This Copycat Starbuck’s Lemon Loaf is homemade and full of lemon flavor with a simple lemon glaze on top that makes this better than Starbuck’s!
STARBUCK’S LEMON LOAF
I think I could’ve eat this entire lemon loaf. It has been a crazy, hectic couple of weeks, y’all. I thought with school being back in session that my days would free up a bit more but it turns out the opposite has been true. I have been working harder than ever! And I think my brain is nearly fried at this point. If you are a regular follower, then I will have something to show for all that hard work.
LEMON LOVERS UNITE
Every year for my birthday, I always ask for a lemon cake. I don’t care if it’s a boxed cake mix. I’ll eat it all!! However, this year, I think I am going to ask for this LEMON RICOTTA CAKE! My guys are gonna need to step up their baking game. Ha!
VIDEO INCLUDED BELOW:
IS THIS A BREAD OR A POUND CAKE?
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
for the cake:
eggs
sugar
sour cream or Greek yogurt
vegetable oil
lemon zest
lemon extract
all-purpose flour
baking powder
salt
for the lemon glaze:
powdered sugar
lemon juice
HOW TO MAKE STARBUCK’S LEMON LOAF:
Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with floured no-stick cooking spray.In a large bowl, add the eggs, sugar, sour cream, oil and whisk vigorously until smooth and combined.
Finally, add the lemon zest, lemon extract, and stir well to combine.
Then, stir in flour, baking powder, salt, and stir until just combined. It’s okay if it’s a bit lumpy.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for about 50 to 52 minutes. Optional: 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.
Allow loaf to cool in pan on top of a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before turning out onto cooling rack to finish cooling before glazing. For the glaze, in a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth and combined. You may need to play with the sugar and lemon juice amounts a bit for desired consistency and flavor (I prefer mine to be thick.) Evenly spread or drizzle glaze over bread before slicing and serving.
Then slice and serve!
Cook’s Notes: Cake will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Don’t store it in the fridge because it’ll dry out.
COPYCAT STARBUCK'S LEMON LOAF
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp lemon extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the lemon glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with floured no-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, add the eggs, sugar, sour cream, oil and whisk vigorously until smooth and combined. Finally, add the lemon zest, lemon extract, and stir well to combine.
- Then, stir in flour, baking powder, salt, and stir until just combined. It’s okay if it’s a bit lumpy. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for about 50 to 52 minutes.
- Optional: 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.
- Allow loaf to cool in pan on top of a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before turning out onto cooling rack to finish cooling before glazing.
- For the glaze, in a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth and combined. You may need to play with the sugar and lemon juice amounts a bit for desired consistency and flavor (I prefer mine to be thick.)
- Evenly spread or drizzle glaze over bread before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
WANT MORE LEMON RECIPES? TRY THESE!
LEMON BLUEBERRY POKE CAKE
LEMON RASPEBERRY POKE CAKE
LEMON DREAM CAKE
SPARKLING APPLE CIDER POUND CAKE
do the flour hsve to be sift.
My little girl loves this lemon cake from Starbucks. This was WAY better!!
Can the recipe be used to make mini loaves? If so do I need to any adjustments to ingredients or baking time?
Excellent cake. I added more lemon juice and lemon essence. This is a keeper!!!!
Just made this cake ….. deliciously lemony, moist and light!
Can I add poppyseed to this recipe? If so, how much should I add and will I need to change anything in the recipe?
I’ve never tested it with poppyseed – I’m sorry!
Just add 1 1/2 Tbsp to 2 Tbsp poppyseeds to the recipe.
Thank you Marjie!
This looks delicious – I can’t wait to try it. My family doesn’t love lemon zest – would it be ok to omit it and if so, would you recommend more lemon extract be added? Thank you so much!
Hi Erin, you can just leave it out. 🙂
Do you think this would work in mini loaves?
I will definitely make this cake!! What can I use in the place of lemon extract and still give it that lemon flavor? I’ve never used lemon extract and will be afraid it somehow doesn’t keep with the authentic lemon flavor.
If you are using a good quality lemon extract, they should be using real lemons to make the extract so it shouldn’t taste inauthentic. Or you can just choose to leave it out. 🙂