Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread

This Christmas sprinkle buttermilk bread is a festive quick bread that brings holiday cheer to your table with every colorful slice. Packed with red and green sprinkles, this moist buttermilk bread features a tender crumb, buttery flavor, and just the right amount of sweetness. Perfect for holiday brunch, gift-giving, or Christmas morning breakfast, this easy recipe requires no mixer and comes together in about an hour from start to finish.

The beauty of this festive buttermilk bread lies in its simplicity and visual appeal. Unlike traditional yeast breads that require rising time and kneading, this quick bread uses baking powder and baking soda for leavening, making it accessible for bakers of all skill levels. The buttermilk keeps it incredibly moist while creating a tender texture that’s somewhere between cake and bread—making it perfect for any time of day.

Why You’ll Love This Holiday Buttermilk Bread

This Christmas sprinkle bread delivers everything you want in a festive holiday bake without the stress or complicated techniques. The buttermilk creates an incredibly moist, tender crumb that stays fresh for days. The sprinkles add bursts of color throughout, making every slice look like a celebration. Best of all, this recipe comes together quickly with simple pantry ingredients and requires minimal cleanup.

Unlike overly sweet holiday desserts, this buttermilk bread strikes the perfect balance—sweet enough to feel special but mild enough to enjoy for breakfast with coffee or tea. The buttery flavor complements the vanilla beautifully, while the sprinkles add fun pops of color without overwhelming the taste. It’s truly the best of both worlds: impressive enough for guests but easy enough for busy weekday baking.

This recipe is also wonderfully versatile for gift-giving. Wrap a cooled loaf in parchment paper and tie with festive ribbon for a thoughtful homemade gift that looks professional and tastes amazing. Your friends and neighbors will be asking for the recipe all season long.

Ingredients for Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (210g)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup buttermilk (240ml)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Mix-ins and Toppings:

• ½ cup red and green sprinkles (jimmies style)
• 1 tablespoon coarse sugar (optional)
• Additional sprinkles for topping (optional)

Key Ingredient Tips

Buttermilk: This is the star ingredient that makes this bread incredibly moist and tender. The acidity in buttermilk reacts with the baking soda to create a light, fluffy texture while adding a subtle tangy flavor that balances the sweetness perfectly. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, make a quick substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 cup of regular milk. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it curdles slightly.

Butter: Always use unsalted butter so you can control the salt level in your recipe. Make sure to melt the butter and let it cool slightly before adding it to the other ingredients. If the butter is too hot, it can scramble the eggs. For an extra flavor boost, try browning the butter before adding it—this creates a nutty, caramelized taste that elevates the entire loaf.

Sprinkles: This is crucial—use jimmies (the longer, rod-shaped sprinkles) rather than nonpareils (the tiny round balls). Nonpareils tend to bleed their color into the batter, turning your festive bread an unappetizing muddy color. Jimmies hold their shape and color beautifully throughout baking. Look for red and green jimmies during the holiday season, though any color works for different occasions.

Sugar: Granulated white sugar provides sweetness and helps create the tender crumb texture. The coarse sugar topping is optional but adds a delightful crunch and sparkle to the finished loaf that makes it look bakery-quality.

Flour: All-purpose flour works perfectly for this recipe. Measure it correctly by spooning it into your measuring cup and leveling it off with a knife. Don’t pack the flour down or scoop directly from the bag, as this can result in too much flour and a dense loaf.

How to Make Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This moderate temperature ensures the bread bakes evenly without the outside browning too quickly before the center is done. While the oven heats, prepare your 9×5-inch loaf pan by lining it with parchment paper or thoroughly greasing it with butter or cooking spray.

Parchment paper is highly recommended because it makes removing the finished loaf incredibly easy. Simply lift the bread out by the parchment overhang, eliminating any risk of the bread sticking or breaking apart. This step also makes cleanup effortless.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisking thoroughly ensures these leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the flour, which creates an even rise and consistent texture. Set this bowl aside while you prepare the wet ingredients.

The combination of baking powder and baking soda works together to create the perfect rise. Baking soda reacts with the acidic buttermilk for immediate leavening, while baking powder provides additional lift during baking for a light, tender crumb.

Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and granulated sugar until smooth and well combined. The mixture should look cohesive without any sugar crystals visible. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. This gradual incorporation helps create a stable emulsion.

Stir in the vanilla extract and buttermilk, mixing until everything is thoroughly combined. The batter will look slightly curdled at this point due to the fat from the butter interacting with the watery buttermilk—this is completely normal and won’t affect the final result.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Pour the dry flour mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold the ingredients together just until no dry flour streaks remain visible. This is the most critical step for achieving tender bread—overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough, dense bread with a chewy texture instead of light and tender.

It’s okay if you see a few small lumps in the batter. These will disappear during baking. Stop mixing as soon as the ingredients come together.

Step 5: Add the Festive Sprinkles

Gently fold in the red and green sprinkles using a light hand. Use as few strokes as possible to distribute them throughout the batter. Overmixing at this stage can cause the sprinkles to bleed their color, creating an unappealing muddy appearance instead of distinct colorful specks.

