Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread
Capture the magic of the holiday season with this delightful Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread. This beautifully moist and tender quick bread is studded with vibrant red and green jimmies, offering a festive burst of color and a subtly sweet flavor in every slice. Perfect for gifting, breakfast, or an afternoon treat, it's a simple yet elegant way to bring cheer to your table.
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
45-55 minutes
Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes (including cooling)
Servings
8-10 slices
Keywords
Why This Recipe Delivers
- Instantly festive with vibrant red and green sprinkles, bringing holiday cheer to any table.
- Achieves a wonderfully moist and tender crumb thanks to the tangy buttermilk.
- Quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for busy holiday schedules.
- A versatile treat, ideal for breakfast, dessert, a snack, or a thoughtful hostess gift.
- Fills your home with an irresistible aroma of fresh-baked holiday goodness.
Ingredients
- 210 grams (1 ¾ cups) all-purpose flour
- 5 grams (1 teaspoon) baking powder
- 2.5 grams (½ teaspoon) baking soda
- 2.5 grams (½ teaspoon) fine sea salt
- 113 grams (½ cup or 1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 200 grams (1 cup) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 240 milliliters (1 cup) buttermilk
- 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) vanilla extract
- 60 grams (½ cup) red and green jimmies-style sprinkles (avoid nonpareils)
- Optional Topping:
- 15 grams (1 tablespoon) coarse sugar (e.g., turbinado or demerara)
- Additional red and green jimmies-style sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 175°C (350°F). Prepare a 23×13 centimeter (9×5-inch) loaf pan by lightly greasing it or lining it with parchment paper, ensuring an easy release for the finished bread.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, meticulously whisk together the 210 grams (1 ¾ cups) of all-purpose flour, 5 grams (1 teaspoon) of baking powder, 2.5 grams (½ teaspoon) of baking soda, and 2.5 grams (½ teaspoon) of salt. This ensures all leavening agents and seasoning are evenly distributed throughout the dry mixture.
- In a separate, larger bowl, combine the 113 grams (½ cup) of melted and slightly cooled unsalted butter with the 200 grams (1 cup) of granulated sugar. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well-incorporated. Next, incorporate the two large eggs, adding them one at a time and whisking well after each addition to create an emulsified, creamy base. Finally, stir in the 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) of vanilla extract and the 240 milliliters (1 cup) of buttermilk, mixing until just combined.
- Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients into the wet mixture in the large bowl. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently stir until the ingredients are just combined. It is crucial not to overmix at this stage, as overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to a tough and dense bread. A few streaks of flour are acceptable.
- Carefully fold in the 60 grams (½ cup) of red and green jimmies-style sprinkles. Use a light hand and fold just until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. Overmixing here can cause the colors to bleed, diminishing the vibrant festive look.
- Pour the prepared batter into the greased or lined loaf pan, smoothing the top with your spatula to ensure an even bake. If desired, sprinkle the top generously with 15 grams (1 tablespoon) of coarse sugar or additional jimmies-style sprinkles for an extra festive crunch and appearance.
- Transfer the loaf pan to the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 to 55 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the bread; it should come out clean. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes. This resting period helps the loaf set before carefully transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Tools You’ll Need
- 9×5-inch (23×13 cm) loaf pan
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wire cooling rack
- Parchment paper (optional)
Essential Success Tips
- Ensure your butter is melted but only slightly cooled; if it's too hot, it can accidentally scramble the eggs when combined, affecting the texture.
- Do not overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added. Overmixing develops gluten, which leads to a tough, dense crumb. Mix only until just combined; a few small lumps are perfectly acceptable.
- Always use jimmies-style sprinkles, not nonpareils. Nonpareils are prone to bleeding their color into the batter during baking, which can result in a less appealing, muddy appearance.
- For an extra golden-brown crust and moist interior, ensure your oven is accurately preheated to the specified temperature before placing the loaf inside.
- Allow the bread to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. Slicing too early can cause the bread to be gummy or crumbly, as it continues to set as it cools.
Professional Cooking Secrets
- For an even richer, more complex flavor profile, consider browning a portion of your butter (beurre noisette) before melting the rest. This adds a subtle, nutty depth that beautifully complements the vanilla and buttermilk.
- If you find yourself without buttermilk, you can easily create a substitute: add 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) of lemon juice or white vinegar to 240 milliliters (1 cup) of regular milk, stir gently, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it slightly curdles. This creates the necessary acidity.
- To help prevent sprinkles from sinking to the bottom of the loaf during baking, toss them lightly with 5-10 grams (1-2 teaspoons) of the dry flour mixture before folding them into the batter. This light coating helps to suspend them more evenly throughout the bread.
Notes
- Storage: Store Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. It also freezes beautifully; wrap individual slices or the whole loaf in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
- Variations: For an extra touch of sweetness, drizzle a simple vanilla glaze over the cooled bread (mix powdered sugar with a little milk or cream and a dash of vanilla extract). You could also add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the dry ingredients for a subtly spiced twist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use other types of sprinkles for this bread?
It is highly recommended to use jimmies-style sprinkles for this recipe. Nonpareils, the tiny, round sprinkles, are prone to bleeding their colors into the wet batter and during baking, which can result in a less appealing, muddied appearance. Jimmies maintain their vibrant colors much better.
My bread turned out dry, what might have gone wrong?
A common cause for dry quick bread is either overmixing the batter or overbaking. Overmixing develops too much gluten, which leads to a tough texture, while overbaking removes essential moisture. Ensure you mix just until the ingredients are combined and check for doneness with a toothpick at the earlier end of the baking time range.
Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
To make this bread dairy-free, you can substitute the buttermilk with a dairy-free alternative like almond or soy milk mixed with lemon juice (as described in the pro secrets). Use a plant-based butter alternative that melts well, ensuring it is unsalted. Always check that your chosen sprinkles are also dairy-free, as some brands may contain milk derivatives.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 350, Protein: 5g, Fat: 18g, Carbs: 45g (per slice, estimated for 10 slices)
Allergy Information
Contains wheat, dairy, and eggs. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum. For a dairy-free option, use plant-based butter and a dairy-free milk alternative with lemon juice. Always check sprinkle ingredients for specific allergens.
No comment