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If you love lemon desserts – then you need to try this Starbucks Copycat Lemon Loaf! It’s buttery, moist, bursting with lemon flavor, and topped with sweet lemon glaze!
This lemon loaf tops the list of favorite lemon desserts, along with Lemon Pound Cake and Lemon Blueberry Muffins.
Starbucks Famous Lemon Loaf
Have you ever tried the lemon loaf from Starbucks? As much as I love homemade treats, I can’t turn down a slice of their lemon pound cake. It’s so tender and packed so much lemon flavor in every single bite.
When I was a student, I’d go to Starbucks on a Sunday to do homework. And without a doubt – I’d always order a slice of their lemon loaf. It has the perfect balance of delicious butteriness without being greasy, and the lemon flavor packs a punch without being sour whatsoever.
So I wanted to find the perfect Starbucks copycat lemon loaf recipe so that I could make a delicious lemon loaf at home and eat 3 slices without the embarrassment of ordering all 3 from the Barista.
Starbucks Copycat Lemon Loaf Recipe
To develop the perfect lemon loaf from scratch – I had to do some sleuthing. I first looked at the Starbucks website to see the ingredient list for their lemon loaf. While there’s a ton of ingredients I didn’t understand that are obviously only used in commercial kitchens, I did learn a lot about the ingredients they use.
- They use butter instead of oil for the fat.
- They’re using lemon juice, lemon peel and lemon oil for the lemon flavor.
- Both baking powder & baking soda to help it rise beautifully.
- There’s sour cream to keep it moist.
So in order to get a recipe that’s close as possible to the original – I wanted to make sure I had those ingredients in my recipe too. Obviously, they don’t show the exact proportions on their website, so from there it was time to start experimenting in the kitchen.
Developing the Perfect Lemon Loaf Recipe
The first lemon loaf recipe I tried was too dry – so I knew I needed a little more sour cream and an extra egg to keep it tender and moist. Then the next one wasn’t quite lemony enough. Finally, number 3 was just right. Tender, moist, and bursting with fresh sunshine lemon flavor.
To get a lemon flavor that was the most similar to the Starbucks version, I used lemon juice, lemon zest and lemon extract. I found that the lemon extract made the flavor the most similar to the Starbucks version. However – I know it’s a little harder to come by. So feel free to leave the lemon extract out. Your lemon loaf will still be delicious.
Whether you’ve tried the lemon loaf from Starbucks or not – you definitely need to try Starbucks copycat lemon loaf recipe. It’s perfect for breakfast, a midmorning snack, or even dessert. And the bright lemon flavor makes it taste like sunshine in delicious pound cake form.
Top Tips
- We have received a lot of comments in regards to the icing. The proportions in the recipe include a note to add more powdered sugar as needed until you have a nice thick consistency. This can vary from kitchen to kitchen depending on personal preference, and what type of milk you use. I’ve updated the recipe with less liquid to start for the icing, but keep in mind that you may have to play around with it to get a flavor and texture that you love.
- Check for browning as it bakes. If the top is getting too brown, cover with foil.
- If you want more lemon flavor in the bread and the icing, use lemon extract along with the lemon juice. The flavor will be more intense. It can however have a “fake” taste so be cautious using too much.
Store and Freezing
Your Lemon Loaf will remain fresh for up to 5-6 days when properly stored, or up to 6 months in the freezer.
- Store leftover Lemon Loaf in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days. Do not refrigerate as this can dry out the cake.
- For long term storage, you can freeze the Lemon Loaf and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Place frosted lemon loaf (whole or slices) on a sheet pan and pop it into the freezer for 2-3 hours. Once it’s frozen, wrap it up in plastic wrap and a layer of foil, then into an airtight freezer container. Unfrosted lemon loaf you can just wrap and freeze.
More Lemon Desserts
- Lemon Blueberry Cake
- Lemon Cake Mix Cookies
- Lemon Cheesecake
- Lemon Zucchini Bread
- Lemon Brownies
- 35 Best Lemon Desserts
Lovely Lemon Recipes
- Honey Lemon Chicken and Green Beans
- Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken
- Lemon Pepper Wings
- Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
Starbucks Copycat Lemon Loaf
Ingredients
Lemon Loaf
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted and at room temperature
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract* or add additional ½ tablespoon of lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup sour cream or buttermilk
Lemon Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar add more until desired consistency is reached
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1-2 tablespoons cream or milk adjust as needed for consistency
Instructions
Lemon Loaf
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Grease and flour an 9×5-inch loaf pan, or line with parchment paper.
- In a medium size bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, with a electric mixer on medium speed, mix the granulated sugar and the eggs for 2 minutes. The extra time helps to incorporate air into the batter which makes the bread more fluffy.
- Add the melted butter and the oil. Mix to incorporate.
- Add the vanilla, lemon extract, lemon zest and lemon juice. Mix on medium speed until all ingredients are combined.
