Sweet Bread is a delightfully simple quick bread recipe made with staple ingredients in 5 minutes hands on time. I developed this delightfully light, moist and subtly sweet recipe to pair with coffee and juices, but it’s versatile to add your favorite mix-ins and glazes. It’s amazing for breakfast, brunch, snacks and dessert and my favorite neighbor, holiday or hostess gift!
My Sweet Bread recipe quickly became a favorite through the years with over 160,000 shares and 4.82 rating! Once you make it, you’ll know why my original recipe has been so popular since I first shared it in 2015.
In addition to making it often, I have developed and shared over 35 variations of this delicious no yeast bread through the years! It’s always a hit with our girls, friends and family!
It is easy to mix and bake last minute, because I always have everything I need right in our pantry and fridge: sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, milk and vegetable oil! By the time I’m out of the shower, it’s ready to pull out of the oven and serve warm. Each bite is delightfully moist with a tender crumb and delicious served straight out of the loaf pan. Sometimes I love to slather a little sweet butter or strawberry butter for good measure .
This recipe yields 6 pretty little loaves or 2 large loaves. I typically make miniature loaves because they keep incredibly well. We enjoy 1 or 2, share or freeze extra loaves to enjoy later. I have included instructions for both miniature and 1 pound loaves for your convenience!
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.
Tips from My Test Kitchen
Spoon flour into measuring cup for accuracy. This will help keep your bread light and fluffy. When you scoop, it packs flour into the measuring cup, resulting in more flour in your batter.
Do not overmix. Combine until just incorporated for the best rise.
Bake time can vary based on altitude, size, shape, color and material of your baking vessel. Use the toothpick test to ensure accurate bake time. Insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf. When it comes out clean, it is done.
Gifting note: Miniature ceramic loaf pans are offered seasonally at Michael’s, often for $1 or online all year. They are more durable than paper loaf pans and make a beautiful gift.
Baking Alternatives
Through the years, readers have asked nearly 600 questions regarding alternative loaf pan sizes and baking vessel options. for your convenience, I have included alternatives.
- Large Loaves – Bake 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 – To convert this sweet bread recipe into muffins, grease miniature muffin tins and fill each to 2/3 full. Bake 12 minutes or until slightly golden and just set.
- Make it Ornate – Bake in a well-greased ornate loaf pan to dress it up.
Variations
Add a Glaze
Add Mix-Ins
Note that adding mix-ins will yield additional batter. Do not overfill loaf pans.
Fruit – Fold in up to 1 cup fresh or dried fruit. Chopped apples, cranberries, strawberries, oranges, blueberries are all delightful. I mix it up depending on the season!
Nuts – Add up to a half cup of chopped walnuts, pecans or candied nuts.
Chocolate – Fold in up to 1 cup of chocolate chips, white chocolate chips or chunks into batter just before baking.
Extract – Add up to 1 tablespoon extract. Vanilla, Lemon, Orange and Almond extract are my favorites.
Flavor Substitution
Brown Sugar – Substitute white granulated sugar with lightly pack brown sugar to make my Brown Sugar Bread with rich flavor.
Sweet Bread Variations
Sweet Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- 4 cups all purpose flour spoon into measuring cup for accuracy
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil
Instructions
- Grease 6 miniature loaf pans and preheat oven to 350℉.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.2 cups white granulated sugar, 4 cups all purpose flour, 2 tablespoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt
- In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add eggs, milk and vegetable oil. Beat on low speed until just combined.2 large eggs, 2 cups milk, ⅔ cup vegetable oil
- Fit mixer with paddle attachment or using a spatula, gradually add dry mixture to egg mixture until just moist and incorporated.
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pans an inch below to compensate for rise. Optional: sprinkle sugar on top to garnish.
- Bake in the center of preheated oven 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaves comes out clean. For alternative loaf pan sizes, see bake times in notes below. Allow to cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Julie’s Tips
Substitutions
- Vegetable Oil – Vegetable oil makes the bread incredibly moist, with a light and delicate crumb. I substitute with canola oil or melted butter when needed.
