Deliciously Moist & Easy Eggnog Bread Recipe: Your Ultimate Holiday Loaf with Creamy Glaze

As the holiday season approaches, there’s nothing quite like the comforting aroma of freshly baked goods filling your home. This **quick eggnog bread recipe** is an absolute star, delivering a wonderfully moist, tender, and incredibly flavorful loaf that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the holidays. Topped with a luscious, creamy eggnog glaze, it’s an irresistible treat that will quickly become a cherished part of your festive traditions. Whether you’re serving it for a cozy breakfast, an afternoon snack with a cup of tea, or a show-stopping dessert, this **easy eggnog bread** is guaranteed to impress.

Beyond this delightful eggnog creation, other Christmas favorites that bring joy to any table include classic sugar cookies with icing and a warming mug of crockpot hot chocolate. But for a truly unique and festive baked good, this eggnog bread stands out.

Why You’ll Adore This Easy Eggnog Bread Recipe

This isn’t just another bread recipe; it’s a celebration in a loaf. Here’s why this **moist eggnog loaf** will quickly become a seasonal favorite:

• **A Delightful Way to Use Eggnog**: If your fridge is brimming with leftover eggnog after holiday gatherings, this recipe offers the perfect and most delicious solution. It infuses the bread with that signature creamy, spiced flavor.
• **Versatile Flavor Profile**: Not a huge fan of traditional eggnog? No problem! You can easily substitute it with coquito for a tropical, coconut-infused twist, or even a blend of milk and cream with a dash of nutmeg for a milder flavor.
• **Incredibly Soft and Tender Texture**: Thanks to the high-fat content of eggnog and butter, this bread bakes up exceptionally soft, moist, and tender, making every bite a melt-in-your-mouth experience.
• **Thick and Creamy Glaze**: The simple yet decadent glaze is made with powdered sugar and more eggnog, creating a rich, creamy topping that perfectly complements the spiced bread without being overly sweet.
• **No Yeast Involved**: This is a quick bread recipe, meaning no kneading, no rising time, and no fuss! It’s perfect for busy holiday schedules when you want homemade goodness without the extensive time commitment.
• **The Quintessential Holiday Addition**: Its festive flavor and beautiful presentation make it an ideal centerpiece for any holiday breakfast, brunch, or dessert spread. It’s a wonderful gift, too!

Key Ingredients for Your Perfect Eggnog Loaf

Crafting the perfect **eggnog bread** starts with understanding your ingredients. While the full list is in the recipe card below, let’s highlight a few crucial components and tips for success.

• Eggnog: This is, naturally, the star of the show. Whether you opt for a rich homemade eggnog or a convenient store-bought variety, ensure it’s fresh and full-flavored. The quality of your eggnog will directly impact the depth of flavor in your bread. If you’re using a very thick eggnog, you might need a tiny splash more in the glaze for consistency.
• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our quick bread. Sifting your flour can help ensure a light and airy texture, preventing a dense loaf.
• Baking Soda & Baking Powder: Our leavening agents. They work together to give the bread its beautiful rise and tender crumb. Ensure they are fresh for optimal results.
• Ground Cinnamon & Salt: Cinnamon is a classic pairing with eggnog, enhancing its warm spice notes. The salt balances the sweetness and brings out all the flavors. Don’t hesitate to add a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg for an even more authentic eggnog flavor!
• Unsalted Butter (softened): Softened butter creams beautifully with sugar, creating air pockets that contribute to the bread’s tender texture. Make sure it’s at room temperature for easy mixing.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar provides sweetness and helps to keep the bread moist.
• Egg: Adds richness, binds the ingredients, and helps with the bread’s structure.
• Vanilla Extract: A wonderful flavor enhancer that complements the eggnog and spices. Use pure vanilla extract for the best taste.

Baking the Perfect Eggnog Loaf: A Detailed Guide

Creating this **quick eggnog bread** is a straightforward process, but following these steps carefully will ensure a flawless and delicious result every time.

1. **Prepare Your Pan and Oven**: Start by lining a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the longer sides. This creates “slings” that make it incredibly easy to lift the baked bread out of the pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) so it’s ready when your batter is.
2. **Combine Dry Ingredients**: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Make sure these are thoroughly combined to ensure even distribution of leavening and spices throughout the bread.
3. **Cream Wet Ingredients**: In a separate, medium-sized bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat until the mixture is light, fluffy, and smooth – this incorporates air, contributing to the bread’s tender crumb. Beat in the egg until just combined.
4. **Combine Wet and Dry**: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet butter mixture, alternating with the eggnog. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; overmixing can develop the gluten too much, resulting in a tough bread. A few lumps are perfectly fine!
5. **Fill and Smooth**: Pour the prepared batter into your parchment-lined loaf pan. Use a spatula to gently spread the top evenly.
6. **Bake to Perfection**: Transfer the pan to your preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes. The bread is done when a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached. If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.
7. **Cool Completely**: Once baked, remove the **eggnog bread** from the oven. Let it cool in the loaf pan for about 10-15 minutes before using the parchment paper overhang to carefully lift it out onto a wire rack. It’s crucial to let the bread cool completely on the wire rack before adding the glaze. This prevents the glaze from melting and ensures it sets beautifully.

