Sweet Iced Christmas Bread

Holiday bread with all the classic flavors and none of the marathon kneading sessions.

This bread machine loaf is loaded with maraschino cherries, chopped candied fruit, dates, and walnuts folded into a rich dough made with butter, milk, egg, and just enough sugar to keep things festive without being cloying.

Dump everything into the machine, press start, and let it work its magic. You’ll come back to a fragrant, fruit-studded loaf that looks and tastes like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen.

Slice it thick, toast it lightly, and spread with a little butter for a breakfast that feels like Christmas morning.

Pro Tips

• Chop all the fruits and nuts to roughly the same size so they distribute evenly through the dough
• Pat the cherries dry with paper towels before adding. Excess moisture can throw off the dough consistency
• Use the sweet bread or basic cycle on your machine, and check your manual for the correct ingredient order
• For the icing, mix powdered sugar with a splash of milk and drizzle over the cooled loaf