- Add in the sour cream and mix well.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet, approximately ⅓ of the mixture. Mix until almost incorporated and add more. Continue until all the flour is incorporated in the wet mixture. Don’t over mix. Sometimes I will use my hand mixture but finish with a spatula when I only have a little bit of dry flour left.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean and the top feels firm to the touch. If after about 30-40 minutes the top is browning too much, tent a piece of aluminum foil over top and continue baking.
- Cool completely. Once the loaf is cool, prepare your glaze by mixing all ingredients together
Lemon Icing
- In a medium bowl whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and cream/milk until smooth. Add in more powdered sugar or cream as needed for desired consistency.
- Remove the cooled loaf from the pan and drizzle or pour over top.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
- Melt butter in the microwave then let it cool for a few minutes before adding to the batter.
- The original recipe used buttermilk, but I adjusted and now use sour cream instead. It provides more moisture, preventing the bread from turning out dry.
- This recipe uses a 9×5-inch loaf pan. The size is important! You can use an 8×4-inch pan, but will need to adjust the time and temperature. It would also result in a thicker loaf and you risk losing moisture.
- This recipe was updated in May 2022 when we adjusted a few ingredients and swapped out buttermilk for sour cream, reduced the butter and added oil. This adds more moisture to the bread.
- If you preferred the old recipe – use ½ cup buttermilk instead of sour cream, omit the oil and add an additional ¼ cup of melted butter, and reduce the amount of baking powder and vanilla to ½ teaspoon each. Bake in an 8.5×4.5 loaf pan.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
This recipe is very dry and has very little taste.
Not at all like the Starbucks cake
50 minutes was too long. Mine ended up too spongy and not fluffy. I would definitely start testing at 40 minutes.
Krrp in mind that every oven is different and cna heat differently.
I made the cake and the center of my loaf sunk then there was a hole and I realized the center wasn’t cooked. Any tips?
I just put this in the oven. I am so excited to try it. I just know by how fluffy the batter was, it’s going to be amazing. I have tried a few copy cat recipes for this and was disappointed. I think you nailed it on this one. I appreciate that you kept tweaking it til you were satisfied. I too used all lemon instead of extract. I’m sure the sour cream will put this over the top. I’m so tired of paying $4.95 for one slice of this at Starbucks but it’s too good to give up. Thank you for this!
Wonderful! Please let us know how it turned out!
Made exactly as described with the lemon zest added instead of lemon extract and loved it. It was a huge hit at a family gathering. I will save this recipe to use again!
Thats’s awesome JKr! Thanks for stopping by.
Very good
Thank you Kathy!
I have tried this recipe very successfully following the directions, almost exactly as is, I did add some lemon pudding to the mix and only baked it for 40 minutes, It was WONDERFUL, my friends really enjoyed it. My question is could I add lemon curd to the mix and what would I leave out if I did use this?
Lemon curd would be sweet so maybe cut the sugar. But it would definitely be a different recipe so I can’t confirm how it would turn out.
I wanted to like this bread, especially considering all of the high reviews, but I just really do not. The texture is very “eggy” compared to other recipes I’ve made. And the lemon flavor isn’t strong enough for me.
Decent flavor, but so dry! Looked at other lemon loaf recipes after making this and I think it needs more butter. Didn’t have the texture of the Starbucks OG at all.
So I tried this recipe a couple of times and I replaced the egg with thick curd or even with thick buttermilk since many people here prefer eggless cakes. I also added 2 tbsp butter extra as it gives the same texture. Gentle mixing is a key in this cake.
Overall, I enjoy making it. Making one today as well and casting tasty spells
Awesome feedback Bekitchened! Thank you so much for stopping by.
hi I would love to make the lemon cake but need the measurements in Metric
I’ve made this lemon cake and it’s delicious! Can you add blueberries and where would you do that?
You could fold in some blueberries very gently just before pouring into the pan. But be careful, I wouldn’t be surprised if they sink a little.
Do not cook this for 50 minutes. I cooked it for 45 and it was too done. Too stiff. I should have checked it at 30 minutes. Maybe next time it will be better. Thanks.
Every oven is different. My oven runs hot so I usually have to pull things a little early. Maybe yours does too.
It did say to check between 30-40 minutes in to make sure the top isn’t too brown. Everyone’s oven is different. Mine wasn’t done at 50 minutes and had to cook another 5 minutes.
Best lemon pound cake recipe, better than Ina Garten’s. I did make some modifications: good EVOO for the veg oil, yogurt for the sour cream, more lemon juice (I had a ton of organic Meyer lemons from someone’s backyard), more lemon zest. I think it’s even better than Starbucks’.
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Teresa, Awesome feedback.
Question. In the recipe for the icing topping, it says milk or cream. Are you referencing heavy cream? Please explain the cream comment. I only have 1% milk . So if heavy cream makes the icing less watery, that would be great!
Yes, it is referring to heavy cream. You could use either in the icing. The cream would likely make the icing thicker.
Excellent! I’m trying to go gluten free this month, so I used Bob’s Red Mill gluten free all-purpose flour. It came out amazing! I wouldn’t have ever guessed it was GF. Also I made it dairy free by subbing vegan yogurt for the sour cream and using vegan butter. Even altering these ingredients didn’t mess it up; it was so delicious.