Baking Alternatives
- Large Loaves – This batter yields 2 – 1 pound loaves or cut the recipe in half for just 1 loaf. Bake 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. These instructions apply to ornate loaf pans as well.
- Muffins – Grease miniature muffin tin and fill each tin ⅔ full. Bake 12 minutes or until slightly golden and just set.
Suggested Toppings
Mix In Suggestions
Adding mix-ins will result in more batter volume. Do not overfill loaf pans to prevent them from overflowing as the bread rises. Fold in up to 1 cup of fresh or dried fruit. Apples, cranberries, strawberries, oranges, blueberries, blackberries are all favorites. Fold in up to ½ cup chopped walnuts, pecans or candied nuts. Fold in up to ½ cup chocolate chips, white chocolate chips or chunks before baking. Add up to 1 tablespoon extract. Lemon, orange, almond and vanilla extract are my favorites.Storage Tips
Video
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Please tell me what kind of flour to use.
All purpose. Enjoy!
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.
Hi Nene,
Thanks so much for your kind words and review!
Hope you have a wonderful 2023,
Julie
Wonderful recipe
This was an easy recipe. I was craving something sweet and found this recipe. I forgot to sprinkle sugar on top before baking. ๐ 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.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Wanda! You can get my Chocolate Chip Bread recipe here – and 35 more quick bread variations!
So like how long to bake and at what temp? Duh, off to another recipe I guess.
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
This was so easy and delicious! good with tea and coffee. I will keep this on my regular baking rotation
Hi Thecla,
I’m so glad you’re enjoying this recipe! Things so much for your kind words and taking the time to leave a review.
Have a wonderful day,
Julie
So step one States to grease your loaf pans and preheat oven to 350. The times vary upon what types of pans you are using, but the steps tell you how long.
Hello my name is violet and it’s the best and yummy bread ever thank you very much โค๏ธ God Bless You
Hi Violet, I’m so glad you enjoyed, thank you so much. I hope you continue trying out my recipes!
Hi,
If I don’t have mini loaf pans, would the full amount of batter fit into a regular 9×5 loaf pan?
Thanks.
Of course, just bake it 5-10 minutes longer. Enjoy!
I just baked this in a 9×5 inch loaf pan and it overflowed. Do not put it in a 9×5!
It states in Baking Alternatives , makes 2 loaves. If youโre not making the mini loaves.
How much or can you sub sour cream for the milk?
I haven’t tested it, but please report if you do!
I just made two loaves of this just now it has just a barely sweet flavor to it. I could not wait until it cooled off and so I sliced part of the end off and by itself didn’t have much flavor just barely sweet. I added a little butter and sprinkled a little bit sugar and cinnamon and oh boy it was so good. I’m sure it’d be really good with some of the add-ins or with some glaze on top. There are so many variations to this I will definitely save this recipe for other occasions.
I love those napkins. Where are they from? Thanks… lovely cake!!!
Thank you! They’re from Pottery Barn.
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
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?
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
Oh no! Maybe someone who will be in the area can shop for you ๐ I hope you enjoy a beautiful holiday season, Diane!
They just had some of these at Michaels for 89 cents! Not sure how long the sale was/is!
Even better! Thanks for sharing!
So quick to prepare and delicious. I used 2 large loaf pans and served one with strawberries and a bit of whipped cream.
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.
Hi Sherri,
Sounds like such wonderful memories!
I sure hope you enjoy this recipe,
Julie
The Dollar Tree…Dollar Store…..etc
Thanks, Paula!
Check dollar tree. They usually have them around Thanksgiving. I know it’s almost Christmas by now.
I am new to your blog and love it! How long do you bake the 6 mini loaves for the sweet bread?
Welcome! It’s nice to have you! 40 minutes, enjoy!