This citrusy moist lemon pound cake topped with a sweet icing is bakery perfection! Making this Starbucks Lemon Loaf at home is so easy!
This Starbucks Lemon Loaf is always one of the most popular bakery treats at Starbucks. Making it at home is not only easy, but way cheaper! It costs less than $5 to make a whole loaf, while Starbucks charges $3 PER SLICE! Try this copycat Starbucks lemon loaf recipe at home, and you'll be hooked!
I don't make a lot of bakery items, but when I do, it has to be delicious! This Lemon Loaf is going to be your new go-to snack or dessert! Serve it alongside this Honey Lime Fruit Salad and The BEST Air Fryer Bacon for a perfect breakfast!
How to make Starbucks Lemon Loaf at home:
**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**
- Get all the ingredients together. Soften the butter (see a trick on how to do this FAST!) or let it come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until it is light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, and beat into the mixture. Add the lemon zest and vanilla extract and beat well.
- In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients - flour, salt, and baking soda. Then mix carefully until combined.
- Using a LOW setting on the mixer, slowly add about one third of the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, then mix, then add half the sour cream, mix, then one third of the dry, mix, then the rest of the sour cream, mix, then the rest of the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Scrape down the edges of the bowl, then mix again and set aside.
- Add the mixture into a greased or parchment lined loaf pan (9x5), then place into the preheated oven. Set timer for 50 minutes. Check doneness of the copycat Starbucks lemon loaf with a toothpick after 50 minutes. Cook additional 5-10 minutes if needed.
How to make the glaze/icing for the lemon loaf:
**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**
- In a small bowl add powdered sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Using a fork or whisk, mix until the glaze has no clumps.
- To have a thicker glaze, use less lemon juice.
- Drizzle the glaze/icing over the top of the lemon loaf. Let rest 10 minutes, the slice and serve.
This Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf is perfect to serve for breakfast, a snack, or dessert! I love making it when guests come for brunch or a holiday.
I have also shared some other delicious quick bread recipes such as this Glazed Orange Bread, Cranberry Lemon Loaf, and of course the always popular Banana Bread!
How to store a Lemon Loaf:
I usually place the loaf onto a serving dish, then cover the top loosely, but seal around the edges of the serving dish with plastic wrap. There should not be air coming into the bread or it will get stale quickly. This stays fresh for 5 days, covered, but never lasts that long!
If you like baking as much as I do, checkout these other recipes from Domestic Superhero:
- Best Banana Bread and Muffins
- Apple Fritter Muffins
- Milky Way Caramel Cheesecake Brownies
- Caramel Apple Poke Cake (easy cake mix recipe)
- Carrot Cake Trifle (shortcut and homemade recipe)
- Tres Leches Cake (three milks cake)
- S'mores Stuffed Brownie Bites
This citrusy moist lemon pound cake topped with a sweet icing is bakery perfection! Making this Starbucks Lemon Loaf at home is so easy!
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cup all purpose white flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until it is light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, and beat into the mixture. Add the lemon zest and vanilla extract and beat well.
-
In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients - flour, salt, and baking soda. Then mix carefully until combined.
-
Using the LOW setting on the mixer, slowly add about one third of the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, then mix. Add half of the sour cream then mix. Add another one third of the dry mix, then mix. Add the rest of the sour cream, then mix. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until combined. Scrape down the edges of the bowl, then mix again and set aside.
-
Add the mixture into a greased or parchment lined loaf pan (9x5), then place into the preheated oven. Set timer for 50 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick after 50 minutes. Cook additional 5-10 minutes if needed.
-
Add the powdered sugar, lemon zest, and about half of the lemon juice to a small bowl. Mix with a fork or whisk. Add additional lemon juice to thin the icing (keep it however thick or thin you'd like). Drizzle the glaze all over the top of the bread and let rest 10 minutes. Slice and serve.
Beth
I'm seriously drooling over here. I can't wait to make this!
Alicia
I've made this a few times and my kids always beg me to make it. This year I have a neighbors lemon tree to pick off of, and I can't wait! This is JUST like Starbucks, only better 🙂
Pat Jenner
My family loved this so much. And honestly it's way better than Starbuck's!
Erik
Such a great recipe, who needs to head out to Starbucks now?
Agnes
MMM this looks like the perfect dessert (or breakfast). I can't wait to try this!
Jennifer
This lemon loaf is the BEST! Obsessed!
Sandra
This is such a really impressive recipe! It was so good and totally irresistible!
Catalina
I go crazy over lemon flavor. And this lemon loaf has an amazing texture!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
Looks so impressive and yummy! This is definitely a must make!
!
Melissa Andujo
Hello Domestic Superhero 🙂 I have made this and its great. However, I would like more lemon flavor in the cake part....can I add a teaspoon or 2 of fresh lemon juice to the batter?
Allyson
Yes you can definitely try that out or you can add more lemon zest as well!