Description
A festive and flavorful homemade Christmas bread recipe filled with fruits, nuts, and warm spices—perfect for gifting or serving during the holidays.
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
- ¾ cup warm milk
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- Zest of 1 lemon or orange
- 1 cup mixed dried fruit
- ⅓ cup chopped nuts
- ¼ cup candied citrus peel
- 1 tbsp orange juice or rum
Instructions
1. Activate yeast by mixing warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, remaining sugar, salt, and spices.
3. Add eggs, vanilla, and yeast mixture. Mix until shaggy dough forms.
4. Gradually knead in butter until dough is smooth.
5. Let dough rise in a greased bowl for 1–1.5 hours.
6. Soak dried fruit in juice; drain and pat dry.
7. Punch down dough and mix in fruit, zest, and nuts.
8. Shape loaf and optionally fill with marzipan.
9. Let rise again for 30–45 minutes.
10. Bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes.
11. Brush warm bread with butter; dust with powdered sugar.
Notes
For a richer dough, replace some milk with cream.
Swap marzipan for chocolate or nut butter if desired.
Store tightly wrapped for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 45mg