Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread Recipe

The aroma of sweet, buttery Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread wafting through your home is the perfect way to welcome the holiday season. This festive quick bread combines the cheerful appearance of colorful sprinkles with the rich, tender crumb of a homemade loaf that’s surprisingly simple to make. Each slice reveals a beautiful canvas of vibrant holiday sprinkles scattered throughout a vanilla-scented batter, making it an instant hit with both kids and adults. You’ll learn how to create this eye-catching Christmas Funfetti Bread with minimal effort, perfect for holiday breakfasts, afternoon tea, or thoughtful homemade gifts.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread will quickly become a holiday tradition in your home for so many reasons. First, the contrast between the tender, moist crumb and the slight crunch from the festive sprinkles creates an irresistible texture experience in every bite. The simplicity of preparation makes it accessible even during the busy holiday season—just mix, fold, bake, and enjoy!

The bread’s versatility is another winning quality. Enjoy it plain for breakfast with coffee, toast it lightly and spread with butter for an afternoon treat, or dress it up with a simple glaze for a more dessert-like offering. The vibrant holiday colors scattered throughout make it visually striking on any table setting without requiring any special decorating skills.

Most importantly, this recipe creates those meaningful sensory memories that define the holidays—the sweet aroma filling your kitchen, the colorful appearance that brings smiles, and the comforting taste that makes everyone feel like they’re celebrating something special.

Ingredients

For this festive Christmas Funfetti Bread, you’ll need:

• 2½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
• ⅓ cup (75g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (pure, not imitation, for best flavor)
• ⅔ cup (100g) holiday sprinkles (jimmies work best, avoid nonpareils as they bleed color)

For the optional glaze:

• 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Holiday sprinkles for topping

The quality of your vanilla extract makes a significant difference in this recipe, as it’s the primary flavor alongside the subtle sweetness. The holiday sprinkles add festive color without overwhelming the delicate flavor profile of this Funfetti Bread.

Pro Tips

Select the Right Sprinkles
The type of sprinkles you choose can make or break your Christmas Funfetti Bread. Jimmy sprinkles (the longer, rod-shaped ones) or confetti sprinkles (flat circles) work best as they hold their shape and color during baking. Avoid nonpareils (tiny balls) as they tend to bleed color throughout the batter, giving you a muddied appearance rather than distinct colorful pops. For a truly Christmas-themed bread, choose red and green sprinkles with perhaps some white or gold for extra holiday charm.

Proper Mixing Technique
To achieve the perfect tender crumb in your Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread, be careful not to overmix the batter once the flour is added. Overmixing develops gluten, resulting in a tougher, less tender bread. Mix just until the flour disappears, then gently fold in your sprinkles with a spatula rather than a mixer. This gentle folding also prevents the sprinkles from bleeding their colors too much into the batter.

Temperature Matters
Ensure all refrigerated ingredients (eggs, milk, butter) are at room temperature before mixing. This creates a more uniform batter that bakes evenly. Additionally, let your loaf cool completely before slicing—though it’s tempting to cut into warm bread, allowing it to cool fully helps the structure set properly, giving you clean slices that showcase the colorful sprinkle pattern throughout your Christmas Funfetti Bread.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Your Equipment
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan thoroughly, then line with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides for easy removal. This preparation ensures your Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread will release perfectly after baking.

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined. This thorough mixing ensures leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout your bread for an even rise.

Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients
In a separate medium bowl, whisk the eggs until lightly beaten. Add the milk, melted butter (make sure it’s not hot, just warm), and vanilla extract. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and well combined. The vanilla provides that signature flavor that makes Christmas Funfetti Bread so irresistible.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Make a well in the center of your dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into this well and stir gently with a wooden spoon or spatula just until combined. Remember to avoid overmixing—a few small lumps are preferable to an overworked batter.

Step 5: Add the Festive Touch
Gently fold in most of your holiday sprinkles, reserving about 2 tablespoons for topping. Use a light hand to preserve the distinct colors and prevent bleeding. This careful folding technique ensures your Funfetti Bread has that beautiful confetti appearance.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the reserved colorful jimmies on top for an extra festive appearance. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil after about 40 minutes.

