Starbucks Lemon Loaf is a copycat recipe that has that citrus kick of lemon that just wakes up your taste buds and has them begging for more. This light and bright quick bread recipe has a sweet, vanilla frosting that takes it over the top!
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This Starbucks Lemon Loaf has mesmerized me to the point that every time I drive by a Starbuck’s, I think of this treat. My mouth instantly starts to water and I have my turn signal on before my conscious mind even realizes it. Seriously, this sweet bread is that good!
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Why This Lemon Bread Recipe Works
Everyone will love this lemon quick bread because it tastes just like the Starbucks version and it’s both buttery and lemony and sweet all at the same time. Also, because I save money making it at home and do not have to get out of pajamas to have some. Therefore, it’s perfect.
How to Make Starbucks Lemon Loaf Recipe – Step by Step
- Preheat Oven: First, preheat your oven to 350°.
- Dry Ingredients: Second in a small bowl mix together your flour, baking powder, lemon zest, and salt.
- Wet Ingredients: Next in a larger bowl beat together your butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, then incorporate your vanilla and lemon juice.
- Eggs: Combine in your eggs to your butter and sugar mixture one at a time. Once your eggs are fully mixed, add in your vanilla extract and lemon juice.
- Alternate: Then to your large bowl alternate flour and milk until both are fully incorporated.
- Bake: Finally place your batter to a 9 x 5” lightly greased loaf pan bake for about 40 to 50 minutes, then cool.
- Make Icing: Meanwhile, mix together icing ingredients. Lastly, pour your icing over the loaf after it has cooled.
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Recommendations for Perfect Making Loaf Cakes
There are a few points that must be remembered. For Example:
- Room temperature ingredients are a must.
- Over mixing is the enemy, just have things incorporated.
- Do not over bake, it can be dry and crumby. Check for doneness with a toothpick especially if you are unsure of the accuracy of your oven temperature.
More Tips for Making this Easy Lemon Quick Bread
Ultimately, we want a moist cake. So here are a few more tips:
- Tap the loaf pan on the counter after you have filled it with the batter to get out the air bubbles.
- A pan filled with water in the oven with your cake to keep it moist.
- After greasing the pan, sprinkle with a little sugar, it helps it from sticking and adds some sweetness.
- If your cake comes out a little dry, brush with a simple syrup to give it some moisture.
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Expert Tips for Making the Best Loaf like Starbucks
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two baking dishes before baking.
- Freeze: Cake freezes well in this loaf keeper or other airtight container.
- Fresh: Truly to have the best cake, always use fresh, especially lemon zest and juice.
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- Favorite Mixing Bowl
- Best Loaf Pan
- Hand Mixer
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Starbucks Lemon Loaf
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ TSP baking powder
- ½ TBSP lemon zest
- ½ TSP salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar, granulated
- 2 large eggs
- 1 TSP vanilla extract
- 2 TBSP lemon juice, about 1/2 lemon
- ½ cup milk
- Icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp lemon
- 2 TBSP milk
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°.
- In a small bowl mix together your flour, baking powder, lemon zest, and salt.
- In a larger bowl beat together your butter and sugar. Mix well until fully incorporated.
- Add in your eggs to your butter and sugar mixture one at a time.
- Once your eggs are fully mixed, add in your vanilla extract and lemon juice.
- Add to your large bowl a little bit of your flour mixture, followed by a little bit of milk. Continue to alternate between the flour mixture and milk until both are fully mixed in.
- Add your batter to a 9 x 5” lightly greased loaf pan.
- Place your loaf pan in the oven for about 40 to 50 minutes. Continue to check your loaf pan in the oven as oven times vary. You will know what is complete when removing a toothpick from the middle of the loaf comes clean.
- Once your loaf has completed cooking, transfer to a cooling rack.
- While you are waiting for your loaf to cool, mix together all of the ingredients for your icing. Your icing should be a thick consistency, not thin.
- Once your loaf has cooled for about 15 to 20 minutes, pour the icing over your loaf pan. If you would like more icing for the top, you can make more icing and pour over the top of your loaf.
- Slice and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe for a crowd. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two baking dishes before baking.
- Freeze: This cake freezes well in this loaf keeper or other airtight container.
- Fresh: Truly to have the best cake, always use fresh, especially lemon zest and juice.
I love this cake! It’s so lemony, just the way I like it!