Thank you Amber! Fantastic feedback, Thanks for stopping by.
I’m looking to make these as coworker gifts. Your notes say “You can use an 8×4-inch pan, but will need to adjust the time and temperature.” I’m trying to make 7 of these in 8×4 pans, how would you adjust the time and temp? Thanks!
I haven’t tested with this size, which is why I recommend it. You may need to cook the bread for longer. Test with a toothpick after the time listed on the recipe, then add in 5-10 minute increments until fully cooked (toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
I make this every year, @ Christmas time, & give it for gifts. My niece told me they like this bread better than Starbucks, & that’s quite a compliment! It turns out perfect every time, & I too, like using the sour cream in it.
Thank you for the awesome comment Joan!
Awesome recipe and works great with Jules gluten free flour too! Thank you for this deliciousness!
You are so welcome Kim! Thanks for stopping by.
It’s so good!!!! And not hard to do. My son wanted a lemon loaf from Starbucks I said I could make one!!! Without knowing if I really could..:) but with your recipe I NAILED IT!!! Thank you very much
This came out dense and dry. The flavor was OK but I felt like it could have been more lemony, rich and buttery. I guess I’d recommend more lemon zest and sour cream or oil in the batter?
I love, love, love the Copycat Starbucks Lemon loaf! It is delicious. My only comment is – how do they get the icing to form a thick white frosting on top and, even though I added extra powdered sugar to thicken it, the frosting still ran off. I even poured it over the cooled loaf in the pan! Definitely making this again – a lot!!
To get the icing really thick, you could try adding it in stages/layers. Pour some icing on the cooled loaf, let it set for an hour, then another layer, and so on. This has worked for some people if the icing is too thin.
I iced it while it was still in the pan, and the loaf was warm. Then I let the whole thing cool completely. When I cut slices out of the pan, they had the thick layer of icing on top.
I have a lot of cake flour. Can this recipe be made with cake flour? What adjustments need to be made?
Yes, you can use cake flour. The texture will differ slightly but it will still be quite good.
Delightful! I made this into cupcakes, added 1/4 cup plain yogurt, and baked for 25 minutes. Sometimes I’ll add 1.5 tablespoons of poppyseeds as well. Thank you for sharing!
You are so welcome Jenn! Thanks for stopping by to share.
I have now made this lemon loaf five times and have to say it’s better than the Starbucks. Everyone loves it and raves about it also so easy to make. Will keep making it thanks for receipe!!!
You are so welcome Nada! Thanks for stopping by.
So good super easy will definitely be making it again
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Raelyn.
Oh wow! I love, love, love Starbucks Lemon Loaf so I was excited to try this recipe. I followed it to the letter and I’m thrilled to say it was perfect! There isn’t one thing I would change! Thanks so much, this has now become my go to for every occasion.
We are so glad you enjoyed it Candy! Thanks for stopping by.
My household is dairy free. Can you substitute regular sour cream for a plant based sour cream. As well substitute milk for coconut milk. Love to try this recipe.
That’s a personal preference and since I don’t cook dairy free, I haven’t tried a dairy free sour cream or coconut milk so I’m not sure how the substitutions would work.
I have made this lemon loaf twice now and both times came out perfect. The taste is amazing and not difficult to make at all. A huge success and will continue to make it. I love it.
Nice! Love the feedback Nada! Thanks for stopping by.
This recipe does produce a nice lemony loaf but, it’s not quite as dense as Starbucks; however, it’s still a keeper. I did follow the recipe exactly using the sour cream. I had a 8.5 X 4.5 loaf pan, so I made a cupcake to sample because the loaf is intended for brunch. The cupcake was delicious and had a nice crispy top.
I have not made this loaf yet and I’ve also never had Starbucks’s lemon loaf, but if what you’re saying is true about the density, you could try using bread flour instead of AP flour!
Great recipe. Just wanted to ask when you say melted butter do you mean actually melted into a liquid/oil form or melted like soft to the touch? Thanks
Melted to a liquid form. Soft to the touch would typically be labeled “softened” or “room temperature.”
Thank you!!! 😀
You are so welcome sally!
I was disappointed with this recipe. I didn’t think it tasted like the Starbucks lemon loaf pound cake at all and it was also extremely dry. I followed the recipe exactly and used the same ingredients, yet it was so dry that I didn’t even want to eat it.
I’m sure this is a wonderful recipe, but there’s so many pop-up ads I get too frustrated to read your instructions. So I’ll move on. If more people would do g this, perhaps the ads will not be so obnoxious.
This looks so delightful! Very detailed also!
Thank you!
Hi..what would the baking time be for the 8×4 size loaf pan? I’m excited to make this!
this recipe is unbelievably delicious! I only baked it for 40 minutes and that was plenty.
This is undeniably THE best lemon loaf. I am addicted to the amazing lemony taste. The people I have given it to think it is better than Starbucks. I have substituted flax eggs for chicken eggs as I have an egg allergy and it is so moist and delicious
Thank you Kathy! Fantastic feedback, thanks for stopping by.
