Description

This Lemon Loaf mimics the beloved Starbucks version with its tangy lemon flavor and rich texture. It’s easy to make, featuring fresh lemon zest, sour cream, and a luscious glaze on top, making it a delightful treat anytime!

Ingredients

Scale

1 ⅔ cups (335 g) granulated sugar
3 tablespoons lemon zest
½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup (60 ml) neutral cooking oil
⅔ cups (160 g) sour cream
4 large eggs, room temperature, yolks and whites divided
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups (250 g) cake flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon table salt
1 ½ cups (190 g) powdered sugar
1–3 tablespoon lemon juice, as needed
1 ½ tablespoons salted butter, melted
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and lightly grease or flour a 9×5” (23x12cm) loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, cream together the sugar, softened butter, and lemon zest using an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).
Mix in the cooking oil until well combined.
In another bowl, whisk together the sour cream, egg yolks, lemon juice, and vanilla extract, then fold this mixture into the creamed butter and sugar on low speed until combined. Set aside.
Combine the cake flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until fully integrated.
In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, then gently fold them into the batter until just combined. Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake for about 74 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean or with crumbs.
Let the loaf cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then loosen the edges with a knife and remove it to a cooling rack. Prepare the glaze in the meantime.
For the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, melted butter, and vanilla extract, adding more lemon juice as needed until smooth. Spread or pour it over the warm loaf.
Allow the loaf to cool completely and the glaze to set for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for better incorporation.
Lining the loaf pan with parchment paper helps in easier removal of the loaf after baking.
Adjust lemon juice in the glaze to achieve the desired consistency.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 320
Sugar: 28 g
Sodium: 180 mg
Fat: 16 g
Saturated Fat: 10 g
Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 42 g
Fiber: 0 g
Protein: 4 g
Cholesterol: 100 mg