Whether you’re craving a slice of comfort or prepping for a festive gathering, the Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread delivers. Its cake‐like crumb brings back sugar‐cookie vibes, while the loaf shape makes it shareable. The crunchy pistachios and red/green/white chocolate sprinkles give holiday visual appeal—without much fuss.
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The quick‐bread appeal and sugar‐cookie nostalgia
Quick breads are among the most accessible baking projects: no yeast, no long rise, less equipment. They bake in a loaf pan and slice neatly. Many holiday cookies bring joy—but this bread gives you that cookie‐feeling in every slice. If you love seasonal loaves, you might also like the “Juicy, Rustic Pumpkin Bread with Golden Crust and Moist Autumn Crumb” from our collection.
Why buttermilk + brown butter elevate the texture
Buttermilk acts by tenderising gluten and creating a soft crumb, thanks to its acidity. Brown butter adds nutty depth and richness—even in a loaf that includes colorful, playful sprinkles. That combination makes this bread feel special rather than just “another quick loaf”.
Key Ingredients for Your Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread
Here’s a breakdown of why each main ingredient matters.
The role of buttermilk and vanilla bean paste
- Buttermilk: gives a moist, tender crumb and slight tang to balance sweetness.
- Vanilla bean paste: richer flavour than standard vanilla extract; adds visual specks of vanilla beans for that bakery‐look.
- Brown butter: melted unsalted butter cooked until it develops nutty golden‐brown bits—adds flavour and aroma.
Combined, they transform this loaf from basic to memorable.
Sprinkles, white chocolate and crushed pistachios—holiday flair
- Red, green, white chocolate sprinkles: fold into batter to bring bursts of colour that melt slightly and give fun texture.
- White chocolate chips or chunks (optional) can melt slightly into the crumb for pockets of creaminess.
- Crushed pistachios: trendy nut on U.S. holiday baking scenes. They add crunch, nutty flavour, and beautiful green‐speckled finishing touches.
Together, these bring nostalgia and contemporary flair.
If you love this recipe, check out our Banana Bread recipe for another cozy, crowd-pleasing treat.
Equipment & Prep Tips Before Baking Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread
Loaf pan size, parchment, and lining tricks
- Use a 9×5-inch loaf pan for standard size.
- Line with parchment paper extending over sides (“handles”) for easy removal and neat slicing.
- Lightly spray or butter the pan so parchment stays in place while adding batter.
How to melt brown butter, measure sprinkles without bleeding
- To brown butter: melt in a light‐coloured saucepan on medium heat; swirl occasionally until bits foam and turn light brown. Transfer promptly to cool slightly so the heat doesn’t scorch the batter.
- Measure sprinkles last. To prevent bleeding of colours, fold them gently in. One sweet bread recipe notes: “the colours won’t run during baking” when using sprinkles vs nonpareils.
- Pre‐heat oven and adjust rack to upper third of oven for best heat distribution.
Step‐by‐Step: How to Make Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread
Mixing the wet and dry ingredients
- Pre‐heat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Line a 9×5‐inch loaf pan with parchment.
- In a large bowl whisk together dry ingredients: all‐purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients: cooled melted brown butter, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla bean paste (or extract).
- Pour wet into dry; stir until just combined (avoid over‐mixing to keep bread tender).
Folding in sprinkles and baking to perfection
- Gently fold in the red, green, white sprinkles (and white chocolate chunks, if using).
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan, smoothing top.
- Bake for ~45-50 minutes or until centre is set and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let bread cool in pan for ~5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling completely (important for glaze step).
The Almond Glaze & Pistachio Finish for Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread
Glaze ingredients and why we choose almond flavour
- The glaze brings sweetness, shine and visual appeal.
- Use powdered sugar, a splash of buttermilk (or milk), a little almond extract (or vanilla), and optionally some light corn syrup for sheen.
- Almond flavour is subtle and pairs beautifully with vanilla bean and brown butter — it also plays into the pistachio nut theme.
Final touches: drizzle patterns and crunchy pistachio topping
Once the bread is cooled:
- Whisk glaze until thick‐pourable.
- Drizzle over the top of the loaf in zig‐zag lines.
- Immediately after drizzling, sprinkle crushed pistachios over the glaze so they stick and set.
- Optionally, scatter a few extra sprinkles on top for extra festivity.
Serving & Storage of Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread
Best occasions—Christmas morning, bake sales, café style dessert
- Serve warm slices with coffee or hot cocoa on Christmas morning.
- Wrap slices in cellophane or small boxes for bake sales, holiday gift loaves.
- Offer as a dessert in a cozy café‐style setting: slice thick, plate with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, and garnish with pistachios and a dusting of powdered sugar.
- Because it uses quick‐bread methods (no yeast), it suits busy holiday mornings.
How to store, slice, wrap, freeze for later
- At room temperature: store in an airtight container or wrap in foil for up to 2-3 days.
- In the fridge: up to a week (glaze texture might firm).
