The Best Lemon Loaf (Better-Than-Starbucks Copycat) — It took years, but I finally recreated it!! Easy, no mixer, no cake mix, dangerously good, and SPOT ON!! You’re going to love this lemon bread recipe!
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Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf Recipe
This iced lemon loaf cake recipe has been beyond a long time in the making. I’ve been trying to make this copycat Starbucks lemon loaf on and off for years. I can’t even tell you how much I have obsessed, tried, trialed, and failed at it. Until now.
If you’ve ever had Starbucks’ Lemon Loaf, you know how good it is. Full of lemon flavor, moist, dense, and rich. Anything that good I shouldn’t want to learn how to make at home, but I couldn’t leave well enough alone.
I’ve tried countless internet recipes for lemon bread and some were ‘fine’ but not quite perfect, while others were total fails. And I definitely didn’t want to go the cake mix route.
I even sent one almost-a-possibility-but-not-quite to my mom to have her trial it.
Something as ‘simple’ as a lemon loaf cake eluded me for ages until I rediscovered and slightly adapted my own 2012 recipe for Blueberry Yogurt Cake with Lemon Vanilla Glaze. It’s an easy, no-mixer, one-bowl, whisk-together batter.
This lemon loaf cake is soft, springy, and moist without being heavy or dry, problems which often plague pound cake. Nor is it oily, which sometimes happens with the Starbucks’ version. Plus, you probably have all the ingredients on hand to make it and you can pronounce every ingredient used.
The lemon loaf cake itself is perfectly lemony, and the lemon glaze boosts the lemon flavor even more. Lemon lovers will be in their glory!
And just think of all that money you’ll save by making it at home. That’s almost dangerous.
Ingredients in Lemon Loaf
To make this copycat Starbucks lemon loaf recipe, you’ll need:
- Eggs
- Granulated sugar
- Sour cream
- Canola oil
- Lemon zest
- Lemon extract
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
And to make the lemon bread glaze, you’ll need:
- Confectioners’ sugar
- Lemon juice
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Lemon Loaf
This Starbucks recipe for lemon loaf couldn’t be easier to make! Here’s a look at how this recipe comes together:
- First, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and sour cream before drizzling in the oil.
- Stir in the lemon zest and extract, followed by the dry ingredients.
- Turn the lemon loaf batter into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan and bake until the top is domed, set, and toothpick inserted in the center crack comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs but no batter.
- The copycat Starbucks lemon loaf needs to cool for at least 30 minutes before drizzling with the glaze!
Lemon Loaf FAQs
Yes, this lemon bread freezes incredibly well. It can be frozen up to 6 months.
Just be sure to glaze the bread AFTER it’s been frozen and thawed (the glaze can be frozen, but the texture changes slightly).
Of course, just note that your bake time will vary depending on the size of your pans.
One reader reported success making seven mini loaves and baking them at 350ºF for about 35 minutes, if that helps. However, I can’t speak from personal experience.
Most likely, yes. You’d need to bake two 9×5-inch loaves.
A few readers have also asked if they can double the recipe and bake the batter in a 9×13-inch pan or a metal bundt pan. Both options would likely work, although I can’t say for sure.
I don’t recommend doing so, as that would change the taste of the lemon bread too much. If you want a lemon olive oil dessert, make my Lemon Olive Oil Cake recipe instead.
I’ve had quite a few readers ask about using gluten-free flour in this copycat Starbucks lemon pound cake recipe. I’ve only made the recipe as written, but readers have reported success using either Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Flour or Cup4Cup gluten-free flour.
I can’t say for sure if using a gluten-free flour will work, but this is what readers have recommended!
No! Do NOT use lemon oil and lemon extract interchangeably because they’re not — oil is much more potent and intense.
No, do NOT use lemon juice in place of lemon extract because it’s not strong enough and the acidity can alter the overall results.
I used 2 tablespoons of lemon extract because no actual lemon juice is used in the loaf and I found 2 tablespoons lemon extract necessary for full-bodied lemon flavor, but you can add it to taste.
What Readers Are Saying
As you can see on the recipe card, this copycat Starbucks recipe for lemon loaf has over 1,500 reviews on it. And if you scroll to the very bottom of this post, you’ll see the 1,000+ comments that readers have left.
To say that this lemon bread recipe has been tried and tested — and loved! — is an understatement!
