Best 8 Sugarplum Spice Bread Recipes

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When the holiday season arrives, the aroma of delicious baked goods fills the air, and sugarplum spice bread is a festive treat that wonderfully captures the magic of the holidays. This delectable bread is a fusion of sweet and savory flavors, with a moist, tender crumb that melts in your mouth. The blend of warm spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, creates a symphony of flavors that evokes memories of cozy winter gatherings. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this article will guide you through the steps to create the perfect sugarplum spice bread that will be the star of your holiday table.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

SUGARPLUM BREAD



Sugarplum Bread image

What a lovely bread to serve at Christmas time--visions of sugar plums. I make a lot of sweet breads at the holidays and my family enjoys them. Baking is one of my hobbies which I cherish dearly. Slivered almonds can be substituted for pine nuts.

Provided by Carol

Categories     Bread     Yeast Bread Recipes

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 teaspoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
½ cup white sugar
½ cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon lemon zest
6 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs
½ cup candied mixed fruit
1 cup raisins
¾ cup pine nuts
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 ½ tablespoons water
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup cherries

Steps:

  • Dissolve 1 teaspoon sugar in 1 cup warm water in large mixer bowl. Sprinkle in yeast. Let stand 10 minutes, then stir well.
  • Add 1/2 cup sugar, melted butter or margarine, salt, lemon rind, and 2 cups flour. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed with electric mixer. Add 2 cups more flour and eggs; beat 3 minutes. Stir in almost all remaining flour, using enough flour to make a soft dough.
  • Knead dough on floured board until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Place in lightly greased bowl. Cover with greased waxed paper and a tea towel. Let rise in warm place 75 - 85 degrees F (25 - 30 degrees C)until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
  • Punch down dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured board, and knead in raisins, candied fruit, and nuts. Shape into two round loaves. Place each in a well greased, 9 inch, round cake pan. Cover with tea towel. Let rise in warm place until doubled, 1 - 1 1/2 hours.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C) for 45 to 55 minutes. Remove from pans immediately. Cool on wire racks.
  • Mix together confectioners sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons water, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Spoon onto loaves. Decorate with cherries or almonds. Alternatively, dust loaves with confectioners sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 307.4 calories, Carbohydrate 51.5 g, Cholesterol 49.4 mg, Fat 8.7 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 7 g, SaturatedFat 3.7 g, Sodium 281.5 mg, Sugar 16.8 g

SUGAR PLUM BREAD



Sugar Plum Bread image

I grew up with my Grandma Mitchell's irresistible plum bread. We slathered it with butter and ate it with cottage cheese and fresh fruit for a simple breakfast. And it always makes an appearance at the holidays! -Emily Tyra, Lake Ann, Michigan

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 55m

Yield 1 loaf (12 slices).

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup pitted dried plums (prunes), coarsely chopped
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons plus 3/4 cup sugar, divided
2 tablespoons shortening
1 large egg, room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons coarse sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, combine dried plums, water and 2 tablespoons sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat for 1 minute. Remove from heat; let stand until plumped, about 10 minutes. Drain plums, reserving fruit and liquid. Measure liquid, adding enough water to yield 1/2 cup. , Cream shortening and remaining sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Beat in egg. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with cooking liquid; fold in cooled dried plums (batter will be thick)., Transfer batter to a greased 8x4-in. loaf pan. Sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs, 40-45 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 202 calories, Fat 3g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 16mg cholesterol, Sodium 291mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (21g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.

SUGARPLUM SPICE BREAD



Sugarplum Spice Bread image

I make Christmas Eve magical with hot cocoa and toasted slices of this fragrant, fruit-studded bread. My son and I combined several recipes to come up with this winner. -Jackie Brown, Tully, New York

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h

Yield 8 mini loaves (5 slices per loaf).

Number Of Ingredients 19

3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
5-1/2 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
2 packages (1/4 ounce each) quick-rise yeast
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1-1/2 cups 2% milk
1 cup diced dried fruit
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup golden raisins
FROSTING:
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons shortening
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 to 3 tablespoons 2% milk

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 4 cups flour, yeast, cardamom, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Heat milk to 120°-130°; add to creamed mixture and beat until moistened. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Turn onto a heavily floured surface. Sprinkle with fruit and raisins; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 8 portions. Shape into loaves. Place in 8 greased 5x3x2-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool., For frosting, in a small bowl, cream butter and shortening. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough milk to reach desired spreading consistency. Frost loaves.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 174 calories, Fat 5g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 29mg cholesterol, Sodium 101mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (15g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.