The goal is to see sprinkles evenly distributed throughout the batter while maintaining their individual colors and shapes.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, using a spatula to spread it evenly and smooth the top. If desired, sprinkle the top with coarse sugar for a sparkly finish and extra crunch, along with additional sprinkles for visual appeal.

Bake for 45-55 minutes, checking for doneness around the 40-minute mark. The bread is ready when it’s golden brown on top and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached. If the top starts browning too quickly before the center is done, tent it loosely with aluminum foil.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. This resting period lets the structure set, making it easier to remove without crumbling. After this initial cooling, use the parchment paper to lift the loaf out of the pan and transfer it to a wire cooling rack.

Let the bread cool completely before slicing—this takes about an hour but is essential for clean cuts. Cutting into warm bread results in gummy, squished slices that don’t showcase the beautiful sprinkle distribution.

Pro Tips for Perfect Buttermilk Bread

Room Temperature Ingredients: Bring eggs and buttermilk to room temperature before mixing. Room temperature ingredients blend together more smoothly and create a better emulsion, resulting in a more uniform texture.

Don’t Overmix: This cannot be stressed enough. Mix just until combined—a few lumps are fine. Overmixing develops gluten, which makes quick breads tough and chewy rather than tender and cake-like.

Test for Doneness: Insert a toothpick in the center of the loaf. It should come out clean or with a few dry crumbs. If you see wet batter, continue baking and check again in 5 minutes.

Cooling is Essential: Resist the temptation to slice the bread while warm. Cooling allows the structure to set properly and makes slicing much easier and cleaner.

Use Quality Sprinkles: Invest in good-quality jimmies that won’t bleed. Wilton and Sweetapolita make excellent sprinkles that maintain their color beautifully.

Creative Variations and Add-Ins

White Chocolate Cranberry: Fold in ½ cup white chocolate chips and ¼ cup dried cranberries for a sophisticated holiday twist.

Almond Extract Version: Replace 1 teaspoon of vanilla with almond extract for a bakery-style almond flavor that pairs beautifully with the sprinkles.

Citrus Zest: Add 1 tablespoon of orange or lemon zest to the batter for bright, fresh citrus notes that lighten the sweetness.

Nuts and Cranberries: Fold in ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans along with dried cranberries for added texture and tartness.

Mini Loaves: Divide the batter among 3-4 mini loaf pans for perfect gift-sized portions. Reduce baking time to approximately 30-35 minutes.

Muffin Version: Fill lined muffin cups about ¾ full and bake for 18-22 minutes for festive breakfast muffins that are perfect for grab-and-go mornings.

Glazed Version: Drizzle cooled bread with a simple vanilla glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract for extra sweetness and visual appeal.

Serving Suggestions

This versatile Christmas sprinkle buttermilk bread works beautifully for multiple occasions throughout the holiday season.

For Breakfast: Serve toasted slices with butter, cream cheese, or a drizzle of honey. Pair with fresh fruit, yogurt, and coffee for a complete breakfast spread.

For Brunch: Slice and arrange on a festive platter alongside other holiday treats. It pairs wonderfully with quiche, fruit salad, and hot beverages.

For Dessert: Serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or a dusting of powdered sugar for an easy yet impressive holiday dessert.

For Gifting: Wrap a cooled loaf in parchment paper, place in a decorative cellophane bag, and tie with ribbon. Add a handwritten recipe card for a personal touch.

Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions

Room Temperature Storage: Store the completely cooled bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The bread stays moist thanks to the buttermilk.

Refrigeration: For longer storage, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to one week. Bring slices to room temperature or warm briefly before serving.

Freezing: This bread freezes beautifully for up to 2 months. Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and place in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature for several hours. You can also slice before freezing and thaw individual slices as needed.

Make-Ahead Tips: Mix the dry ingredients and measure out the wet ingredients the night before for quick assembly in the morning. The bread also tastes even better the day after baking as the flavors have time to develop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use whole wheat flour? You can substitute up to half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour, but the texture will be denser and less tender. For best results, use white whole wheat flour.

Why did my sprinkles bleed? This usually happens when using nonpareils instead of jimmies, or when overmixing the batter after adding sprinkles. Fold gently and use rod-shaped jimmies for best results.

Can I make this dairy-free? Substitute the buttermilk with dairy-free milk plus vinegar, and use dairy-free butter. Results may vary slightly in flavor and texture.

Is this bread supposed to crack on top? Yes! A crack down the center is normal and actually desirable in quick breads. It shows the bread rose properly during baking.

Can I reduce the sugar? You can reduce the sugar by up to ¼ cup, but the bread will be less sweet and have a slightly different texture.

This Christmas sprinkle buttermilk bread is the perfect combination of festive fun and delicious simplicity. With its moist, tender crumb and cheerful sprinkles, it brings joy to holiday mornings and makes a thoughtful homemade gift. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or yourself, this easy recipe is sure to become a beloved holiday tradition!