Description
Glazed Lemon Loaf comes straight from my grandmother’s kitchen, bringing zesty sunshine to your table. Fresh citrus and sweet glaze make this simple treat a total crowd-pleaser you’ll want to share with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Add-Ins:
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 cup blueberries or raspberries
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients and zest 2 fresh lemons using a microplane grater, capturing the bright yellow outer skin without touching the bitter white pith.
- Whisk 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt in a spacious mixing bowl until completely combined and uniform.
- Crack 3 large eggs into a separate bowl and whisk them until they become light and frothy.
- Pour ½ cup milk, ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons lemon zest, and ½ cup melted butter into the egg mixture, stirring until everything is smoothly integrated.
- Create a small well in the center of your dry ingredients and gently pour the wet mixture into it.
- Fold the ingredients together using a rubber spatula, mixing just until no flour streaks remain – be careful not to overmix your batter.
- Transfer the batter into a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan, using your spatula to spread it evenly and tap the pan to release any air bubbles.
- Slide the pan into a preheated oven at 350°F and bake for 55 minutes, rotating halfway through to ensure even browning.
- Test the loaf’s doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out with just a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Whisk 1 cup powdered sugar with 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice until a smooth, drizzling consistency forms.
- Once the loaf has completely cooled, generously drizzle the glaze across the top, letting it cascade down the sides.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for the smoothest, most evenly mixed batter.
- Zest the lemons before juicing to capture maximum citrus flavor in your glaze.
- Test the loaf’s doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center, which should come out clean with just a few moist crumbs.
- For a gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to keep the same tender texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes - 1 hour
- Category: Breads
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 303 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 170 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg