Simple Sweet Bread Recipe | Julie Blanner (2024)

Sweet Bread is so incredibly easy to make and only takes5 minutes hands on time. This easy Sweet Bread recipe requires only staple ingredients:sugar,flour,baking powder,salt,eggs,milk andvegetable oil! It’s easy quick bread recipe for breakfast, snack or dessert that also makes a beautiful neighbor, hostess or holiday gift!

Sweet Bread is a quick and easy no yeast bread recipe. It is made with just staple ingredients – in minutes! It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, snacks and dessert. There are so many variations you can make with this classic recipe includingCinnamon Sweet Bread and Orange Sweet Bread, which are traditional around Christmas.

I often make it when we’re having last minute guestsfor a playdate or as a quick hostess gift. You can adapt this simple sweet bread recipe with your favorite fruits, but it’s perfection on it’s own as well. I love to slather a little butter on it for good measure.

This time of year, Michael’s offers miniature ceramic loaf pans for just $1. I always stock up on them in white to use throughout the year. They are more durable than paper loaf pans and make a beautiful gift.

This recipe yields 6 pretty little loaves, if you’re willing to share or 2 large loaves!

Sweet Bread Ingredients

  • Sugar – White granulated sugar makes this bread delightfully sweet. Optional: sprinkle sugar over the loaf just before baking for a shimmery finish.
  • Flour – All purpose flour is the foundation of this bread.
  • Baking Powder – Leavensquick bread, without the fuss! It ensures a nice even rise.
  • Salt – A hint of salt brings out the flavors of the other ingredients.
  • Eggs – The binding agent.
  • Milk – Milk creates a nice soft loaf. In addition, milk adds flavor to quick breads and gives it a beautiful brown color due to caramelization of milk and sugars!
  • Vegetable Oil – Vegetable oilmakes the bread incredibly moist, with a light and delicate crumb. You can substitute with canola oil or melted butter in a pinch.
Simple Sweet Bread Recipe | Julie Blanner (3)

How to Make Sweet Bread

  1. Combine dry ingredients.
  2. In a separate mixing bowl, combine wet ingredients.
  3. Incorporate dry mixture into wet mixture until just combined and pour into greased loaf pans.
  4. Sprinkle sugar on top to make your Sweet Bread glisten and bake! It’s SO easy!

Tips

Baking Alternatives

  • Large Loaves – Don’t want 6 miniature loaves? You can also make this Sweet Bread recipe in 2 – 1 pound loaf pans or cut the recipe in half for just 1 loaf pan and bake 50 minutes or until it passes the toothpick test.
  • Make Muffins – If you prefer to make them into muffins, just grease miniature muffin tins andfill each to 2/3 full. Bake 12 minutes.
  • Make it Ornate – Alternatively, you can also bake it in an ornate loaf pan with the same minimal effort!

Variations

  • Add a Glaze – This bread is amazing on it’s own, but you can also cover sweet bread with Glaze(or drizzle if you show any restraint).Cream Cheese Glaze, Orange Glaze Recipeor Lemon Glazeare some of our favorites! Because it makes 6 miniature loaves, you can try them all!Seriously, soooo good! Through the years we’ve made it in a variety of ways.I tend to make it as written in the recipe card below for breakfast, brunch or to serve with dinner and add a little glaze to leftovers for dessert.
  • Add Fruits – Fresh or dried! Apples, cranberries, strawberries, oranges, the options are endless!
  • Add Nuts – Walnuts, pecans or even candied nuts are a delicious addition.
  • Brown Sugar – Make it with brown sugar (see my Brown Sugar Bread recipe) for richer flavor.
  • Add Chocolate Chips
  • Experiment with Extracts – Add an extract like vanilla, lemon or almond

How to Store Bread

  • Room Temperature – Store quick breadin a sealed plastic bag or covered in saran wrapat room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • Refrigerate – Up to 1 week in an airtight container.
  • Freeze – Wrap them tightly in heavy foil, saran wrap or place them in freezer bags (I like to do at least 2 to prevent freezer odors from seeping in), and freeze for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature to serve.

If you try this recipe,please come back to share using my 5 star rating in the comments below! Not only do I appreciate it, but I know readers do, too!

Are you on the list? Subscribers receive access to my free printable library that includes “Wishing you a sweet Christmas” gift tags. Get your free copy the ebook 10 Sweet Bread Recipes as well!

I hope this sweet bread recipe makes your holiday entertaining and gifting a little easier. You can find all of my bread recipes here, includingbeer bread (which I highly recommend smothering with honey butter).

More Easy Quick Bread Recipes

  • Meltaway Muffins
  • Sweet Orange Bread
  • Cinnamon Bread
  • Funfetti Bread
  • Strawberry Muffins
  • Lemon Loaf

Simple Sweet Bread Recipe | Julie Blanner (4)

4.82 from 318 votes

Sweet Bread Recipe

By Julie Blanner

Sweet Bread is so incredibly easy to make and only takes5 minutes hands on time. This easy Sweet Bread recipe requires only staple ingredients:sugar,flour,baking powder,salt,eggs,milk andvegetable oil! It’s easy quick bread recipe for breakfast, snack or dessert that also makes a beautiful neighbor, hostess or holiday gift!

Total: 45 minutes mins

Servings: 24

PinRatePrint

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Grease 6 mini loaf pans and preheat oven to 350℉.

  • In a medium mixing bowl, add sugar, flour, baking powder and salt and whisk to combine.

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk and oil until just combined.

  • Gradually add dry mixture to wet until just moist.

  • Pour batter into prepared loaf pans an inch below to compensate for rise. Optional: sprinkle sugar on top.

  • Bake 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Julie’s Tips

Substitutions

  • Vegetable Oil – Vegetable oilmakes the bread incredibly moist, with a light and delicate crumb. You can substitute with canola oil or melted butter in a pinch.

Baking Alternatives

  • Large Loaves – Don’t want 6 miniature loaves? You can also make this Sweet Bread recipe in 2 – 1 pound loaf pans or cut the recipe in half for just 1 loaf pan and bake 50 minutes or until it passes the toothpick test.
  • Make Muffins – If you prefer to make them into muffins, just grease miniature muffin tins andfill each to 2/3 full. Bake 12 minutes.
  • Make it Ornate – Alternatively, you can also bake it in an ornate loaf pan with the same minimal effort!

Variations

  • Add a Glaze – This bread is amazing on it’s own, but you can also cover sweet bread with Glaze(or drizzle if you show any restraint).Cream Cheese Glaze, Orange Glaze Recipeor Lemon Glazeare some of our favorites! Because it makes 6 miniature loaves, you can try them all!Seriously, soooo good! Through the years we’ve made it in a variety of ways.I tend to make it as written in the recipe card below for breakfast, brunch or to serve with dinner and add a little glaze to leftovers for dessert.
  • Add Fruits – Fresh or dried! Apples, cranberries, strawberries, oranges, the options are endless!
  • Add Nuts – Walnuts, pecans or even candied nuts are a delicious addition.
  • Brown Sugar – Make it with brown sugar (see my Brown Sugar Bread recipe) for richer flavor.
  • Add Chocolate Chips
  • Experiment with Extracts – Add an extract like vanilla, lemon or almond

To Store

  • Room Temperature – Store quick breadin a sealed plastic bag or covered in saran wrapat room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • Refrigerate – Up to 1 week in an airtight container.
  • Freeze – Wrap them tightly in heavy foil, saran wrap or place them in freezer bags (I like to do at least 2 to prevent freezer odors from seeping in), and freeze for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature to serve.

Video

Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 155mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 53IU | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 1mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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Simple Sweet Bread Recipe | Julie Blanner (2024)

FAQs

What does too much sugar do to bread dough? ›

A dough that has a high percentage of sugar (10% or more) will need more yeast than a bread made without sugar and will take a longer time to rise. A dough with more than 5% sugar (to flour weight) will brown on the surface earlier in the baking time than a dough with no added sugar or with less than 5%.

Why is my homemade bread so sweet? ›

Additionally, when dough is fermented slower, the complex starches and sugars can ferment fully. These fermented sugars create an alcohol-based ingredient known as maltose, which works to make the bread taste sweeter while also deepening the aroma.

Can I use brown sugar for baking bread? ›

In most baking recipes, you can substitute brown sugar for white sugar in a one-to-one ratio. So, if your recipe calls for one cup of white sugar, swap one cup of brown sugar. The sweetness level will be the same, but the brown sugar may change the texture of your baked goods.

What are 2 tips to successfully making quick breads? ›

6 Tips for Successful Quick Bread
  1. Tip 1: Follow the Recipe Closely. ...
  2. Tip 2: Don't Overmix the Batter. ...
  3. Tip 3: Use Room Temperature Ingredients. ...
  4. Tip 4: Preheat Your Oven. ...
  5. Tip 5: Don't overbake the bread. ...
  6. Tip 6: Let the bread cool before slicing.
Feb 20, 2024

What is the best sugar for baking bread? ›

The classic sugar used by generations of bakers, C&H® Granulated Sugar has been trusted for a reason—its fine, uniform crystals make it ideal for measuring and baking breads, cookies, pies and cakes.

What happens if you add too much sugar to yeast? ›

While sugar and other sweeteners provide "food" for yeast, too much sugar can damage yeast, drawing liquid from the yeast and hampering its growth. Too much sugar also slows down gluten development. Add extra yeast to the recipe or find a similar recipe with less sugar. Sweet yeast doughs will take longer to rise.

How much sugar does yeast need? ›

Sugar is optional; a little bit makes yeast happy, but too much—generally, more than 1/4 cup per 3 cups of flour—slows yeast down.

How much sugar to add to bread? ›

You will see many recipes that add a teaspoon of sugar to help the yeast to work faster. Adding up to 5% of sugar will speed up fermentation as it will feed the yeast in the initial stages before enzymes begin to break down the complex sugar molecules in the starches into simple sugars that the yeast can eat.

Is it better to bake with white sugar or brown sugar? ›

Flavor Booster: The molasses in brown sugar isn't just for show; it adds a rich, caramel-like flavor to your baked goods. This makes brown sugar the go-to choice for recipes where a hint of complexity and depth is desired. Moisture Master: Brown sugar has more moisture than white sugar, thanks to the molasses content.

Will yeast rise without sugar? ›

You do not need sugar to activate the yeast. This is a half-true old wives tale leftover from when yeast wasn't preserved as well as it is now. A pinch of sugar will make yeast bubble up, thus proving that the yeast is still active and hasn't expired.

What is the main thing to avoid when making quick breads? ›

TIPS FOR MAKING QUICK BREAD

Baking is a science, and certain ingredients like flour and leavening agents need to be measured and added exactly how the recipe suggests. Avoid overmixing the batter as it can lead to tough, dense quick bread that may sink in the middle.

What's the purpose of an egg in a quick bread? ›

Eggs also act as an emulsifier. By surrounding small particles of fat, the egg helps make the quick bread batter smoother, thus contributing to volume and texture. In addition, when eggs are beaten, they incorporate tiny air bubbles that expand with heat in the oven, contributing to volume.

What two chemicals must be in a quick bread recipe in order for it to have a chemical leavening reaction which gives off carbon dioxide and makes quick breads rise? ›

Combining baking soda with an acid produces a chemical reaction that releases carbon dioxide gas which causes the food to expand and become fluffy.

How to fix too much sugar in dough? ›

For example, you can add a little more flour, butter, or any other dry ingredients called for in the recipe. This can help dilute the extra sugar and bring the flavors back into balance [1]. Double the recipe: Another option is to double the rest of the recipe, excluding the sugar.

What happens when you add a lot of sugar to yeast? ›

A little sugar, up to three percent, speeds up fermentation. The yeast processes the added sugar first, saving the time it would take to break down starch into sugar. With over three percent sugar, however, the fermentation rate no longer increases. [1] Above six percent, sugar actually decreases the rate.

What happens if you use too much sugar in baking? ›

However, if too much sugar is added (these simple vanilla cupcakes had twice as much as they should have), then not only do they rise to the extreme but the structure takes so long to set (these were baked for 15 minutes longer than a normal batch) that they then collapse dramatically towards the end of baking.

How does sugar affect yeast dough? ›

Yeast feeds on sugar so by adding a tablespoon or two provides yeast a readily available food. This increases yeast's activity and speeds up fermentation as well. However, adding a large amount of sugar to your dough will affect yeast's metabolism. Sugar is hygroscopic which means it absorbs moisture from the dough.

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