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
The Best Lemon Loaf (Better-Than-Starbucks Copycat)
Video
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.
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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More Easy Lemon Desserts:
Lemon Lemonies – Like brownies, but made with lemon and white chocolate! Dense, chewy, not cakey and packed with big, bold lemon flavor!
Lightened Up Blueberry Lemon Pound Cake — No BUTTER in this healthier cake with big juicy blueberries and refreshing lemon! It’s a keeper!
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!!
I did full fat greek yogurt, 1/2-3/4c lemon zest and cooked for 35min -keeping cake moist. For frosting I did 3c powdered sugar w/ 3TBPS lemon juice and added 1/8 cup chopped up lemon zest
Thanks for the 5 star review, Erin, and I’m glad to hear it was moist!
This is probably my fault. But I followed the recipe to a T. No additions or subtractions. The taste was spot on and tasty. But it was dense. I had a lot of lumps… because it said not to over mix and lumps were ok. Did I under mix it? All my ingredients were freshly purchased. I used Icelandic Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.. could this be it?
I think the Greek yogurt is fine, although I do not know how “Icelandic” Greek yogurt differs from other Greek yogurt.
I think it was likely undermixing. You need to mix enough to stir out the lumps, but then stop. People don’t seem to recognize that with baking so I always remind everyone not to overmix, but you need to properly mix. You’ll know for next time!
I stir my dry ingredients together first before adding to wet ingredients and I don’t have lumps then.
This is ,by far, the best lemon loaf I have ever made
Thanks for the 5 star review, Mary, and it’s wonderful to know this is the best lemon loaf you’ve ever made!
So delicious! Received many compliments – will be making this often. Thank you for a great recipe!
Thanks for the 5 star review, Sheri, and I’m so glad that you received so many compliments and will be make it often!
My husband and I loved this. I made it for our guests and they all loved it too. Must try!
Thanks for the 5 star review, Betty, and I’m glad this was a winner with you and your husband and guests!
Easy, tasty, moist, and a wonderful way to use up extra lemons!
Thanks for the 5 star review, Jen, and I’m glad this recipe came in handy for your extra lemons!
This lemon bread was very good. I actually believe it could’ve taken more of the lemon extract or maybe a better brand. The crumb of the bread was wonderful and the lemon glaze. I used a pampered chef loaf pan and overcooked the loaf so it was a learning process for me and hopefully a good tip if you haven’t made it yet.
Thanks for trying the recipe and glad the crumb and glaze were wonderful! As you said, maybe use a better brand of extract next time for more intensity of lemon flavor.
Whenever I make this for friends it always gets great reviews. I forget to comment. Everything I’ve tried from Averie has been good so far and I have a lot more recipes to try. Thanks Averie!!
Thanks for the 5 star review, Beth, and I’m so glad this always gets great reviews when you make it. And thanks for your loyal support and being a fan of my recipes!
I literally love lemon loaf and they’re ALWAYS sold out at Starbucks. I added extra lemon zest,2 tbsp of lemon extract, and some lemon juice. It came out moist and delicious.
Thanks for the 5 star review, Sildana, and I’m glad to hear that this was delicious for you!
I love anything lemon and this recipe takes the cake, well loaf.
Thanks for the 5 star review, Jean! And I love that this takes the loaf for you! haha!
Yes! It’s really the perfect recipe for THE BEST LEMON LOAF. Thank you. ❤
Thanks for the 5 star review, Ana, and I’m glad to hear this was the perfect and best lemon loaf for you! Thank you for your support!
I have been making this recipe for over a year now. I sub Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 gluten free flour and it is still absolutely amazing. People can’t believe its gluten free and can’t believe how good the lemon loaf is!
Thanks for making this recipe for over a year now Michelle and I’m glad it’s great even with GF flour! Thanks for sharing that you do a 1:1 ratio of GF flour and it’s absolutely amazing and that people are raving about it and can’t believe it’s GF – love this!
can i use non fat greek yogurt?
It’ll probably be fine as long as it’s thick Greek yogurt, not just regular yogurt, which is so much thinner and more runny. But like a 0% Fage Greek yogurt should be ok.
wonderful!!!!
Thank you, Beverly, and glad it was wonderful!
I love love loved this recipe ! I was tired of the piece of store bought Lemon Loaf , not to mention how half always seems to be stale. This recipe was simple and delicious. Instant family hit !
Thanks for the five star review, Mary, and I’m glad that you love this recipe! I agree that the store-bought version can tend to be stale or dry, or just less than ideal. Now you can just make it yourself!
Averie, I made this recipe recently for Our Senior Citizens Meeting. I have Celiac & so I made it with GF flour & it turned out DELICIOUS! Even people who don’t have to be GF ate it & it was a big hit. Thank you so much. I am going to try the Lemon Donuts next with the Lemon Glaze. Thank you for all your great recipes
Thanks for the 5 star review, Nanci, and I’m so glad to hear this turned out great with GF flour for you and even non-GF people loved it and it was a big hit! Enjoy the lemon donuts!
Also sounds like you like lemon desserts. I know this cake may not sound that amazing, but it is! https://www.averiecooks.com/lemon-olive-oil-cake/ I have never tried it with GF flour but if you make it, please let me know how it goes! The cake is my favorite lemon dessert of all time :)