Fruit and Berry Christmas Bread
Fruit and Berry Christmas Bread
Make the dough for this Fruit and Berry Christmas Bread right in your bread machine. Then shape the dough into a beautiful loaf and bake it in your oven. This bread is loaded with delicious dried apricots, cranberries and raisins, and cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Truly a delicious Christmas bread.
Fruit and Berry Bread is perfect for Christmas!
I have been making this Fruit and Berry Bread for so many years I’ve lost count! It’s definitely a Christmas must-have in our home. You can serve it fresh for Christmas brunch, or use it to make toast, it’s so so good! The leftovers also make great french toast.
Christmas Fruit Bread Recipe Tips
- MILK: Use room temperature milk, 2% or 3%.
- MILK and BUTTER: Make sure the milk and butter are at room temperature. Cold ingredients do not stimulate yeast growth.
- YEAST: Use fresh instant yeast, also called Bread Machine Yeast and Rapid Rise Yeast.
- FLOUR: Use all purpose flour or bread flour.
- BAKING: You can either bake this bread right in the bread machine or in your oven. The difference will be in the shape: in the bread machine you will have a ‘rectangular’ loaf, but if you prefer, you can shape the dough into loaf and bake it in your oven (this is my preferred method).
- PREPARE THE BAKING PAN: Lightly grease a large baking sheet with butter or oil, or line it with parchment paper.
- WHEN IS THE BREAD DONE BAKING? The bread loaf will sound hollow when you tap the top, and the top should be golden brown.
- FREEZING: This bread freezes well. Make sure to let the bread cool completely before freezing. I like to freeze my bread loaves in plastic bread bags.
- SLICING TIP! Don’t try to slice into your bread too soon after baking or you’ll squish it, ask me how I know.
To Bake in the Machine or Not?
This bread can either be baked right in the bread machine, or shaped and baked in your oven. The only difference will be in the shape of the loaf: in the bread machine you will have a ‘rectangular’ loaf, or you can shape the dough into a shape of your choice (circle or oval) and bake it in your oven. I prefer to shape the dough into a loaf and bake it in the oven, I like the results so much better!
A look at making this bread for oven baking:
After the dough cycle in the bread machine, shape the dough and place it on a greased baking sheet.
Cover with a damp tea towel, place in a warm space and let rise for 1 hour. The dough should double in size.
I like to dust the top with flour then score the top so it looks nice (you don’t have to do this though).
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Fruit and Berry Christmas Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (2% or whole)
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 tbsp soft butter
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 3/4 tsp ground ginger
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 2 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast
- 2/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 1/3 cup chopped dried apricots (about 10-15)
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients, except the raisins and fruit, into the bread machine in the order listed above.1 cup milk (2% or whole), 1 large egg, beaten, 2 tbsp soft butter, 3/4 tsp salt, 3 cups all purpose flour, 3 tbsp granulated sugar, 3/4 tsp ground ginger, 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 2 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast
Making Dough, then Baking in your Oven:
- If you wish to bake the bread in your oven, choose the ‘Dough’ setting.
- If your machine has a 'Fruit and Nut' addition signal, add the dried fruit at that time (it's usually after the first knead).2/3 cup dried cranberries, 1/3 cup raisins, 1/3 cup chopped dried apricots
- If your machine does not have a 'Fruit and Nut' addition signal, you can knead these into the dough once the bread has completed it's cycle.
- Shape the dough into a circle loaf (or shape of your choice).
- Prepare a baking sheet by lightly greasing it with butter or oil (or lining it with parchment paper), then place the shaped dough onto the pan.
- Cover the dough with a damp tea towel then let the dough rise in a warm space for 1 hour.
- After this time preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the tea towel.
- I like to dust the top of the loaf with a little flour, then score the top. It's just a nice touch, you don't have to do this though.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Enjoy!
More Bread Machine Recipes
Here you will find the best bread machine recipes for classic white loaves, dinner rolls, cinnamon buns and so much more!
Have a delicious day!
This recipe was originally published in 2011. I have since updated it with new pictures and more great baking tips!
Oh my! Doesn’t that look delicious! My kids are on a real “dried fruit” kick right now. I’ll be sure to make this so that I can surprise them in their lunches soon!
Found you on Miz Helen’s. I LOVEEEE how pretty this bread it…so colorful & cheerful! thanks for sharing:)
Yes I like the results of using the “dough only” function on my bread machine and then shaping and baking myself. This looks like a great recipe.
Sue 🙂
Hi Joanna,
This bread is just perfect for holiday entertaining. We would just love this bread and will try it very soon. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
This looks so good, and perfect for Christmas morning!
Kat 🙂
I found you through Foodie Friday and so glad I did! What a great bread – great spices and all off the fruits – yummy! Good for you for bypassing the bread machine this year. Making bread by hand is such a nice tactile sensation. I’ve saved this to make it this year. Thanks for sharing!
Oooo, I want these right now!
Mmm, that looks soo good Jo-Anna! I don’t have a bread machine, but I’m sending this recipe to my friend to make. : )
~ Catie
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Have a great week and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen