This post is sponsored in conjunction with ChristmasSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the ChristmasSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.
Welcome to #ChristmasSweetsWeek 2018 hosted by Terri from Love and Confections and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures! What better way to celebrate the holidays than with food and a fun giveaway? 44 bloggers from around the country have come together to share over 180 sweet Christmas recipes!!
Can I just tell you that work has been really crazy these last few weeks? I know that it always gets tough around the holidays but I've been stressing more than usual. I'm not sure if it's the fact that I feel like I have a large amount of IEP's to write in a short amount of time, that I don't quite have enough planning time to get it all done, or that when I do have time the kids tend to need me for something.
Since it's been a stressful time I've been doing more baking at home. I swear baking is the way I relax at home. Once I get into the rhythm it's actually very soothing. Plus, J likes helping me in the kitchen so I can get all of my prep work done while he is awake and then do the actual baking once he takes his nap. Baking is therapeutic to me.
I tend to make a lot of quick breads around the holidays. They are easy to make because there is no rising time and you can add fruits and spices tailored to whoever you are giving them too. They make great holiday food gifts and are easy to take to holiday parties and gatherings.
I've actually made several versions of this Christmas Cranberry Bread in the past but I have to admit I like this one the best. I feel like I say that a lot but I take what I've made in the past, change things for the better, and it usually turns out even better then the last time. This bread is no different.
The cranberry bread is a cross between a quick bread and a pound cake base. There's lots of butter and Dixie Crystals sugar in the batter. I use whole and chopped up fresh cranberries to give it a bit of tartness along with the sweetness from the sugar. There's also a rich, creaminess from the white chocolate that goes into the bread.
Once the bread comes out of the oven and cools you can choose to drizzle white chocolate over the top. If you don't want to do that you can make an orange glaze instead. Whatever you make you then need to sprinkle dried cranberries on top of the chocolate or glaze before it hardens. I also thought it would be fun to put red and green sprinkles on top and it really made it look festive!
This bread is perfect for holiday parties because you can make a loaf or two and cut it into small slices for guests. It's a pretty sturdy bread so it can be eaten while walking. The sweetness of the bread and white chocolate it totally balanced with the tartness of the cranberries. I think it's the perfect combination!
- 1⅔ c. flour
- 1 t. baking powder
- 1 t. cinnamon
- ½ t. salt
- ¾ c. butter, softened
- 1 c. Dixie Crystals sugar
- ½ c.Dixie Crystals brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 t. vanilla
- ¾ c. milk
- 4 oz. white chocolate, cut into chunks
- 1 c. fresh cranberries, half left whole and half chopped
- 2 oz. white chocolate
- ¼ c. dried cranberries
- red and green sprinkles
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl mix together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Mix until combined.
- Add in the eggs and mix well.
- Stir in the vanilla.
- Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix well. Add in the milk and mix until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until just combined.
- Fold in the white chocolate chunks and cranberries.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Place the white chocolate in a microwave safe dish and microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring after each heating, until melted.
- Place white chocolate in a zip top baggie, snip off the end, and drizzle over the cooled bread.
- Quickly sprinkle the top of the bread with dried cranberries and sprinkles.
- Allow the chocolate to harden 30 minutes then slice and enjoy!
#ChristmasSweetsWeek recipes:
Beverages:
Brownie Batter Hot Chocolate Mix from The Spiffy Cookie
Christmas Flip from Our Good Life
Easy Cranberry Orange Madras from Love and Confections
Glogg from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Grinch Cocoa with Peppermint Marshmallows from Kate's Recipe Box
Salted Caramel Toffee Martini from Family Around the Table
Sparkling Snowfall Cocktail from Seduction in the Kitchen
Sugar Cookie Martini from The Redhead Baker
Breakfast:
Christmas Cranberry Bread from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Easy Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree from Jonesin' For Taste
Overnight Caramel French Toast from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
Candies:
Cherry Mash Truffles from Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Chocolate Covered Orange Cheesecake Truffles from Cooking with Carlee
Dark Chocolate Cherry & Peppermint Snowflake Bark from Sweet Beginnings
Grinch Fudge Topped Brownies from Big Bear's Wife
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Fudge from Lady Behind the Curtain
Red Velvet Fudge from Live Love Texas
Desserts:
Black Forest Tiramisu Parfait from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Chocolate Bundt Cake from Juggling Act Mama
Chocolate Eggnog Cupcakes from The Crumby Kitchen
Christmas Chocolate Chip Sprinkles Butter Cookies from Moore or Less Cooking
Cookie Butter Pudding Cups from The Beard and The Baker
Cranberry Almond Ecstasy Bars from Tip Garden
Date Filled Cookies from Platter Talk
Easy Snickerdoodle Cake from Daily Dish Recipes
Eggnog Blossom Cookies from Blogghetti
Eggnog cookies from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Gingerbread Cheesecake Trifle from My Suburban Kitchen
Gingerbread Cupcakes with Eggnog Buttercream from Tara's Multicultural Table
Glazed Gingerbread Loaf from 4 Sons 'R' Us
Marbled Star Cookies from Eat Move Make
Mint Chip Cookies from The Mandatory Mooch
No Bake Peppermint Eggnog Pie from Who Needs A Cape?
Peppermint Shortbread from Cheese Curd in Paradise
Pepper Jelly Rugelach from Take Two Tapas
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies from April Golightly
Sugar Cookie Cheesecake from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
Toffee Thumbprint Cookies from The Bitter Side of Sweet
Ugly Sweater Cake from Mildly Meandering
Vanilla Yogurt Mousse with Cinnamon Apples from With Two Spoons
Vegan Hot Chocolate Layer Cake from The Baking Fairy
Winter Wonderland Snack Mix from An Affair from the Heart
Pamela Stevenson
I make Capuccino Biscotti every year with my friend.
April
We make homemade cinnamon roll dough on xmas eve, so all we have to do is pop it in the oven on xmas morning, while opening presents!
Audrey Stewart
We pick one day to make and decorate sugar cookies as a family.
Christy Maurer
My favorite is making and eating cut-out cookies! I don't make them except for at Christmas so they're special.
Tara
Such a festive bread for the holidays!