Description
This Christmas Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread is a delightful holiday treat featuring a moist, tender crumb swirled with creamy cheese and studded with fresh blueberries. The subtle lemon zest and vanilla add a refreshing brightness, making it a perfect festive breakfast or dessert bread to share with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Additional Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup fresh blueberries, plus extra for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt until evenly mixed.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, combine the melted butter, milk, and eggs. Whisk until smooth and fully blended, then stir in the vanilla extract and lemon zest to infuse the batter with flavor.
- Add Cream Cheese: Gently fold in the softened cream cheese into the wet mixture, swirling it lightly to create pockets of creamy texture without fully blending it.
- Incorporate Blueberries: Carefully fold in the fresh blueberries, taking care not to mash them, to maintain their shape and bursts of flavor throughout the bread.
- Assemble the Batter: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly. If desired, sprinkle extra blueberries on top for added decoration and flavor.
- Bake: Place the loaf pan in the oven and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring a clean slice.
Notes
- Use fresh blueberries for best texture; frozen blueberries can be used but may color the batter.
- Ensure cream cheese is softened to easily fold into the batter without clumping.
- The lemon zest adds a bright flavor, but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Check doneness with a toothpick inserted into the center; if it comes out with wet batter, continue baking for a few more minutes.
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
