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The Best Lemon Loaf (Better-Than-Starbucks Copycat)

It took years, but I finally recreated it!! Easy, no mixer, no cake mix, dangerously good, and SPOT ON!! You're going to love this lemon pound cake recipe!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Cooling Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
Servings: 10
Calories: 329 kcal
Course: Breakfast , Bread
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Lemon Loaf
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup canola or vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon extract to taste (not teaspoons)*
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
Lemon Glaze
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice or as necessary for consistency

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with floured cooking spray, or grease and flour the pan; set aside.
Make the Loaf:
    Cup of Yum
  1. To a large bowl, add the eggs, sugar, sour cream, and whisk vigorously until smooth and combined.
  2. Drizzle in the oil while whisking to combine.
  3. Add the lemon zest, lemon extract, and whisk to combine. Note – I used 2 tablespoons of lemon extract because no actual lemon juice is used in the loaf and I found 2 tablespoons lemon extract necessary for full-bodied lemon flavor, but add to taste.
  4. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and stir until just combined, don’t overmix. Some lumps will be present and that’s okay, don’t try to stir them smooth.
  5. Turn the batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
  6. Bake for about 50 to 52 minutes, or until top is domed, set, and toothpick inserted in the center crack comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs but no batter. In the last 10 minutes of baking, tent pan with foil (loosely drape a sheet of foil over pan) to prevent excessive browning on the top and sides of bread before center cooks through.
  7. Allow loaf to cool in pan on top of a wire rack for at least 30 minutes (I cooled 4 hours) before turning out onto rack to cool completely before glazing.
Make the Lemon Glaze:
  1. To a small bowl, add the confectioner’s sugar and slowly drizzle in the lemon juice while whisking until smooth and combined. You may need to play with the sugar and lemon juice amounts a bit as necessary for desired consistency and flavor.
  2. Evenly drizzle glaze over bread before slicing and serving.
  3. Extra glaze can be spread on the cut surface of the bread like you’d spread butter on toast and it soaks right in making the bread even moister and more lemony. Or you can halve the glaze recipe if you’re not a glaze person.

Notes

  • *Don’t use lemon oil and lemon extract interchangeably because they’re not; oil is much more potent and intense. Don’t use lemon juice in place of lemon extract because it’s not strong enough and the acidity can alter the overall results.
  • Bread will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months; I don’t recommend storing it in the fridge because it’ll dry out.
  • Recipe adapted from my Blueberry Yogurt Cake with Lemon Vanilla Glaze.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Calories 329kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 47g (16%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 11g Cholesterol 60mg (20%) Sodium 233mg (10%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 32g (64%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 329

% Daily Value*

Serving 1
Calories 329kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 47g 16%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 11g 65%
Cholesterol 60mg 20%
Sodium 233mg 10%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 32g 64%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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