Crafting the Irresistible Creamy Eggnog Glaze

While your bread is cooling, you can whip up the simple yet incredibly delicious glaze that elevates this loaf from great to absolutely unforgettable. It takes mere minutes!

8. **Mix the Glaze**: In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar with 3 tablespoons of eggnog. Whisk vigorously until you achieve a smooth, thick, and pourable consistency. If the glaze seems too thin, gradually add a little more powdered sugar, a teaspoon at a time, until it reaches your desired thickness. Conversely, if it’s too thick, add a tiny splash more eggnog.
9. **Glaze and Serve**: Once the **quick eggnog bread** has cooled completely, generously pour the entire batch of creamy eggnog glaze over the top. Allow it a few minutes to set before slicing and serving. The glaze creates a beautiful contrast and adds an extra layer of sweetness and eggnog flavor that’s simply divine.

Pro Tips for the Best Eggnog Bread

Achieving bakery-quality **homemade eggnog bread** is easy with these simple tips:

• **Cool Completely Before Glazing**: This cannot be stressed enough! If the bread is warm, the glaze will simply melt and run off, rather than setting into a beautiful, creamy layer. Patience is key for that perfect finish.
• **Don’t Overmix the Batter**: Once you add the wet and dry ingredients together, mix only until just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to a tough, dry bread.
• **Check for Doneness Properly**: A toothpick or wooden skewer inserted into the very center of the loaf should come out clean. If it’s still wet, bake for a few more minutes and check again.
• **Adjust Glaze Consistency**: As mentioned, if your glaze is too thin, add more powdered sugar a tablespoon at a time. If it’s too thick, add more eggnog a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired pourable, yet thick, consistency.

Can I Add Rum to My Eggnog Bread?

Absolutely! Adding a touch of rum is a fantastic way to enhance the classic eggnog flavor and give your bread an extra festive kick. You can incorporate about 1 tablespoon of dark or spiced rum directly into the batter along with the wet ingredients before baking. For an even richer experience, add a splash (about 1-2 teaspoons) of rum to the glaze mixture. If you prefer to avoid alcohol but still want that distinctive flavor, a good quality rum extract can be used as a substitute, starting with half the amount and adjusting to taste.

How Do I Freeze Eggnog Bread for Future Enjoyment?

This **moist eggnog loaf** freezes beautifully, making it perfect for meal prepping holiday treats or enjoying long after the season ends. Here’s how to do it:

1. **Ensure Complete Cooling**: The most critical step is to let the baked eggnog bread cool *completely* to room temperature. Freezing warm bread will create condensation, leading to ice crystals and a soggy texture when thawed.
2. **Wrap Tightly**: Once fully cooled, wrap the entire loaf tightly in several layers of plastic wrap. Ensure there are no air gaps, as exposure to air can cause freezer burn.
3. **Add an Extra Layer of Protection**: For best results, place the plastic-wrapped loaf into a heavy-duty freezer bag or wrap it again in aluminum foil. This double layer of protection is essential for maintaining freshness.
4. **Freeze**: Label the bag or foil with the date, then place the loaf in the freezer. It can be stored for up to 2 months.
5. **Thawing**: When you’re ready to enjoy, simply remove the bread from the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature while still wrapped. This helps to retain moisture. Once thawed, you can slice and serve. If you froze it with the glaze, the glaze might become slightly softer upon thawing, but the flavor will still be wonderful.

More Irresistible Quick Bread Recipes You’ll Love

If you’re a fan of easy-to-make, flavorful quick breads, here are a few more recipes that are sure to become family favorites, perfect for any time of year:

• **Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread**: A decadent twist on a classic, combining rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and moist banana.
• **Monkey Bread**: Fun, pull-apart cinnamon-sugar goodness that’s perfect for sharing.
• **Chocolate Banana Bread**: The ultimate comfort food, elevated with delicious chocolate chunks.
• **Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread**: A seasonal sensation, featuring the warm spices of pumpkin and a creamy swirl of cream cheese.

We truly hope you enjoy baking and sharing this **easy eggnog bread**! If you’ve tried this recipe, please consider leaving a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Your feedback is invaluable! And don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest for more delicious recipes and holiday inspiration!