I doubled the recipe, adding more lemon zest and lemon juice. Baked on convection for 50 minutes in 2 9/5 loaf pans. They turned out beautifully, will definitely make them again, a keeper
Nice! Thanks for your feedback Dianne.
Excited
I made it today. Absolutely mind-blowingly good!! So delicious, moist and the flavor incredibly outstanding. My husband was thrilled. Thank you!
You are so welcome Nevelda! Thanks for stopping by to share.
Followed recipe exactly. Too dry! Tasted OK but No where near Starbucks.
Same here. Turned out too dry.
I made the copy cat lemon loaf and it was so yummy my husband even loves it
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Robin.
Here is my feedback. I made the recipe exactly how it was written (I always do that with every recipe) and today I made it again and did some tweaks on it and it came out absolutely incredible. My daughter said, “mom, Starbucks has nothing on you, this is better”. Best compliment.
Here is what I did…. I like my loaf to be taller, so I did a recipe and a half for my 9×5 pan. I also doubled just the sour cream. I used lemon oil instead of the extract, I do not like the fake taste lemon extract has. And for the glaze, I made it really thick and I put 1/2 of it when it was still kinda warm and the other half I thinned out a bit and poured over when the loaf was cooled off. That way I got that perfect glaze thickness and looked perfect.
But all together, its an amazing recipe and a keeper for sure. Thank you Fiona!!!
Fantastic feedback Diana! Thank you so much for stopping by to share.
followed the recipe exactly and middle caved in, it was super dry and didn’t really taste like lemons. still tasted good though.
I made this lemon loaf and made sure to measure the pan to ensure it was the right size. Also, I measured the ingredients exactly only to have it explode out over the pan all over the bottom of my oven and racks. Not impressed.
I have made this delicious recipe many times using the sour cream.
Today I had some buttermilk to use up.
I still like the loaf but was worried as It didn’t rise the same as when baked with the sour cream. It did taste as delicious.
Whenever I make it I always share it and the recipients always want the recipe.
Nice! Love the feedback Lynne, thanks for stopping by to share.
So so so delucious!!
This recipe was great! But the only complaint I had was with the way it cooked was a bit odd I would recommend dividing up the batter into two pans or just cooking with the tin foil on it the whole time because mine got a bit dry and cooked kinda unevenly.
This is the second try on this recipe and each time I’ve made it, it comes out like rubber. What am I doing wrong? I followed the instructions to the letter, used extra zest instead of the extract.
In your comment regarding lemon extract you say you can leave it out. If you do, should I up the amount of lemon juice? Thanks so much! I cannot wait to try this recipe!!
You can increase it a little, but not so much that it thins out the batter. So maybe a tablespoon or so. But keep in mind this won’t add as much lemon flavor. I highly recommend following the recipe if you can for the best results.
This is so yummy! We’ve made it at least twice now and a real hit in our house!
I do wonder… if I doubled the recipe, could I make some in the pan and a version of lemon cupcakes with the other?
I haven’t tried making cupcakes with this recipe, but it’s definitely worth a try!
so good! made it twice and both times it’s been amazing. just wondering if the 398 calories is per slice or the entire bread?
It is per slice, based on 8 slices in a loaf.
Thank you for the recipe! The Starbucks lemon Loaf has a delicate but tasty lemon flavor which I love. So I think this recipe may use a bit too more lemon juice then I prefer. Do you think I can use 1 1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice without ruining the consistency?
It likely wouldn’t affect the batter, so you can try using less if you want to.
Thank you! I just made mine and it isn’t as tall as the Starbuck’s one. I made sure all my ingredients were fresh before using them. Do you think using an 8×4 inch pan would give a better rise?
Possibly. But keep in mind it’s a copycat recipe, not an exact replica, so there will be some differences.
Thank you! Also, last question but when you say to add melted butter that is room temperature, mine becomes thick again, is it fine to leave it like that or should I mix the butter with the sugar instead?
Just let the butter cool a bit so it’s not hot, but also not back to a solid.
Came out great! I was out of lemon extract so used lime and out of fresh lemons so used jarred lemon juice and a box of lemon jello. Turned out super moist and lemony. 🙂
Sounds like some great swaps when you’re in a pinch.
Finally! I have a terrific, heavy-gauge metal 9 x 5 inch pan that bakes breads about 10 min faster in my oven. That, and a long period of experimentation led me here. This is the recipe I’ve been searching for. The right amount of leavening at last. Thank you for this recipe. I have been through many others but none as good as this one.
PS I used 2 Tbs of zest, plus 1 tsp of good quality lemon extract (Watkins) and the lemon juice. It is none too lemony for me. I know the flavor will develop by tomorrow. I’ll check back in if it becomes too lemony.
You are so welcome! Love your feedback, thanks for stopping by.
Absolutely delicious, used buttermilk recipe, will definitely try your other recipes.
Thank you Sana! Love your feedback.
