The Best Easy Christmas Fruit Bread (Moist & Light!) You’ll Love – Beauty Cooks Kisses

If you’re looking for a Christmas fruit bread that is actually light, moist, and delicious, then you’re going to love what I have for you today! Forget the heavy, rock-hard fruitcakes of the past. This recipe uses a secret ingredient with creamed cottage cheese to create a tender crumb that everyone will actually want to eat! Whether you’re serving it at Christmas morning brunch or giving it as a homemade gift, this Christmas fruit bread with orange extract and candied pineapple and cherries is a holiday showstopper.

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Christmas Fruit Bread Recipe

This delightful holiday loaf offers a lighter, modern alternative to the traditional heavy fruitcake by combining a tender crumb with vibrant candied fruits. It is the perfect balance of buttery sweetness and bright citrus notes, making it a festive staple for your holiday table.

Ingredients

2 cups sifted flour
3 teaspoons baking powder, leveled
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup diced assorted candied pineapple
½ cup whole candied red cherries
1/3 cup softened butter
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons of orange extract
½ cups of firmly packed brown sugar (light or dark)
1 cup creamed cottage cheese +1 tablespoon

Instructions

1. You will need to resift the flour with baking powder and salt into your mixing bowl.
2. Stir in the candied fruits and cherries next.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Beat in one egg at a time to the creamed mixture.
5. Stir in the orange extract and cottage cheese to that creamed mixture.
6. Add the flour-fruit mixture next, stir only until the dry ingredients are moistened. This is an extremely thick batter.
7. Spoon into a well-greased 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan.
8. Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 55-60 minutes, depending on how your oven is regulated. Test with a cake tester, slender knife or a toothpick to see if anything sticks for determining doneness.
9. Let cool in the pan for about eight minutes before attempting to remove.
10. ENJOY!

Why This is the Ultimate Christmas Fruit Bread

What truly sets this Christmas fruit bread apart from the dense, overly sweet fruitcakes of the past is its incredible balance of texture and flavor. Most holiday loaves rely on heavy syrups or with a frosting and a massive amount of sugar, but this recipe finds its richness through the combination of softened butter and firmly packed brown sugar. This creates a deep, caramel-like undertone that perfectly compliments the bright, citrus notes of the orange extract. Instead of one-dimensional sweetness, you get a sophisticated flavor profile that pairs beautifully with a morning cup of coffee or an afternoon tea.

The real “secret weapon” in this Christmas fruit bread is the addition of creamed cottage cheese. While it might sound like an unusual baking ingredient, it is the key to achieving a moist, tender crumb without making the loaf feel oily or heavy. As the bread bakes, the cottage cheese melds into the batter, providing structure and lasting moisture that keep the loaf fresh for days. Because the batter is exceptionally thick, it holds the candied pineapple and whole red cherries in place, ensuring that every single slice is a beautiful, bejeweled cross-section of holiday color. It is a lighter, less overly sweet and a healthier version compared to the traditional that proves you don’t need a “heavy” cake to have a festive treat.

Love a more traditional holiday treat? If you are a fan of a classic, rich, and heavily laden cake, you absolutely have to try my Healthy Fruitcake Recipe. While this fruit bread is light and zesty, my fruitcake is the ultimate fruit-packed masterpiece that holiday dreams are made of!

Mary’s Tips for the Best Christmas Fruit Bread

The Butter Wrapper Trick: Don’t throw away that butter wrapper once you’ve greased your pan! Because this batter is exceptionally thick, it won’t settle flat on its own like a cake batter. Use the buttery side of the wrapper to gently press and smooth the top of the loaf before it goes into the oven. It keeps your hands clean and ensures an even, golden-brown crust.

Preventing Fruit from Sinking: By stirring the candied pineapple and cherries into the sifted flour (Step 2) before adding the wet ingredients, you are essentially “dusting” the fruit, which is important. This light coating of flour helps the fruit grip the batter so it stays suspended throughout the bread rather than sinking to the bottom of the pan.

Storage and Serving: This Christmas fruit bread actually tastes even better the next day once the orange and brown sugar flavors have had time to “meld.” Store it wrapped tightly in a plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature. For a real treat, try serving a slice lightly toasted with a thin smear of salted butter!

If you’re looking for a Christmas fruit bread that is actually light, moist, and delicious, then you’re going to love what I have for you today!  Forget the heavy, rock-hard fruitcakes of the past. This recipe uses a secret ingredient with creamed cottage cheese to create a tender crumb that everyone will actually want to eat!

Course:

Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine:

American

Keyword:

breakfast bread, candied fruit, christmas fruit bread, cottage cheese baking, fruit bread, holiday baking, quick bread

Servings: 12

Author: Mary Balandiat

• 2
  cups
  sifted flour
• 3
  teaspoons
  baking powder
  leveled
• 3/4
  teaspoon
  salt
• 1
  cup
  diced assorted candied pineapple
• ½
  cup
  whole candied red cherries
• 1/3
  cup
  softened butter
• 2
  large eggs
• 2
  teaspoons
  of orange extract
• ½
  cups
  of firmly packed brown sugar
  light or dark
• 1
  cup
  creamed cottage cheese +1 tablespoon

1. You will need to resift the flour with baking powder and salt into your mixing bowl.

2. Stir in the candied fruits and cherries next.

3. In a separate mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until fluffy.

4. Beat in one egg at a time to the creamed mixture.

5. Stir in the orange extract and cottage cheese to that creamed mixture.

6. Add the flour-fruit mixture next, stir only until the dry ingredients are moistened. This is an extremely thick batter.

7. Spoon into a well-greased 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan.

8. Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 55-60 minutes, depending on how your oven is regulated. Test with a cake tester, slender knife or a toothpick to see if anything sticks for determining doneness.

9. Let cool in the pan for about eight minutes before attempting to remove.

10. ENJOY!

Final Thoughts on This Holiday Favorite

This Christmas fruit bread has become a beloved tradition in my kitchen because it breaks all the “fruitcake” rules in the best way possible. It’s light, bright, and surprisingly easy to whip up when the holiday schedule gets busy. Whether you’re enjoying a thick slice for a quiet December breakfast or sharing a loaf with a neighbor, the combination of orange and brown sugar is sure to bring a little extra joy to your season.

I’d love to hear from you! If you try this recipe, please leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out. Did you love the orange twist, or did you try a different fruit combination? Don’t forget to snap a photo and tag me if you share it on social media—I can’t wait to see your festive bakes!