SUGARPLUMS



Sugarplums image

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     dessert

Time 13h45m

Yield approximately 80 (1/4 ounce) balls

Number Of Ingredients 12

6 ounces slivered almonds, toasted
4 ounces dried plums
4 ounces dried apricots
4 ounces dried figs
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon anise seeds, toasted
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds, toasted
1/4 teaspoon caraway seeds, toasted
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Pinch kosher salt
1/4 cup honey
1 cup coarse sugar

Steps:

  • Put the almonds, plums, apricots, and figs into the bowl of a food processor and pulse 20 to 25 times or until the fruit and nuts are chopped into small pieces, but before the mixture becomes a ball.
  • Combine the powdered sugar, anise seeds, fennel seeds, caraway seeds, cardamom, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add the nut and fruit mixture and the honey and mix using gloved hands until well combined.
  • Scoop the mixture into 1/4-ounce portions and roll into balls. If serving immediately, roll in the coarse sugar and serve. If not serving immediately, put the balls on a cooling rack and leave uncovered until ready to serve. Roll in the coarse sugar prior to serving.
  • The Sugarplums may be stored on the cooling rack for up to a week. After a week, store in an airtight container for up to a month.

SUGARPLUM GINGERBREAD CAKE



Sugarplum Gingerbread Cake image

This deeply spiced gingerbread cake recipe comes from the cookbook author Genevieve Ko, who found inspiration in the light-as-air cakes she tasted from Chinese bakeries in Southern California, as well as the sweets - hot candied ginger and sugared, dried plums (a.k.a. prunes) - that her grandmothers offered her as a child. Ms. Ko's cake uses oil, not butter, which gives the crumb a fluffy, moist texture. The liquid base of rehydrated prunes brings sweetness along with depth of flavor.

Provided by Tejal Rao

Categories     cakes, dessert

Time 30m

Yield 16 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 cup (184 grams) pitted prunes, quartered
2/3 cup (214 grams) molasses
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Butter or cooking spray, for the pan
1 cup (137 grams) spelt flour
3/4 cup (108 grams) white whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup (215 grams) packed light-brown sugar
1/4 cup (56 grams) grapeseed or other neutral oil
2 teaspoons cocoa powder (optional)

Steps:

  • Put the prunes along with 1 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer until the fruit is very soft and starting to break down, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in molasses and baking soda, then set aside.
  • Position a rack in the center of the oven, and heat to 350 degrees. Generously butter or spray, then flour a 12-cup, or 10-inch Bundt pan, and place it on a baking sheet.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt; set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and brown sugar on medium-speed until very thick and pale. With the machine running, add the oil in a slow, steady stream down the side of the bowl, beating until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then set speed to low and add the molasses mixture. Beat until just incorporated, then scrape down the sides of the bowl again. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing only until all traces of flour disappear. Transfer batter to the prepared Bundt pan.
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the domed part of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then carefully invert cake onto the rack, lift away the pan and cool completely to room temperature.
  • Dust the cocoa powder over the cake, using a fine-mesh sieve or tea strainer, then transfer to a serving plate.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 222, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 42 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 160 milligrams, Sugar 28 grams, TransFat 0 grams

ALMOND CRANBERRY BREAD



Almond Cranberry Bread image

From Ocean Spray flyer. It has been a many years since I've made this bread but my notes say it is yummy! My notes also say I added a 1/4 cup of chopped almonds to the batter and then used another 1/4 cup of sliced/slivered almonds for the topping. So I've adjusted the original to include this but feel free to leave the chopped almonds out of the batter itself. **Updated 12/7/11 - I've adjusted the bake time for this bread. The original times were definitely too long for this quick bread **

Provided by HokiesMom

Categories     Quick Breads

Time 1h30m

Yield 1 loaf, 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3/4-1 cup 1% low-fat milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons almond extract
1/4 cup almonds, chopped
1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries (may use frozen ones too, just do not thaw before use)
1 tablespoon sugar (additional)
1/4 cup almonds (slivered or sliced)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375F and grease a 8x4x2" loaf pan.
  • Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
  • Combine the egg, milk, butter, and almond extract in a separate bowl.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing just until moistened (do not overmix).
  • Stir in chopped almonds and cranberries.
  • Spread batter in loaf pan and then sprinkle with additional 1 tbls. sugar and then the slivered or sliced almonds.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
  • REDUCE heat to 350F and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Let cool 10-15 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 234.7, Fat 11.4, SaturatedFat 5.3, Cholesterol 36.6, Sodium 354.8, Carbohydrate 29.1, Fiber 1.8, Sugar 11.1, Protein 4.5