Yummy! Y’all this is a good recipe for lemon loaf and my daughter said it is just like Starbucks. I used gfJules gluten free flour just like regular flour and it was perfect. I have not made lemon loaf in years due to gluten allergy, but now with this #1 gluten free flour by Jules, I will make it often. If you are gluten free, don’t worry,, your whole family will eat this. Mine has eaten half the loaf. This recipe is heaven sent and I love it. Next time, I will just make two lemon loaves.
Fantastic feedback kim! Thank you so much for stopping by.
I’m trying this today for my sons birthday, as he loves Starbucks lemon loaf. Curious if you think I could make it a two layer cake to put extra icing in the middle? Would you double the recipe or just split in two rounds? Or should I just stuck with a loaf?
Hi Jen, I would just stick with the loaf. I haven’t tried turning this into a cake.
Sooo good! I may eat the whole loaf myself…
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Jody.
Hello, wondering if you have made it using sour cream and tried the buttermilk method. I really like sour cream in dence loafs, but that buttermilk has me really curious!!
this was such a delicious lemon loaf! super easy to make, it was so perfect which so much lemon flavor, i didn’t have lemon extract so i used extra zest. the frosting recipe was perfect, my loaf was so moist and came out looking just like starbucks! my family loved it! when i see a cake has sour cream as an ingredient i already know it will be a moist cake.
i dislike when people give a bad rating to recipes when maybe they failed and not the recipe, if it was dry, an ingredient was probably left out. so thanks for this amazing recipe!
You are so welcome Jerina! Absolutely love your feedback! Thanks for stopping by.
Was so excited to find this recipe. Made it for tea with friends sadly it was a huge disappointment. It was so dry. I thought I had followed recipe to a tee. Carefully reading and re reading directions. I wanted to throw the loaf out but a friend took it home to her family
🤦🏻♀️
Such a great recipe! I may have overcooked mine but the flavor was still really great!
Thank you JV!
I made the recipe, followed it to. “T” they both came out collapsed in the middle! I see I’m not the only person that had that problem! Suggestions?
Hi Leigh, I’m so sorry you had trouble with the recipe. Yes, some bakers have had the same problem but I haven’t been able to replicate it myself. The most likely reasons for this issue are too much liquid used, insufficient leavening (possibly expired ingredients) or that it just wasn’t done cooking in the middle. I hope you’ll give it another try!
This is a great recipe. I use lemon emulsion-makes a big difference on the flavor!
Thank you Dee! Love the feedback.
I love this recipe and have made it several times! Unfortunately I have been recently been having trouble with the bread collapsing in the center. Do you have any suggestions?
Baking powder/soda is only good for about 6months after opening. Since baking powder/soda are both rising agents, I would guess that might be the issue. Also make sure your eggs are room temp.
You are absolutely correct. Thanks for your comment, Matthew!
Have tried a few. This one is the best so far.
Thank you Jay!
Can you use lemon juice instead of lemon extract? If so how much?
Thank you
You can, but it could end up with too much liquid and not enough lemon flavor. The lemon extract is just more intense.
I made this lemon loaf for a friend’s birthday. It looked delicious. Although I did not get a taste of it, my friend said it was really good. I will make again to test it for myself.
Now this cake right here is worth eating when you want to gain some weight…..I mean every pound you gain…..this cake is lit
Thank you so much for the awesome comment Sharesa!
I was craving this so bad but not a huge fan of Starbucks coffee , I’d rather make everything at home!! Everything was great, I just over backed it thinking that it was still raw bec of how moist it was. I made royal lemon icing which is thicker than the glaze to make it close to the loaf from Star B as close as possible. Lemon royal icing is a game changer.
Awesome feedback Natalia! Thanks for stopping by to share.
I live in Colorado at a higher altitude.
I backed off on the baking powder by 1/4 of a teaspoon.
I also used plain yogurt instead of sour cream or buttermilk.
I could have baked it for a few minutes less.
It was amazing! I love the Starbucks lemon loaf and your recipe gave me so much more satisfaction making it myself and even sharing a few slices with friends.
Thank you!
You are so welcome Julie! Thank you for stopping by.
I’m planning on making this recipe tonight although I want to use mini loaf pans. Any suggestions please??!!!??? Time sensitive, replies from anyone would be helpful!!!
Hi Wanda, You can certainly use mini loaf pans, but would need to watch the time. I’d suggest 30 minutes and then check every 5-10 minutes.
So much fabulousness!! Modified recipe to make GF by subbing in GF all purpose flour. It came out perfect. It’s been so long since I’ve had lemon loaf … what an amazing treat!!
Love your feedback Joyce! Thanks for the awesome feedback.
do you think you could just post the original recipe? i’ve been using this recipe for over a year and was sad when I came here to see something so different :/
Hi Vanessa,
Unfortunately a lot of people were having trouble with the original recipe so I made a few changes and updated it. The recipe hasn’t changed to much, and the main differences are swapping the buttermilk for sour cream and adding oil. I also recommend a larger pan and as such have slightly increased the amount of baking powder and vanilla to account for the larger volume. There is a not at the bottom telling you the exact changes so you can make the old recipe if you prefer.