Here are just a few 5-star reviews that have been left on this lemon loaf cake recipe:
“Delightful! This loaf did not last long in my household – lemony and delicious and a recipe I always come back to.” — Stephanie
“I have been making this recipe for a few years! Always gets the best reviews! I poke holes in it so when I add the glaze it goes into the loaf! This is my go to recipe when I am asked to bring a dessert!” — Joan Kasaris
“Simple, yet delicious! Baked mine for 40 minutes. It’s a dense, flavourful cake and will be my go-to lemon loaf recipe from now on since I have too been looking for the perfect lemon loaf for a long time. Thanks for finding it for me!!!” — Vivi
“Hard to believe a recipe so quick and easy tastes so good. Passed some out to friends and they were amazed at texture and flavor. I followed the reciperight to the end.” — Roger Drenga
“This recipe is incredibly delicious, and this was also my very first time baking a lemon loaf. I’m so happy how it turned out, and everyone in our house loved it. Thank you!” — Danielle
Recipe Video
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The Best Lemon Loaf (Better-Than-Starbucks Copycat)
Ingredients
Lemon Loaf
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream or Greek yogurt
- ½ cup canola or vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon extract, to taste (not teaspoons)*
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
Lemon Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice, or as necessary for consistency
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with floured cooking spray, or grease and flour the pan; set aside.
Make the Loaf:
- To a large bowl, add the eggs, sugar, sour cream, and whisk vigorously until smooth and combined.
- Drizzle in the oil while whisking to combine.
- Add the lemon zest, lemon extract, and whisk to combine. Note – I used 2 tablespoons of lemon extract because no actual lemon juice is used in the loaf and I found 2 tablespoons lemon extract necessary for full-bodied lemon flavor, but add to taste.
- Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and stir until just combined, don’t overmix. Some lumps will be present and that’s okay, don’t try to stir them smooth.
- Turn the batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
- Bake for about 50 to 52 minutes, or until top is domed, set, and toothpick inserted in the center crack comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs but no batter. 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 (I cooled 4 hours) before turning out onto rack to cool completely before glazing.
Make the Lemon Glaze:
- To a small bowl, add the confectioner’s sugar and slowly drizzle in the lemon juice while whisking until smooth and combined. You may need to play with the sugar and lemon juice amounts a bit as necessary for desired consistency and flavor.
- Evenly drizzle glaze over bread before slicing and serving.
- Extra glaze can be spread on the cut surface of the bread like you’d spread butter on toast and it soaks right in making the bread even moister and more lemony. Or you can halve the glaze recipe if you’re not a glaze person.
Video
Notes
- *Don’t use lemon oil and lemon extract interchangeably because they’re not; oil is much more potent and intense. Don’t use lemon juice in place of lemon extract because it’s not strong enough and the acidity can alter the overall results.
- Bread will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months; I don’t recommend storing it in the fridge because it’ll dry out.
- Recipe adapted from my Blueberry Yogurt Cake with Lemon Vanilla Glaze.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting – Soft, fluffy, moist, very lemony cupcakes from scratch! Easy one-bowl, no-mixer recipe for cupcakes that taste like they’re from a bakery!
The Best Lemon Bars – Truly the best lemon bars I’ve ever had!
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake with Lemon Glaze – Almost more berries than cake in this soft, fluffy cake!
Soft and Chewy Lemon Cookies — Packed with big, bold lemon flavor for all you lemon lovers! They’re soft, chewy and not at all cakey!
Lemon Buttermilk Cake with Lemon Glaze — An easy buttermilk cake with big lemon flavor!! Soft, fluffy, and foolproof if you like puckering up!!
Softbatch Glazed Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies — Big, bold lemon flavor packed into super soft cookies thanks to the cream cheese!! Tangy-sweet perfection! Lemon lovers are going to adore these easy cookies!!
Baked Lemon Donuts with Lemon Glaze — They taste like the Starbucks lemon loaf, but in donut (or mini muffin) form!! Easy, no mixer recipe with a tart-yet-sweet lemon glaze that’s PERFECT! Lemon lovers will adore them!!
This was simple to make and oh so yummy! I made two and taking one to bingo tonight. I made the frosting a wee bit thicker so it didn’t soak in or run down onto the platter. I feel there’s just enough lemon taste to the recipe. I can’t figure out how to add a picture :(
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad you enjoyed it! My website doesn’t allow for adding photos.