SUGARPLUM SPICE BREAD



Sugarplum Spice Bread image

I make Christmas Eve magical with hot cocoa and toasted slices of this fragrant, fruit-studded bread. My son and I combined several recipes to come up with this winner. --Jackie Brown, Tully, New York

Provided by Allrecipes Member

Time 1h

Yield 40

Number Of Ingredients 18

¾ cup butter or margarine, softened
¾ cup sugar
4 large eggs eggs
5 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 (.25 ounce) packages quick-rise yeast
1 ½ teaspoons ground cardamom
1 teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 ½ cups milk
1 cup diced dried fruit
½ cup raisins
½ cup golden raisins
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2 tablespoons shortening
2 cups confectioners' sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk

Steps:

  • In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 4 cups flour, yeast, cardamom, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Heat milk to 120 degrees F-130 degrees F; add to creamed mixture and beat until moistened. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Turn onto a heavily floured surface. Sprinkle with fruit and raisins; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes.
  • Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divided into eight portions. Shape into loaves. Place in eight greased 5-3/4-in. x 3-in. x 2-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
  • For frosting, in a small mixing bowl, cream butter and shortening. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Frost loaves.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 175.6 calories, Carbohydrate 28.9 g, Cholesterol 30.1 mg, Fat 5.6 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 3.1 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 90 mg, Sugar 12.3 g

SUGAR PLUM BREAD WITH HOMEMADE BUTTER



Sugar Plum Bread With Homemade Butter image

This was my very first attempt at bread and has become a constant in our house. This is one of those things that just says "Christmas", but good any time of year. Freezes well. Our son became the 'official' butter maker when he was only 4. Great fun and wonderful memories. NOTE: Prep time does not include 3-1/2 hours of rising time.

Provided by Diana 2

Categories     Yeast Breads

Time 1h20m

Yield 2 round loaves, 18 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup warm water
1 (8 g) package yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons salt
6 cups flour, divided
4 eggs
1 cup raisins
3/4 cup candied fruit
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup icing sugar
1 tablespoon hot water
2 cups whipping cream

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, dissolve 1 tsp sugar in warm water.
  • Sprinkle in yeast and let stand 10 minutes then stir well.
  • Add 1/2 cup sugar, butter, salt and 2 cups flour. Beat for 2 minutes.
  • Add 2 more cups flour and eggs. Beat 3 minutes.
  • Stir in remaining flour. You should have a soft dough. Knead for 8 minutes. Place in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with greased paper and a towel.
  • Let rise for 2 hours in a warm oven.
  • Punch down. Knead in fruit and nuts. Shape into 2 balls.
  • Place in greased 8" cake pans. Cover with a towel and let rise for 1-1/2 hours. Bake for 45 - 50 minutes at 350°.
  • Remove from pans at once. Drizzle with glaze.
  • Glaze: Mix sugar and water together. If too stiff, add more water by drops.
  • Butter: In a glass jar, shake the whipping cream until butter forms. Drain and chill until ready to use.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 376.8, Fat 17.5, SaturatedFat 9.8, Cholesterol 96.8, Sodium 322.6, Carbohydrate 48.7, Fiber 1.8, Sugar 14.1, Protein 7.1

Tips:

  • Soften butter and cream cheese to room temperature: This will make them easier to mix and will help to create a smooth batter.
  • Use fresh spices: Ground spices lose their flavor over time, so use fresh spices whenever possible. If you don't have fresh spices, you can use ground spices, but use half the amount called for in the recipe.
  • Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing the batter can make the bread tough. Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined.
  • Bake the bread in a preheated oven: This will help to ensure that the bread bakes evenly.
  • Cool the bread completely before slicing: This will help to prevent the bread from crumbling.

Conclusion:

Sugarplum spice bread is a delicious and festive bread that is perfect for the holidays. It is easy to make and can be made with a variety of different spices. Be sure to follow the tips above to ensure that your bread turns out perfect. Enjoy!

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