Description
Starbucks Copycat Lemon Loaf brings sunshine to your kitchen with a tangy, sweet slice that tastes exactly like the coffee shop favorite. Whipping up this bakery-style treat takes just minutes and delivers bakery-quality deliciousness right from your own oven.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 0.5 cup sour cream
Flavor Enhancers:
- 0.25 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Stabilizers:
- 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
Glaze Ingredients:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Warm the oven precisely to 350°F (175°C). Thoroughly coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray, then line with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Cream ½ cup softened unsalted butter with 1 cup granulated sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy and pale. Add 3 large eggs individually, mixing completely after each addition.
- Incorporate ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and ½ cup sour cream. Blend until the mixture looks smooth and uniform.
- Separately combine 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Gently fold these dry ingredients into your wet mixture until just combined.
- Transfer the batter into your prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Ensure the surface is level for consistent baking.
- Slide the pan into the preheated 350°F oven. Bake for 45-50 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean.
- Remove the loaf and let it rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack.
- Whisk 1 cup powdered sugar with 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice until the glaze reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.
- Once the loaf has completely cooled, drizzle the glaze generously across the top. Allow the glaze to set for 5-10 minutes before slicing.
- Cut into thick, even slices and serve at room temperature.
Notes
- Fresh lemon zest makes a huge difference in boosting the citrus flavor, so always grate it directly from a fresh lemon.
- Room temperature eggs and butter blend more smoothly and create a more tender crumb in your loaf.
- Check your loaf at 40 minutes of baking, as ovens can vary, and remove it immediately when a toothpick comes out clean to prevent drying.
- For a gluten-free version, swap the all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free baking blend and add an extra tablespoon of liquid to maintain moisture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Breads
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 265 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg