Best Christmas Bread Recipes

GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• In bread machine pan, place the first seven ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select basic bread setting. Choose crust color and loaf size if available. Bake according to bread machine directions (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed)., Just before the final kneading (your bread machine may audibly signal this), add the raisins, currants and lemon zest. In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over cooled bread.

CHRISTMAS EGGNOG BREAD

Steps:

• Beat sugar and egg in mixing bowl.
• Beat in melted butter.
• Add eggnog and extract. Mix.
• Sift flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg over the eggnog mixture.
• Stir until moistened.
• Mix in nuts and fruit.
• Turn into greased 9x9x3 loaf pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour until an inserted wooden pick comes out clean.
• Let stand for 20 minutes.
• Turn out onto rack to cool.
• Variations: Use measurements above.
• Pecan and Dried Cranberries.
• Pineapple and Coconut (drain pineapple).
• Walnut and Raisin (raisins soaked in Apricot brandy or any other fruity juice and then drained).

SOUTHERN STYLE CHRISTMAS BREAD PUDDING WITH BOURBON SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove crusts from bread and reserve. Cut bread slices into cubes. In a large bowl, beat eggs well. Add milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, Grand Marnier and mix well. Add cinnamon, juice, and lemon zest. Stir in cherries and raisins. Add bread cubes and stir until well coated. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring often. If mixture is soupy, you may need to add additional slices of white bread (crusts removed.) The mixture should be wet but not soupy. Pour into buttered baking dish, dusted with sugar. Prepare topping in a food processor. Add crusts, butter and brown sugar, pulsing until mixture is crumbly. Spread evenly over top of pudding. Bake in a water bath for 50 minutes covered with foil. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes or until brown on top. Serve with bourbon sauce.
• Mix eggs, butter, and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and 1/2 cup bourbon. In top of a double boiler cook until temperature reads 165 on a thermometer. Beating constantly and being careful not to curdle eggs. Remove from heat and strain. In a mixer bowl, beat sauce until slightly cool, adding remaining bourbon a little at a time. Serve with bread pudding.

CHRISTMAS WREATH BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the butter, milk powder, sugar, egg, salt and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into an 18x12-in. rectangle. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with chopped almonds and cinnamon to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal., Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; pinch ends together to form a ring. With scissors, cut from outside edge to two-thirds of the way toward center of ring at 1-in. intervals. Separate strips slightly; twist to allow filling to show. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes., Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Combine confectioners' sugar, water and extract; drizzle over warm bread.

YULEKAKE - NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• in a heatproof bowl, put all raisins together and cover with approximately 5 cups of boiling water to soften. set aside.
• mix the 2 packages of dry yeast with 1/2 cup of warm water. mix well and let sit.
• boil 2 cups of milk until scalded. turn down heat to medium and add the 3/4 cup of butter until melted. remove from heat and set aside.
• in a large bowl measure 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 of the container of cardamom. mix well.
• add the two beaten eggs to the dry mixture. then add the milk/butter mixture. gradually add 6 of the 8 cups of flour and the dissolved yeast.
• drain the raisins. add the raisins and citron to the mix. now add the remaining 2 cups of flour.
• time to knead the bread! i use my heavy-duty mixer as it is easier on my hands and back. if manual knead, place dough on floured breadboard and knead completely.
• once the bread is kneaded, place into a large pre-floured bowl and cover with a dish towel or cloth allowing it to rise for 1 hour.
• after the dough has risen, cut it into two loaves. place each into a pre-greased, pre-floured baking loaf pan.
• again, cover each loaf pan and allow to rise for another hour.
• before placing the loaves into a pre-heated 300 degree oven, cut the top of each loaf with an X design, or a fancy cut design of your choice, and brush with 1 beaten egg.
• bake the loaves for 45 minutes at 300 degrees. increase the heat to 325 degrees for the next 30-45 minutes (test after 30 minutes with a toothpick for doneness - make take longer, make take less depending on your oven temperature).
• remove the loaves from the oven and brush with 2 tablespoons of melted butter.
• let loaves cool completely before removing from pans.
• note: if you choose to omit the citron, which i do often, use 2 cups each of the golden and regular raisins instead.

CHRISTMAS BISHOP'S BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla., In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Fold in chocolate chips, raisins, pecans and cherries., Transfer to a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake 65-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack., In a small bowl, mix glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over warm bread.

NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, egg, butter, salt, cardamom and 2 cups flour; mix well. Stir in raisins, citron and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to greased top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down; divide in half. Shape each portion into a flattened ball. Place in two greased 9-in. round baking pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to cool on wire racks.

PANETTONE CHRISTMAS BREAD FOR THE BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• Add all ingredients in order giving except the fruit.
• Add fruit in on the "add in" beep on "sweet bread" setting on "light crust".

CHRISTMAS STAR TWISTED BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water until foamy. In another bowl, combine milk, egg, butter, sugar and salt; add yeast mixture and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 4 portions. Roll 1 portion into a 12-in. circle. Place on a greased 14-in. pizza pan. Spread with one-third of the jam to within 1/2 in. of edge. Repeat twice, layering dough and jam, and ending with final portion of dough., Place a 2-1/2-in. round cutter on top of the dough in center of circle (do not press down). With a sharp knife, make 16 evenly spaced cuts from round cutter to edge of dough, forming a starburst. Remove cutter; grasp 2 adjacent strips and rotate twice outward. Pinch ends together. Repeat with remaining strips., Cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°. Bake until golden brown, 18-22 minutes. (Watch during final 5 minutes for any dripping.) Remove from oven; brush with melted butter, avoiding areas where jam is visible. Cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

CHRISTMAS BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Beat in bananas just until combined. Stir in the walnuts, chocolate chips and cherries., Pour into a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 70-80 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

JULE KAKE NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• Fit a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour, sugar, cardamom and salt in the mixer bowl. Combine the milk, butter, yeast and 2 eggs in another bowl, then incorporate into the dry ingredients with the mixer at low speed, 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium and beat until the dough is sticky but will not stick to your hand, about 12 minutes.
• Add raisins and citron on slow speed to incorporate, about 1 minute (do not overmix).
• Let the dough relax in the mixing bowl, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Mix to knock down, then remove to a flour-dusted table.
• Divide into four pieces and let rest, covered, 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Form dough into desired shapes, such as round loaves. Beat remaining egg and paint dough with egg wash. Transfer dough to a pan. Let rise again, covered, until doubled, 1 to 2 hours. Paint again with egg wash. Bake until the loaves are deeply brown and sound hollow when tapped, 25 to 30 minutes. Let fully cool.

JULEKAKE - CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• Heat milk with sugar and butter.
• Let milk mixture cool.
• Mix together flour and cardamom and dried yeast.
• Add flour mixture to milk mixture.
• Mix well.
• Cover dough with a clean cloth, let stand in a warm place overnight.
• In the morning, work raisins and chopped citron into the dough.
• Form into loaves.
• Let rise until doubled in bulk.
• Bake at 350*.
• 45 minutes or until done.

JULEKAKE - NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• For the glaze: mix ingredients together and brush over bread before baking.
• Soften yeast in water; add milk.
• Blend in 3 cups of flour and beat until smooth.
• Cream the shortening, sugar and salt toether; add to this the beaten eggs and cardamom.
• Add to batter along with remaining flour.
• Knead until smooth, adding more flour as necessary.
• Dust fruit with a little flour and add to dough.
• Cover and let rise until doubled; punch down and let rise again until doubled.
• Divide dough into three portions and shape into loaves.
• Place in greased bread pans and dust lightly with flour.
• Cover and let rise until doubled.
• Lightly brush tops of loaves with glaze.
• Bake at 350F for 50 to 60 minutes, or until golden and done.
• Remove from oven, cool briefly in pan, then turn out onto cooling rack.

