Sweet Bread is so incredibly easy to make and only takes 5 minutes hands on time. This easy Sweet Bread recipe requires only staple ingredients: sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, milk and vegetable oil! It’s easy quick bread recipe for breakfast, snack or dessert that also makes a beautiful neighbor, hostess or holiday gift!

sweet bread in white loaf pan
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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 including Cinnamon Sweet Bread and Orange Sweet Bread, which are traditional around Christmas.

I often make it when we’re having last minute guests for 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!

close up of sweet bread

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 – Leavens quick 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 oil makes the bread incredibly moist, with a light and delicate crumb. You can substitute with canola oil or melted butter in a pinch.
miniature sweet bread loaf on blue napkin

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 and fill 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 Recipe or Lemon Glaze are 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 bread in a sealed plastic bag or covered in saran wrap at 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, including beer bread (which I highly recommend smothering with honey butter). 

5 minute easy sweet bread recipe | perfect hostess gift idea, breakfast for the morning after
4.82 from 318 votes

Sweet Bread Recipe

Sweet Bread is so incredibly easy to make and only takes 5 minutes hands on time. This easy Sweet Bread recipe requires only staple ingredients: sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, milk and vegetable oil! It’s easy quick bread recipe for breakfast, snack or dessert that also makes a beautiful neighbor, hostess or holiday gift!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 24
Pin Rate Print

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 oil makes 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 and fill 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 Recipe or Lemon Glaze are 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 bread in a sealed plastic bag or covered in saran wrap at 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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541 Comments

      1. 5 stars
        This loaf was one of the best recipes I ever made. It was Soo simple yet tasted amazing. I made a simple glaze and it came out great. I also like how it browned a little on the top.

        1. Hi Nene,
          Thanks so much for your kind words and review!
          Hope you have a wonderful 2023,
          Julie

        1. 4 stars
          This was an easy recipe. I was craving something sweet and found this recipe. I forgot to sprinkle sugar on top before baking. 😞 I liked it, but I think the extra sugar would have made it better but that was my fault.

          I think next time I’ll put chocolate chips in it.

        1. Hello,
          All the ingredients and step by step instructions are listed in the free printable recipe card at the end of the post.
          Have a great weekend,
          Julie

      2. Hello my name is violet and it’s the best and yummy bread ever thank you very much ❤️ God Bless You

        1. Hi Violet, I’m so glad you enjoyed, thank you so much. I hope you continue trying out my recipes!

  1. I have not been able to find the ceramic pans for less than $5.00. They are not available at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. Any suggestions?

    What size are your pans – in inches?

    Thanks

    1. They’re usually in holiday at Michael’s on end caps. List price is $1.99 and they’re 50% off. I actually just picked up a few more yesterday. Maybe call?

      1. Thank you for your reply. I double checked Michael’s online and they do list them under holiday, available in stores only. There is not a store close but a drive may be worth the effort.
        Diane

        1. Oh no! Maybe someone who will be in the area can shop for you 😉 I hope you enjoy a beautiful holiday season, Diane!

      1. 5 stars
        So quick to prepare and delicious. I used 2 large loaf pans and served one with strawberries and a bit of whipped cream.

      2. When I was many years younger my grandma made sweet bread for us. We didn’t have much we grew and made almost everything we had. Winter time and the weather clod sweet bread was a treat. I looked for years for a sweet bread recipe and everyone I found used meat. Thanks for the recipe. I was using the batter she used for stack cake it has the same ingredients. An older man at church gave me a copy of his mom’s stack cake. I hope everyone enjoys your recipe.

        1. Hi Sherri,
          Sounds like such wonderful memories!
          I sure hope you enjoy this recipe,
          Julie