmixing the batter once the sprinkles are added. Stir gently just until they are evenly distributed.
Absolutely! This recipe works perfectly for mini loaves, which are great for gifting. When using mini loaf pans, just adjust the baking time—mini loaves typically take 20-30 minutes. Use the toothpick test to check for doneness.
Definitely! Mix in about ½ cup of chocolate chips (regular or white) or chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts, for extra flavor and texture.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Storage Instructions
Store your Christmas bread at room temperature for 4-5 days, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or kept in an airtight container. For longer storage, refrigerate it for up to 7 days.
Freezing Instructions
Once the bread has completely cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
For best results, wait to add the glaze until after thawing. To serve, let the bread defrost at room temperature, then drizzle with fresh glaze.
More Christmas Recipes You'll Love
Looking for other festive holiday recipes like this? Try these:
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Christmas Bread Recipe
Ingredients
For the Bread
- 1 box white cake mix
- 3.4 oz box instant vanilla pudding
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- ⅓ cup red and green sprinkles (divided)
For the Glaze
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 3-5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
For the Bread
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- In a large mixing bowl, add white cake mix, vanilla pudding mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Beat until smooth.
- Add ¼ cup sprinkles to batter and stir just until blended.
- Transfer batter to a greased bread pan.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow bread to cool 10 minutes. Run a knife or spatula around the loaf, loosening it. Remove bread from pan and place it on a plate to cool completely. This will take about 1 hour.
For the Glaze
- To prepare glaze, put powdered sugar and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream. Add more heavy whipping cream as needed to reach desired consistency.
- Drizzle glaze over top of bread along with remaining sprinkles. Slice and serve.
Notes
- Check for Doneness: Use the toothpick test—insert a toothpick into the center of the bread, and if it comes out clean, your bread is ready.
- Grease Well: Be sure to grease your bread pan thoroughly, especially in the corners, to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
- Perfect Glaze Consistency: Adjust the glaze to your preference—add more heavy cream for a thinner, light drizzle or use less for a thicker, frosting-like texture.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can make the bread dense and cause the sprinkle colors to bleed.
- Cool Completely Before Glazing: Let the bread cool completely before adding the glaze to prevent it from melting and sliding off.
- Slice Cleanly: For even slices, use a sharp serrated knife to gently cut through the glazed bread without smudging the toppings.
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