Step 7: Cool and Finish
Allow your Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before lifting it out using the parchment paper handles. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. If desired, prepare the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth, then drizzle over the cooled bread and immediately top with additional sprinkles.

Variations

Chocolate Christmas Funfetti Bread
Transform your Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread into a chocolate lover’s dream by replacing ¼ cup of flour with unsweetened cocoa powder. The dark background makes the festive sprinkles pop even more dramatically, creating a beautiful contrast. Add ½ cup of white chocolate chips to enhance the holiday feel while complementing the chocolate base perfectly. This variation maintains the festive spirit while offering a richer flavor profile.

Citrus Christmas Funfetti Bread
For a refreshing twist, add the zest of one orange or lemon to your batter. The bright citrus notes elevate the Christmas Funfetti Bread with a hint of sophisticated flavor that adults will particularly appreciate. You can enhance this version further with a citrus glaze by adding a tablespoon of fresh juice and some zest to your powdered sugar. The combination of citrus and vanilla creates a complex yet comforting flavor profile perfect for holiday mornings.

Eggnog Funfetti Bread
Capture the essence of the season by replacing the milk with the same amount of eggnog and adding ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg to the dry ingredients. This variation infuses your Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread with the distinctive holiday flavor of eggnog while maintaining the festive appearance. Top with a rum-flavored glaze (use extract, not actual rum) for an extra special holiday treat.

Storage and Serving

Your Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread stays fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days when wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a week, though the texture is best when enjoyed within the first few days. You can also freeze slices individually wrapped in plastic and aluminum foil for up to 3 months—perfect for extending your holiday enjoyment or preparing ahead for festive mornings.

For a delightful breakfast presentation, lightly toast slices and spread with softened cream cheese or butter. The slight warmth enhances the vanilla aroma and creates a wonderful contrast with the colorful sprinkles. For a more indulgent dessert option, serve thick slices slightly warmed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of warm white chocolate sauce.

This Christmas Funfetti Bread also makes a wonderful component of a holiday brunch board—slice it thick and arrange alongside fresh berries, yogurt, and other breakfast pastries for a visually striking and delicious spread that will delight guests of all ages.

FAQs

Can I make this Christmas Funfetti Bread ahead of time?
Absolutely! This Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread can be made 1-2 days in advance of when you plan to serve it. In fact, the flavors develop nicely overnight, making it even more delicious the next day.

Why did my sprinkles bleed colors into the batter?
This typically happens with certain types of sprinkles, particularly nonpareils (the tiny ball sprinkles). For best results, use jimmy sprinkles or confetti sprinkles, and fold them in gently at the very end of mixing.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
Yes, you can substitute the whole milk with almond, soy, or oat milk and use a plant-based butter alternative. The texture may be slightly different, but your Christmas Funfetti Bread will still be delicious.

Is it possible to make this into muffins instead of a loaf?
Definitely! This batter works beautifully as muffins. Fill lined muffin cups about ⅔ full and bake at the same temperature for approximately 18-22 minutes. This adaptation makes for perfect individual servings of Funfetti Bread.

Can I reduce the sugar in this recipe?
You can reduce the sugar by up to ¼ cup without significantly affecting the texture. However, keep in mind that this is a sweet bread meant to be a treat, and reducing sugar too much will impact both flavor and the bread’s moisture level.

Conclusion

This Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread is holiday baking at its finest — festive, colorful, and bringing pure joy with every slice. It’s the kind of treat that transforms ordinary December mornings into celebrations and makes your kitchen the most magical place in the house. Whether you’re sharing it with excited children on Christmas morning or serving it to friends at a holiday gathering, this colorful bread delivers the perfect balance of simplicity and specialness that defines the best holiday traditions. Make this recipe part of your Christmas repertoire, and watch as it becomes one of those treasured favorites that everyone asks for year after year.

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