• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
An Edible Mosaic™
  • about
    • contact
    • accessibility
    • privacy policy
    • terms and conditions
  • cookbooks
  • recipes
  • world cuisine
    • arabic and middle eastern
    • asian
    • british
    • buffalo foods
    • czech
    • dutch
    • ethiopian
    • french
    • german
    • greek
    • indian
    • irish
    • italian
    • jamaican
    • jewish
    • latin
    • polish
    • russian and ukrainian
    • swedish
    • tex mex
    • thai
    • west african
  • Nav Social Menu

menu icon
go to homepage
  • cookies!
  • about
  • recipes
  • cookbooks
  • subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • cookies!
    • about
    • recipes
    • cookbooks
    • subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Type » Breads » Quick Breads

    Christmas Morning Cornbread Loaf Cake

    Published: Dec 14, 2017 · Modified: Jan 20, 2022 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Christmas Morning Cornbread Loaf Cake is flavored with vanilla bean, nutmeg, and rosemary, and studded with cranberries; it doesn’t any more festive!

    Christmas Morning Cornbread Loaf Cake on Wooden Cutting Board

    I love hearing about holiday breakfast traditions. Some people do the bulk of the work the night before with something like a strata or bread pudding that just has to be baked in the morning. Others make a huge batch of pancakes or waffles and get the whole family involved. Or maybe it’s the classic failsafe, bacon, eggs, and toast.

    In my family, we frequently go the route of homemade pastries. Sometimes it can be as simple as muffins or scones, but if I’m feeling ambitious, I’ll take on a batch of homemade Cream Puffs before anyone else is up. There’s nothing better than waking up to freshly made pastries on Christmas morning!

    But let’s be honest, in terms of pastries, it’s a commitment of a few hours and sometimes there’s only time for something quicker, like muffins, scones, or even quick bread, which can be whipped up the night before!

    Christmas Morning Cornbread Loaf Cake Top View

    A while back I came up with a recipe for Christmas Morning Scones {aka Vanilla Bean, Nutmeg, and Rosemary-Scented Scones} that somehow captures the essence of Christmas morning. (And to all of you who have emailed me saying that my scones are now a part of your family’s Christmas morning tradition, know that you are the reason I blog.)

    I wanted to morph those scones into something with a similar flavor profile, and quick bread came to mind. I used cornmeal because I wanted the texture to be a little different than a basic quick bread. The texture of this cake is similar to a cornbread pound cake, but just a bit lighter. I used dried whole cranberries that I plumped in boiling water before adding to the batter; if you want them flavored, you could reconstitute them in hot tea (maybe cinnamon tea?) instead.

    Christmas Morning Cornbread Loaf Cake Overhead View Close Up

    The other integral flavor components are vanilla bean, a hint of nutmeg, and a touch of rosemary. There is a sweet, slightly woodsy aroma going on that makes me think of Christmas trees and pine forests and I can’t think of anything more festive.

    Here are a few other ideas that would be great for Christmas morning:

    Cream Puffs (Profiteroles)

    Cream Puffs (Profiteroles)

    Christmas Morning Scones {aka Vanilla Bean, Nutmeg, and Rosemary-Scented Scones}

    Christmas Morning Scones {aka Vanilla Bean, Nutmeg, and Rosemary-Scented Scones}

    Eggnog Muffins with Cranberry Filling

    Eggnog Muffins with Cranberry Filling

    And here’s even more inspiration from around the web:

    • Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls from Two Peas & Their Pod
    • Banana Bread French Toast from Add a Pinch
    • Spinach and Gruyere Cheese Quiche with Hash Brown Crust from Happily Unprocessed

    What is your family’s Christmas morning tradition?

    Christmas Morning Cornbread Loaf Cake Front View

    Print
    Christmas Morning Cornbread Loaf Cake
    Prep time:  15 mins
    Cook time:  70 mins
    Total time:  1 hour 25 mins
    Yield: 1 (9 by 5-inch) loaf
     
    Christmas Morning Cornbread Loaf Cake is flavored with vanilla bean, nutmeg, and rosemary, and studded with cranberries; it doesn’t any more festive!
    Ingredients
    Cake:
    • ½ cup (60 g) dried whole cranberries
    • ½ cup (120 ml) boiling water
    • 1¼ cups (150 g) yellow cornmeal
    • 1 cup (128 g) all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
    • 1¼ cups (250 g) sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • ¾ cup (180 ml) avocado oil (or neutral-flavored oil of your choice)
    • ¾ cup (180 ml) milk (I used whole milk)
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
    • 1½ teaspoons blackstrap molasses
    • 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
    Glaze:
    • 4 tablespoons powdered sugar
    • 1 to 2 teaspoons water
    Instructions
    1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with 2 pieces of parchment paper so it hangs over all 4 sides.
    2. Put the cranberries in a small bowl and pour the boiling water on top. Let them soak for 10 minutes, and then drain.
    3. Whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg in a medium bowl and set aside.
    4. In a large bowl, beat together the sugar and eggs until light and fluffy. Beat in the oil, milk, vanilla, vanilla bean paste, molasses, and rosemary.
    5. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet, being careful not to overmix. Fold in the drained cranberries.
    6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a wooden pick inserted inside comes out clean, about 65 to 70 minutes. Cool completely before drizzling on the glaze.
    7. For the glaze, whisk just enough water into the powdered sugar until it reaches a thick glaze-like consistency. Drizzle over the cooled loaf. Let the glaze set before slicing.
    3.3.3070

     

    More Quick Breads

    • Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe with Brown Butter and Chai Spices
    • cast iron skillet cornbread featured image
      Easy Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread Recipe (Moist Sweet Cornbread!) {video}
    • Banana Coffee Cake Featured Image
      Banana Coffee Cake Recipe with Brown Sugar Pecan Swirl - Try Something New with Your Ripe Bananas!
    • paleo bread featured image
      Best Easy Paleo Bread Recipe (Perfect As-Is or for Making Into Sandwiches) {video}

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Rate this recipe:  

    1. Natalie says

      December 15, 2017 at 6:50 am

      YUM! This cornbread looks so delicious and perfect for Christmas ♥

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    faith photo with welcome

    Hi, I'm Faith!

    I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind An Edible Mosaic. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had. Welcome to An Edible Mosaic!

    More About Faith →
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • RSS Feed

    Popular Recipes

    • boba milk tea featured image
      How to Make Bubble Tea (Easy Boba Tea Recipe)
    • mini victoria sponge cakes featured image
      Mini Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe - Fit for Royalty & Easy to Make as Cupcakes! {video}
    • canned chicken salad featured image
      Canned Chicken Salad Recipe
    • borscht recipe featured image
      Classic Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup)

    Seasonal Recipes

    • sausage stuffed acorn squash featured image
      Beautiful Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash Served in Squash Bowls {video}
    • small thanksgiving sheet pan dinner for 4 featured image
      Small Thanksgiving Dinner for 4 (Made on a Sheet Pan!)
    • fall harvest sweet potato salad recipe featured image
      Fall Harvest Sweet Potato Salad Recipe {video}
    • butternut squash casserole featured image
      Cheddar and Thyme Butternut Gratin Recipe - An Easy Casserole That's Perfect if You Need a New Idea For Winter Squash

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Contact
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    an edible mosaic stamp logo 1200 square

    SEE RECIPE INDEX

    Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • RSS Feed

    My Other Blogs

    • Daily Desserting
    • The Keto Queens

    An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I use and love.

    Copyright © 2023 An Edible Mosaic