This quick and easy sweet bread, made with yogurt, dried fruit, and nuts, is soft, moist, and perfect for breakfast or dessert!
Once in a while, I crave a slice of sweet bread, perfect with a cup of coffee or tea. For me, cooking isn't just about the ingredients, it is an act of love and kindness for yourself and your family.
This bread is a simple pleasure, not overly sweet, and ideal for winter baking. It's a cozy, heartwarming activity, especially on snowy evenings with kids in the kitchen. A slice of warm bread paired with a glass of milk is pure comfort.
As February rolls in and many strive for healthier eating, I believe balance is key. Eating well doesn’t mean depriving yourself, especially in cold climates when your body craves warmth and nourishment.
Food should be enjoyed without guilt. It’s not about labeling food as "clean" or "dirty." What matters most is how we cook it, how we eat it, and the joy it brings to our lives.
This recipe is part of my vast collection of bread recipes on the blog, and if you love this quick yogurt bread, check out my other recipes like this Old Fashioned Lemon Bread with Lemon Syrup, or this Bishop's Bread, a bread that is quite similar to this recipe. You might also like this collection of 25 Savory Quick Bread Recipes.
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Yogurt Bread Recipe
- Quick and Easy: No yeast, no kneading—just mix and bake.
- Moist and Tender: The yogurt makes the bread extra soft and moist without being dense.
- Versatile Ingredients: Use your favorite dried fruits and nuts for endless flavor combinations.
- Perfect for Any Time of Day: Enjoy it fresh from the oven or toasted with a bit of butter or cream cheese.
Key Ingredients
This recipe requires simple ingredients that most people have in their pantries.
- Plain Yogurt: adds moisture, softness, and a subtle tanginess that complements the sweet ingredients. If you’re out of yogurt, swap it with buttermilk.
- Eggs: Help bind the ingredients and provide structure to the bread.
- Sunflower Oil: Keeps the bread moist and tender without overpowering the flavors. Replace with canola oil, vegetable oil, or melted butter for a richer flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Choose the best vanilla you can afford.
- Dried Fruits: Raisins, cranberries, chopped apricots, or any dried fruit add sweetness and chewy texture. Mix and match any combination of raisins, dried cherries, chopped dates, or dried blueberries.
- Nuts or Seeds: You can add either chopped walnuts(my favorites), chopped pecans, peanuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, or poppy seeds, or a mixture of them.
- All Purpose Flour: If you don’t have it, use self rising flour and skip the baking powder.
- Granulated Sugar: Just enough to make the bread sweet but not overly sugary.
- Baking Powder: Ensures a light and fluffy texture.
How to Make Quick Yogurt Bread with Dried Fruit and Nuts
Step 1. Prepare the Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F and butter a loaf pan. Option: Line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Step 2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, eggs, sunflower oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
Step 3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the self-rising flour, sugar, baking powder, dried fruit, and nuts.
Step 4. Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the yogurt mixture into the dry ingredients and gently fold until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread light.
Step 5. Bake: Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 6. Cool and Serve: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before lifting it out using the parchment paper. Let it cool completely before slicing.
Expert Tips
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the batter just until the dry ingredients are incorporated to avoid a dense loaf.
- Check for Doneness: Since oven temperatures can vary, test the bread with a toothpick at 40 minutes to avoid overbaking.
Storage
You can store the bread in an airtight container or wrapped in foil for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate it for up to 1 week. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
How to Serve This Easy Yogurt Bread
This bread is awesome for breakfast with butter, cream cheese, or your favorite jam. Try it as a snack, next to a cup of tea or coffee.
Easy peasy, right? There is no work, no need for mixers, special tools, or crazy ingredients. This bread is humble, yes, but I think is a friendly one for everyone in the family.
This bread could be a good option in the lunch bag.
More recipes to love
- Romanian Traditional Sweet Bread With Walnuts- Cozonac
- Sour Cherry Sweet Cornbread
- Easy Savory Cheese Bread
- Cocoa Walnuts Banana Bread
- Easy Marbled Pound Cake
- Quick Easy Beer Bread
- Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake
- Cranberry Orange Banana Bread
📖 Recipe
Quick Sweet Bread with Yogurt, Nuts, and Dried Fruit
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups plain yogurt regular, not Greek
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup dried fruit raisins, cranberries, chopped apricots etc
- 1 cup chopped nuts or seeds walnuts, pecans, flax seeds, sesame seeds etc
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Prepare a loaf pan by buttering the inside of it. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit along the bottom of the pan and up the ends.
- Fit the paper inside. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, spoon the plain yogurt.
- Separately, in a small bowl, mix the eggs with a fork. Add them to the yogurt, together with sunflower oil and vanilla, and mix everything with a fork.
- In a large bowl, place all dry ingredients: dried fruit, nuts, seeds, flour, sugar, and baking powder. Mix.
- Pour the yogurt mixture into the dry ingredients.
- Use a spatula or a wooden spoon to mix everything. Spoon the mixture into the baking pan prepared earlier.
- Bake the bread for about 40-45 minutes or until golden and risen. Test the bread with a skewer or a toothpick in the middle. It should come out clean.
- Leave the loaf to cool down and remove it from the pan by pulling the ends of the parchment paper.
Notes
Expert Tips
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the batter just until the dry ingredients are incorporated to avoid a dense loaf.
- Check for Doneness: Since oven temperatures can vary, test the bread with a toothpick at 40 minutes to avoid overbaking.
Naomi says
I am glad i found your recipe, I was looking for this type brea to bake.ni baked this morning and it turned out well and good tasting too! Thanks Gabriela.
The Bossy Kitchen says
So happy to hear this! Awesome!
Naomi says
Can I use the soaked dry fruits in this recipie?
The Bossy Kitchen says
Hi Naomi, When I thought I answered all possible questions for this recipe, here comes yours. 🙂 Yes, you can do that, but make sure you squeeze the dried fruits really well, as you do not want to add more moisture to the bread. Otherwise, just follow the recipe and you will be fine. Sometimes is better to not complicate things. Add the fruits and the nuts as they are and make the bread. Thank you for visiting.