This cake is just chuck full of lemony goodness. I didn’t have a loaf pan so I used a bundt pan.
Also, I only had to bake for 33 minutes. It was perfectly done at that time. I followed the recipe to
the letter. It really is a bakery/restaurant quality cake. Thanks so much for sharing. Everyone is raving about the cake.
Bundt pans generally cook faster than loaf pans so I’m not surprised. Thanks for the 5 star review and glad you feel it’s a bakery/restaurant quality cake!
I made it yesterday but using Stevia instead of sugar and my mom and dad told me make it again in day or two. It was so delicious and I was using most organic eggs you can imagine, I am from Montenegro all 99,99% of the food is organic and cake was so yellow…
Regards from Montenegro, Europe….
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this was great even with stevia!
Do you use lemon juice when making the glaze or real lemon juice?
To me there is only one kind of lemon juice…real lemon juice is lemon juice and all I use.
Can I use gf flour
I have not ever tried it so cannot say for sure.
Lemony, moist, and delicious! Everyone raves about it!
Glad it’s a hit that everyone raves about!
Outstanding!! Made 2 cakes 2 nights ago.. and made glaze last night. Went with a lighter consistency, allowing glaze to be soaked into the loaf. Gave one to my neighbor (who went crazy for it), and froze one. Plan on making more of these. Very, very delicious!!!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad these were a hit with both you and your neighbor!
This is the best ever!! Freezes well too!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad you think it’s the best ever!
Have you tried making this with blueberries added in? Do I need to alter the recipe if I add blueberries?
I have not tried. Cannot say because I have not tried.
You shouldn’t need to alter the recipe. However, if using frozen berries, I would thaw in a colander (to drain extra moisture).
Btw, a great combination!
Good luck!
Blueberries sound like an excellent addition! I also think that you will not have to alter the recipe to add these in. BUT I have a tip from Martha that’s very helpful- mix the blueberries with about 1-2 tbsp. of flour first and then mix them in the batter. This will prevent them from sinking to the bottom as the loaf bakes in the oven. :)
Defnitely! Been using this tip for blueberry muffins for years – the secrets are all in the techniques, no matter what the recipe! 😉
hello. can i use self raising flour instead of plain flour and baking powder?
and what size tin /pan is used to bake?
many thanks!!
I would make it exactly as written so you know it will turn out. 9×5
Amazing recipe! It is definitely a crowd pleaser. It is also very forgiving (which is great as I am not an experienced cook). I used parchment to avoid the mess and it still turned out amazing. I also definitely overmixed and the loaf was still perfect. I am a starbucks-a-holic and now I can enjoy their loaf at any time for half the cost!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad you can enjoy this loaf for half the cost :)
First lemon loaf recipe made and only one I’ll need. Came out wonderful. Not a fan of lemon loaf until now. Super easy and super yummy.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this is your first stop and last stop for recipe searches for a lemon loaf :)
Very moist, lemony and delicious cake. What Starbucks would like its lemon cake to be (comment of my son). Very easy to prepare. Thank you very much!
I love your son’s comment :) thank you! And glad this turned out great for you!
I never write reviews, however, I must give this woman some credit. I absolutely adore this recipe. I follow it exactly, and it has never failed me! Overtime, I have come back to adapt it into other variations. I’ll sub the lemon extract for almond extract, and add some slithered almonds on top. I’ve also added a cup of raspberries to this recipe to make a raspberry, lemon loaf. I’ve even substituted the canola oil for olive oil to make mini lemon, olive oil tea cakes. If you don’t feel like making the glaze, dust the top with confectioners super, or go without-altogether. Thank you very much for this recipe!
Thanks for the 5 star review and for giving me credit :) Glad you’ve been able to tweak and adapt the recipe. All of your variations sound great!
Made this last night–family loved everything about it! So lemony and refreshing. Thank you for the recipe!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it was a hit with the whole family!
Wow! Made this tonight and it is so good. We served it for dessert with raspberries on top. Outstanding. I happened to have lemon greek yogurt which I used for the sour cream/greek yogurt component. You deserve to be incredibly proud of this recipe. Thank you!
Thanks for the 5 star review and thanks for the compliments on my recipe :) The lemon greek yogurt sounds perfect!