Hi: I love this lemon loaf recipe and it was my go to for special occasions. I recently made one for a family occasion the end of April to rave reviews. I tried the updated recipe but preferred the old one. Can you confirm the differences as I would like to make it according to the original recipe. I know the new recipe added oil and swapped sour cream for buttermilk….were there any other changes? Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Jennifer, I’m think I’m going to add the original recipe in the notes. I’m considering going back to the old. Seems to be 50/50 on preference. Thanks for your feedback.
The list of ingredients calls for softened butter. But in the directions it says to add melted butter.
Which one is it?
It’s melted. We recently updated the recipe and appear to have missed that change in the instructions.
Hey, I’ve done this recepcional a lot and it work for me great. Could you send me the original version?
Hi Gaby, you can read the adjustments we made in the notes section and made the changes back to the original recipe.
I personally have never had Starbucks lemon cake but I made this yesterday as a friend was coming for dinner and we both love lemon desserts. I followed the recipe exactly and in her words I “nailed it”. I’m sure I will be making this again. Quite delicious.
Hi, I just made this recipe. In the ingredients it lists oil but the instructions never tell you when to add it. There is no Buttermilk listed in the ingredients but the instructions say to add the buttermilk.
I ended up adding 1/4 cup of Buttermilk since I wasn’t sure how much to add.
Please advise.
Hi Diane, I’m sorry for the confusion. I was in the process of updating the recipe and you must have caught it mid-update where I swapped out the buttermilk completely in favor of sour cream due to some comments that the bread was a little too dry. I’m sure your bread still turned out great though!
Love this recipe. I tried to follow everything except I didn’t have the lemon extract and it turned out super moist and yummy. I only used the zest of one lemon but next time, I’ll try to either add more as the recipe suggested or actually get the extract just to see the difference. Either way, this recipe is a keeper!
Thank you so much for stopping by Michele! (Love the feedback)
I followed the recipe exactly as said. It looked beautiful in the pan and as it was baking. But it turned out so doggone dry! I was really disappointed!
Agree Michelle. I love Starbucks Lemon Loaf and this looked like it would be a winner. Based on the reviews I made a couple adjustments to try to counteract the dryness, adding 1/4 cup oil and increasing the sour cream to 1 cup. Despite this it was still too dry for me. I weigh ingredients so I am certain about the amount used.
I found another recipe that uses 2 Tablespoons (not teaspoons) of lemon extract. I used that amount and still thought Starbucks has a more lemony flavor. I may try again, but would further increase the additional oil or decrease the flour a bit and add the lemon juice in addition to the lemon extract for more lemon flavor (I never have lemon zest).
I just LOVE this recipe! I substituted monk sugar for regular sugar. It was a 1:1 sub which worked out perfect! I didn’t have any zest but used the juice and extract. I also used the sour cream as you suggested. This one is definitely a keeper and very easy to make!
Awesome feedback Ingrid! Thank you so much for stopping by.
Can’t find or don’t have lemon extract on hand; no problem. Just soak your lemon peels in vodka and you will have lemon oil
Never mind I see you can use either. Just being to literal I guess can’t wait to try👏👏👏👏
Thanks for stopping by Joy!
Just a question what is the mixture of buttermilk sour cream or is buttermilk sour cream an actual product?
Delicious! I’ve never had Starbucks’s, but this was wonderful. I did add the 1/4 cup of additional vegetable oil, lots more zest and lots more juice too, and I doubled the glaze recipe. I like glaze. 😀
This weekend I’m making this but ORANGE. Very summery. I have cabin fever.
This is my go to because it turns out perfectly every time.. and I make it a lot! I like to add a couple tablespoons of poppy seeds. I find they add a nice crunch.
Love the feedback April! Thanks for stopping by.
Super yum! I added blueberries and it came out lovely.
Nice! Thanks for your feedback Layla.
Flavor was great, consistency was too dry. I’ll also try it with additional vegetable oil in lieu of butter.
I’ve tried this recipe and I have to say this is the BEST lemon loaf I’ve tried!!! My forever recipe now! Thank you for sharing it!🤗🤗🤗
You are so welcome Cristy! Thank you for the positive feedback.
K
Love the flavor but it wasn’t moist – I took it out at the earliest time but it was still too dry.
I’m going to try to add a 1/4th cup of vegetable oil to try to add some wet ingredient.
My son is obsessed with the Starbucks Lemon Loaf so I attempted to make this early one Friday morning. I’ve never made pound cake so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was so quick and easy! This recipe is spot on and I think it tastes better than the Starbucks one. I actually used the Namaste Gluten Free flour and it tastes amazing! I did have a little bit of a cave in in the middle but nobody cared. Will definitely be making this again. Thanks Fiona!
Awesome Comment Laura! Thank you so much for your feedback.
K.
Yummy! This is what I’ve been dreaming of! I use more lemon zest, and no lemon extract. I skip the vanillla too So yummy! Thank you!
You are so welcome Kelley! Love the feedback! Thanks for stopping by.
K.
My son wants this for his birthday cake, two tiers and decorated with fondant. Have you ever made it like this? Does it taste good with fondant?
