There’s something magical about baking bread during Christmas. The smell fills your kitchen with warmth, and the taste brings comfort to every table.
Christmas bread isn’t just food—it’s a celebration of tradition, family, and flavor.
From sweet loaves glazed with icing to spiced breads filled with fruit, each recipe tells its own festive story.
7 Fluffy Christmas Bread Recipes
Here are seven Christmas bread recipes that will make your holiday mornings and dinners unforgettable.
1. Classic Stollen
A German Christmas favorite, Stollen is a sweet yeast bread packed with dried fruit, nuts, and marzipan. It’s rich, fragrant, and best enjoyed with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- ¾ cup warm milk
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 cup mixed dried fruit
- ½ cup chopped almonds
- 4 oz marzipan
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, combine yeast and warm milk. Let it sit until foamy. Add butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, and cardamom. Gradually mix in flour until a soft dough forms.
Add Fruit and Nuts: Knead the dough and incorporate dried fruit and almonds. Let it rise for about an hour.
Shape and Bake: Flatten the dough, place marzipan in the center, and fold it over. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 35–40 minutes.
Finish: Cool slightly, then dust generously with powdered sugar.
2. Italian Panettone
Panettone is a tall, airy bread filled with citrus zest and raisins. It’s lightly sweet and perfect with morning coffee.
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup warm milk
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- Zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon
- ¾ cup raisins
- ½ cup candied orange peel
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
Make the Dough: Dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add sugar, butter, eggs, zest, and salt. Gradually mix in flour until smooth.
Add Fruits: Stir in raisins and candied peel. Knead the dough well and let it rise for 2 hours.
Bake: Place dough in a tall greased pan. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 40 minutes until golden.
Cool and Serve: Let it cool completely before slicing.
3. Finnish Pulla Bread
This soft, braided bread is scented with cardamom and topped with pearl sugar. It’s subtly sweet and incredibly aromatic.
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour
- 1 cup warm milk
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 packet yeast
- ½ cup butter
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- Pearl sugar for topping
Instructions
Activate Yeast: Mix yeast with warm milk and a pinch of sugar. Let it foam.
Make Dough: Add melted butter, sugar, egg, and cardamom. Mix in flour gradually. Knead until smooth.
Shape and Bake: Let rise for 1 hour, then braid the dough. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle pearl sugar. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes.
4. Irish Barmbrack
Barmbrack is a fruit-studded loaf often enjoyed toasted with butter. Traditionally, it held charms inside to tell fortunes for the new year.
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed dried fruit
- 1 cup strong brewed tea
- 2 cups self-rising flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp mixed spice
Instructions
Soak the Fruit: Soak dried fruit in tea overnight.
Mix the Batter: Combine flour, sugar, spice, and egg. Stir in soaked fruit and any remaining tea.
Bake: Pour into a loaf pan and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 1 hour. Cool before slicing.
5. Swedish Saffron Bread (Lussekatter)
Bright yellow saffron buns that are soft, lightly sweet, and shaped into beautiful spirals. They’re a Swedish Christmas classic.
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups flour
- 1 cup milk
- ½ tsp saffron threads
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 packet yeast
- 1 egg
- Raisins for garnish
Instructions
Infuse Saffron: Warm milk and steep saffron in it. Add butter and let it cool slightly.
Prepare Dough: Mix yeast, sugar, egg, and saffron milk. Add flour gradually and knead until smooth.
Shape and Bake: Divide dough, roll into ropes, and form S-shapes. Place raisins in the curls. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 12–15 minutes.
6. Cranberry Orange Bread
This quick bread bursts with tart cranberries and zesty orange flavor. It’s festive, moist, and easy to make.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- ¾ cup orange juice
- ⅓ cup melted butter
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk orange juice, melted butter, and egg.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Combine and Bake: Stir wet into dry. Fold in cranberries and zest. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 50 minutes. Cool before slicing.
7. Gingerbread Loaf
Rich with molasses and spice, this loaf brings the essence of Christmas to every bite. It’s moist, dark, and full of warmth.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp cloves
- 1 egg
Instructions
Make the Batter: Cream butter and sugar, then add egg and molasses. Dissolve baking soda in hot water and add it in.
Add Dry Ingredients: Mix in flour and spices until smooth.
Bake: Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45–50 minutes. Let it cool before slicing.
Conclusion
Christmas bread is more than just a baked treat—it’s a tradition that brings families together. Whether you choose a fruit-filled loaf or a spiced bun, these breads fill the season with comfort and joy.
Bake one, share it, and enjoy the warmth that only homemade bread can bring during the holidays.