- Freezing: Once cooled, wrap the whole loaf or individual slices in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in fridge or reheat slices gently in oven.
- Tip: For best presentation, slice after glaze is set but before wrapping for freezer gift loaves.
If you love this recipe, check out our Dessert for another cozy, crowd-pleasing treat.
Nutrition & Ingredient Swaps for Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread
Estimated nutrition table
| Per Slice (assuming 10 slices) | Approximate* |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~300-350 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | ~45-50 g |
| Fat | ~12-15 g |
| Sugar | ~20-25 g |
| Protein | ~4-5 g |
*Note: estimates vary with specific ingredients, sprinkles and pistachios used.
Healthier swaps – e.g., sugar reduction, gluten‐aware options
- Swap half the sugar for coconut sugar or reduce by ¼ for less sweetness.
- Use whole wheat pastry flour or 50/50 AP + whole wheat for added fibre (though crumb may be slightly denser).
- Use Greek yogurt instead of some buttermilk for extra protein and tender crumb.
- For a gluten-aware version: modify to a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend (note: texture may vary).
- To lower sugar further: pick sprinkles with less sugar bloom, or replace sprinkles with chopped dark chocolate bits and fewer candy sprinkles.
Frequently Asked Questions about Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread
FAQ Section
Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
Yes—if you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk, let stand for 5 minutes, then use. This will mimic the acidity of buttermilk and help tenderise the crumb.
Which sprinkles are best for baking so colours don’t bleed?
Use rod‐shaped sprinkles (“jimmies”) that are designed for baking, rather than small non-pareils which might bleed colour.
Can I turn this recipe into muffins instead of a loaf?
Yes—you can divide batter into muffin tins, reduce baking time (approx. 18-22 minutes) and create festive sprinkle muffins. Adjust size and check with a toothpick.
How do I tell when the bread is fully baked?
Insert a toothpick into the centre—if it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, it’s done. Also the loaf should pull slightly from the sides of the pan and the top appear set.
Can I omit the pistachios if someone has a nut allergy?
Absolutely—skip the pistachios and you’ll still have a festive, moist, flavourful loaf thanks to the sprinkles and glaze. You might substitute toasted oats or seeds (like pumpkin seeds) for crunch instead.
Why Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread Belongs on Your Holiday Table
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 slices
Description
This Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread combines the nostalgia of soft sugar cookies with the cozy texture of a quick bread. Made with creamy buttermilk, vanilla bean paste, and melted brown butter, it’s fluffy, moist, and full of cheerful red, green and white chocolate sprinkles. A drizzle of almond glaze and a sprinkle of crushed pistachios make it a standout for Christmas mornings or cozy café-style desserts.
Ingredients
- For the Bread
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted and browned
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract)
- ½–1 cup red, green and white chocolate sprinkles (“jimmies”)
- ½ cup white chocolate chunks (optional)
- For the Almond Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 Tbsp buttermilk (or milk)
- ½ tsp almond extract (or vanilla)
- 1 Tbsp light corn syrup (optional for shine)
- ¼–½ cup crushed pistachios (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.
- Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Whisk wet ingredients in another bowl: browned butter, buttermilk, eggs and vanilla bean paste.
- Mix together: Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir gently until just combined — don’t over-mix.
- Add the fun: Fold in sprinkles and optional white chocolate chunks with a spatula.
- Bake: Pour batter into pan and smooth top. Bake 45–50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the bread cool 5 minutes in the pan, then lift out using the parchment and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make the glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar, buttermilk, almond extract and corn syrup until smooth and thick-pourable.
- Drizzle and decorate: Drizzle the glaze over the cooled loaf, then immediately sprinkle crushed pistachios and a few extra sprinkles on top.
- Set and serve: Let the glaze set before slicing and serving.
Notes
Use baking-safe jimmies instead of nonpareils to prevent color bleeding.
Substitute 1 cup milk + 1 Tbsp lemon juice for buttermilk in a pinch.
Freeze slices for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
Optional add-ins: ½ tsp almond extract in the batter, or swap pistachios for candied almonds.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Bread, Dessert, Holiday, Quick Bread
- Cuisine: American
Conclusion – Why You’ll Love Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread & Link to More
The Easy Festive Buttermilk Sprinkle Bread brings together soft sugar‐cookie familiarity and quick-bread ease. With buttermilk’s tenderising power, brown butter’s richness, holiday-coloured sprinkles, and a nutty pistachio glaze finish—it’s the kind of bake that looks special and tastes irresistible. Whether you’re slicing thick for Christmas morning, wrapping up for a bake sale, or offering café-style dessert at home, this loaf fits the bill. If you love browsing similar loaves, check out the savory twist in our “Irresistible Cheddar & Chive Irish Soda Bread” recipe.
If you love this recipe, check out our Banana Bread for another cozy, crowd-pleasing treat.
Happy baking—and may your kitchen smell like holiday comfort.