I’m personally not a fan of fondant, so I couldn’t tell you how that would work. I’m also not sure how this would work as a two tiered cake because it’s actually a quick bread. Your best option would be to search google for a great lemon cake recipe.
This is my go to recipe now! Every time I have people over or go to a party, everyone loves the lemon loaf . I make them in to cupcakes as well. So delicious!
Thank you so much for this fantastic recipe !
Xox rosa
You are so welcome Rosa! Thank you for the awesome comment.
K.
Has anyone else had trouble printing this recipe, I click print but it just opens up the same window over and over again
Ordering 3 slices of Starbuck’s Lemon Ice from the Barista made me smile. When my youngest daughter was a teen, we would always order 3 slices, spitting the 3rd. But there would always be an argument over who got the biggest slice or the most icing. Thanks for making me remember.
I have not tried your recipe yet but I have tried to replicate before and I can tell by your ingredients that yours will be much better.
Thank you Judy! We would love to hear your experience.
K
what can i substitute for lemon zest? we got these packets saying it will taste like it but we aren’t sure how much to add. it said it was for tea and recipes and tastes like a lemon peel, but it was gross in the bread. we can’t find lemon zest anywhere and have nothing to zest a lemon with. any help???
Hi Emily, without knowing where you are, I can’t give a good suggestion. You could leave the zest out and maybe use lemon extract instead.
I have this cake cooling on my counter. The only question I have, is this did not “dome” like most sweet breads do. I’m sure it will look lovely and taste really good. But I have no idea why it cooked “flat”. My soda and powder were fresh (I always test them even when I just open them) and I beat the eggs thoroughly after each additions, so I’m wondering what (if anything) could have gone wrong.
Hi Dee, there are lots of reasons for the bread not fully rising. The pan may be too small, or it could even be the weather or the oven temperature. It shouldn’t affect the taste though, I hope you enjoyed it!
I’ve tried two recipes for a copy cat lemon loaf and so far this is definitely the best. Mine was just a tiny bit less cakey. Another recipe I tried turned out pretty terrible as it was too dense, didn’t have a good rise, and the icing was always runny because it had butter and I live in AZ where butter (and therefore the icing) becomes room temp and softens in 5 minutes. I feel I must attempt this better recipe again, for research, to see what I can do about getting nust that final step closer to the Starbucks loaf.
Love this recipe!! Could I use the same recipe as cake layers for a 3 layer cake?
I don’t think it would translate well to a layer cake, but you could certainly give it a try.
I tried this recipe a few months ago and it turned out really dry for me as well. However, I tried again today and it turned out much better! I didn’t have any buttermilk on hand, so I used 1 cup unsweetened soy milk+ 1 tbs lemon juice as a buttermilk replacement ( mix and let sit a few minutes before using)
Can I freeze this?
Yes it will freeze nicely. Wrap in plastic wrap then place in a freezer bag.
Thanks!! Can I use this recipe as cake layers?
I don’t think it would translate well to a layer cake, but you could certainly give it a try.
This turned out really dry compared to the Starbucks lemon loaf. How can I make this denser and moister?
OMG! I love lemon deserts. I can’t wait to try this one!
Can I substitute all-purpose flour for cake flour? I have some that I need to get rid of!
To substitute cake flour for all-purpose flour use 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cake flour for every cup of all-purpose flour.
i am definitely gonna try this recipe. since you seem to know about starbucks copycat recipes, would you happen to know what ingredients more or less are in their phenomenal cake pops? the cake pop coating does not taste like regular candy melts to me, and i can’t quite put my finger on what they use for that amazing but not overly sweet richness lol
No but I wish I did! They are delicious!
Made this and LOVED it. This time making two loafs and going to freeze one. Should I do the icing before I freeze or just freeze the plain loaf and ice when I defrost?
I would personally add the icing after defrosting. But you can freeze the iced loaf on a baking sheet for a couple of hours until it’s solid, and then wrap it up and keep it frozen for several months.
Delicious, very moist.
I made this recipe but used orange ? because i didnt have lemons atm and its very good! Will try making again with lemons?
Love the feedback Faith! Thanks for stopping by.
This was a bit dry. I liked baking it. I just don’t think it was a rockstar recipe. I would like to try this recipe again just to perfect some of the recipe
I’m sorry it didn’t turn out for you, but I do hope you’ll give it another try. It’s received tons of great feedback just as is. 🙂
Made this with my 3 year old and it was super easy. And the best part is it is absolutely delicious and made our house smell amazing! Super fluffy on the inside thanks for the recipe.
This is an amazing recipe! It was so tasty and I enjoyed making it.
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Cameron.
Amazing recipe! Works really well even when turned into a Gf/vegan version!
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Breana.
Hi Kristin, I’d like to know how much the weigh of the 4 large eggs is in grams (without the shell). In Mexico, the eggs are not sold by size so I´m not familiar with the sizes and it would be better for me to follow the recipe with the exact amount of eggs in grams that are needed, please.
Hi Aida, I had to google that one! Looks like 1 large egg is about 56 grams.
Kristin, you’re so kind, thanks so much for your help, I appreciate it. Have a great day!
