Description
Lemon loaf brings zesty sunshine right to your kitchen table with a simple recipe that requires minimal effort. Creamy, tangy, and perfectly balanced, this treat makes afternoon tea or morning breakfast something special to savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup milk
Acidic/Flavor Ingredients:
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Leavening/Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 350F and position a rack in the center to ensure even baking.
- Grab a mixing bowl and cream ½ cup softened butter with 1 cup sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Crack 2 eggs into the butter mixture, adding them one at a time and blending thoroughly after each addition.
- Pour in ½ cup milk, ¼ cup lemon juice, and sprinkle 1 tablespoon lemon zest into the wet ingredients, stirring until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.
- Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined and no flour streaks remain.
- Coat a loaf pan with butter or cooking spray, then transfer the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Slide the pan into the preheated 350F oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center.
- Remove the loaf from the oven when the toothpick comes out clean and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
- Carefully turn the loaf out onto a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Check your lemon zest is fresh and bright, as it provides the most intense citrus flavor for the loaf.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture to keep the batter light and prevent overworking, which can make the loaf tough.
- Room temperature butter and eggs blend more smoothly and create a more consistent texture in your final loaf.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free baking blend to maintain the same tender crumb.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes - 1 hour
- Category: Breads
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg