Description
A festive, aromatic Christmas bread filled with warming spices, dried fruits, and a glossy honey glaze — the perfect holiday centerpiece ready in just 3 hours.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots or raisins
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1/2 cup candied ginger (optional)
- 1 tablespoon honey + 1 tablespoon water (glaze)
Instructions
- Whisk flour, sugar, salt, yeast, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves in a mixing bowl.
- In another bowl, combine warm milk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla.
- Stir wet ingredients into dry until a shaggy dough forms; add flour if sticky.
- Knead 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic; mix in cranberries, apricots, nuts, and candied ginger.
- Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour in a warm area.
- Punch down dough and roll into a 12×8-inch rectangle; fold sides inward and roll into a cylinder.
- Place seam-side down in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan; rise 30–45 minutes.
- Bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes until golden and hollow-sounding.
- Brush hot loaf with honey-water glaze.
- Cool 10 minutes in pan, then fully on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
Ensure milk is exactly 110°F for proper yeast activation. Allow full cooling to avoid a gummy texture.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Holiday
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 195mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 45mg