CHRISTMAS TREE PULL-APART BREAD RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Flip a baking sheet upside down and place a piece of parchment paper on top. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and Club House ranch dip seasoning. Stir until well mixed. Fold in the spinach. Set aside.
• Roll out the tube of pizza dough on a piece of parchment paper set on a flat surface. Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut from a bottom corner to the center of the top. Repeat on the other side so you have 1 full triangle and 2 halves of a triangle on either side.
• Transfer both side-triangle pieces to the prepared baking sheet. Pinch the middle seam to seal and stretch the dough to form a single triangle.
• Spread the spinach dip over a side of the triangle.
• Spread the pesto over the other side of the triangle.
• Flip the remaining dough triangle on top of the filling and remove the parchment from the top. Stretch the dough to cover completely.
• Using a pizza cutter or knife, make horizontal slices about 1 inch apart from the top to bottom, leaving the middle "trunk" of the tree intact.
• Pull the strips outwards and twist.
• In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and garlic and brush over the tree.
• Sprinkle with the Club House Italian herbs and shredded Parmesan cheese.
• Bake the tree for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and the cheese has melted.
• Serve with marinara sauce.
• Enjoy!

CHRISTMAS EGGNOG BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. In a small bowl, whisk the egg, eggnog, applesauce and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in raisins and pecans. , Transfer to two 8x4-in. loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

HOUSKA - BOHEMIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Dissolve yeast in water. Combine sugar and butter. When combined add beaten egg and salt. Stir in the scalded milk AFTER IT HAS COOLED and the yeast. Add 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Let rise about 1/2 hour. Add almonds and raisins. Mix well. Add rest of the flour to make a soft dough. Turn on board and knead until smooth. Place in a greased bowl and let rise about 45 minutes. Punch down in bowl and let rise again for 45 minutes. Then put in two greased bread pans. Let rise again for another 45 minutes. Bake 45 minutes at 325 degrees. Brush with beaten egg and 1 Tablespoon of water before baking.
• 2. This is time consuming so make sure you have plenty of time on your hands! Letting the dough rise multiple times is key to this bread! Once you taste it you will realize that it was well worth the work! A stand mixer works great when making sweet breads!

HOSKA - CZECHOSLOVAKIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water until bubbly. To the warm milk add soft butter, salt, sugar, vanilla, spices and orange rind. Let cool to lukewarm.
• Add yeast mixture and beaten eggs and mix well. Sift in 4 cups flour, stirring well, add raisins and nuts alternately. Then add remaining flour, beat until dough does not stick to bowl.
• Turn out on floured board and knead until smooth and elastic about 8 or 10 minutes. Put in greased bowl, cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down dough and divide in half. This make 2 loaves.
• Cut 4 large and 5 smaller portions, roll each into long rolls. Braid the 4 rolls forming a loaf. Put on pan lined with greased brown paper. Braid the 3 smaller rolls and place on top, then remaining 2 pieces on top.
• Brush with beaten egg whites in a little water. Let rise to double in bulk. For rich crust brush with melted butter during baking. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, lower temperature to 325 degrees for 45 minutes longer depending on how you like it.

CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the evaporated milk, sugar, shortening, salt, eggs and 2 cups of flour; beat until smooth. Stir in mixed candied fruit and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (do not knead). , Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/4 hours. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; knead 3-4 minutes. Pat evenly into a greased 10-in. tube pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly doubled, about 45 minutes. , Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to cool on a wire rack. , Combine the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough milk to reach desired consistency; drizzle over bread. Garnish with additional candied fruit if desired.

CZECH CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, milk, butter, eggs, lemon zest, salt, mace and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes or until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). , Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead in raisins. Divide dough into six equal portions. Shape each into a 20-in. rope. Place three ropes on a greased baking sheet; braid. Pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Repeat with remaining ropes. , Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Beat egg yolk and water; brush over loaves. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks.

CHRISTMAS CHERRY NUT BREAD

Steps:

• Dump everything but the cherries in a mixing bowl and beat well, scrape, and mix again.
• Add the cherries and mix well.
• Put into a greased bread pan.
• 350 oven for 60-70 minutes still a tester comes out clean.
• Remove from pan and let cool.
• Store at least 8 hours before slicing.
• Note: To substitute soured milk for buttermilk, add vinegar to the whole milk and let sit for 5 minutes before adding to the bowl. This is what I use usually.