You are so welcome Aida! Thanks for stopping by.
Kristin
u can’t print the recipe
Hi Lucy, try clearing your cache on your internet browser. I can print from all of my devices.
I found that with the icing, if you add a little extract to it in addition to the 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 1 tbsp cream, it’s even better. If you add more juice, it’s too runny.
Love the feedback Pule! Thanks for stopping by.
I tried to make it with half of flour cake. Your recipe is really good but for some reason our bread is a bit too firm for our liking. I hope it will turn out ok. I have tried using your exact recipe and my kids loved them. Thank you!
You are so welcome Joanna!
Made this for my husband’s birthday and it was a hit! We like the icing thicker so I about doubled the powdered sugar and added just two tablespoons of room temperature butter. Will definitely be making again!
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Ruth.
Loved it! I used yogurt instead of buttermilk as that’s all I had and could’ve been a little more moist but will make again !!
Hi Shelbe, Thank you for sharing your feedback.
This loaf was fantastic and an absolute hit in a house of picky eaters. I’ve got celiac disease and replacing with a good gluten free flour came out just fine, too (add a 1/4 tsp of xanthan gum if you go this route). The loaf was made 18 hours ago and it’s almost gone. This is absolutely going in my recipe book. Thank you!
Mine was a little on the dry side. But was still pretty good.
Thank you so much Carmen for your feedback.
This is very close to Starbucks lemon cake, possibly better! I followed the recipe almost as written, bringing eggs to room temp as suggested. I accidentally used 1/2 cup sour cream because I thought I had grabbed the 1/3 cup. Also, because I always do when I bake cakes ir cookies, I added a 3.4 oz box of jello instant pudding (lemon flavor, but vanilla would work too). I also used butter in place of the cream in the frosting because I wanted that thicker paste-like consistency like at Starbucks. This cake was perfection! Dense, moist, highly satisfying!! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
You are so welcome Debbie! Thank you so much for the awesome feedback.
This was amazing! It was the first time ever making it and it came out so good! Incredibly moist and lemony. I didn’t have lemon extract so I used the extra lemon zest and it was amazing. Thank you!
You are so welcome Ananya! (Awesome feedback), thanks for stopping by.
Can I use heavy whipping cream or crème fraîche instead of the buttermilk ? Thx
You could use crème fraîche. Or use milk and vinegar/lemon juice (How to Make Buttermilk)
Can I use salted butter that’s all I have
Yes that’s fine. I’ve used salted butter and it really doesn’t’ make much of a difference.
Loved this recipe! I made it without lemon extract and made my own buttercream and it still turned out amazing! Will be making regularly when I have extra lemons!
Awesome feedback Hannah! Thanks for stopping by.
This is absolutely delicious and easy to make.
Nice job Kristen!
Thank you so much Joe, for stopping by and your feedback.
This loaf is awesome. Thank you so much for the recipe. I skipped the lemon extract, but managed to get 3.5 TBSP of zest from a large lemon, which was a good amount for flavour. Your baking instructions were spot on for me – foil at 40 min, done at 60.
You are so welcome Penny! (Awesome feedback) Thanks for stopping by.
Hi
I was wondering if I was to make it in a 9.5 flunted bunt cake pan would I need to do anything different. Any tips?
Hi Kaaya, It sound like you’re making the recipe differently because that’s what you have on hand, but changing even a few things might not have the result you want. I’m not sure how it would work in a fluted pan. It would probably be fine.
Hi
I was wondering if I could use oil instead of butter. Would it taste the same? How much would I need to use and when do I add it?
Hi Kaaya, yes you can replace the butter with oil. The flavor will be different and not as rich, but it will work.
Can we use lemo on extract or something else for lemon zest? It’s the only thing I don’t have (can get some but I’d prefer not to go out).
Hi Violet, you can omit the zest or add a tiny bit more extract. It might not be as intense with lemon flavor but will still be tasty.
If I use sour cream instead of buttermilk, would I still do the step by putting half flour then half sour cream?
Yes follow the recipe as written, even with substitutions.
Hi! Do I need to grease the pan or line baking paper/wax paper first before pouring the batter? Thank you so much. I really want to try your recipe.
Hi Myles, Step one tells you to line the pan with parchment paper. IF you don’t have that, grease the pan really well.
This is delicious cake. My husband fell in love with it from the very first bite
That’s awesome Delores! Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Tracy, you might try making this with Steve’s Gluten Free cake flour (you’ll have to order it online as I’ve never seen it in stores). I use it exclusively for my Gluten Free customers. Don’t worry that it’s a cake flour, it works beautifully and it’s a 1:1 replacement for wheat flour. My daughter in law also needs to use GF and we often find that the GF baked goods I make are even better than the wheat versions when we use Steve’s GF flours. I hope this helps
I am a home baker and seen your delicious looking cake and would love to make this for my family.
can u convert this recipe into gram measurements?
There are lots of websites that will convert for you. Just google cups to grams, etc.
I love try this weekend, I need gluten free food otherwise I’ll have to visit the ER if I don’t have gluten free foods. If you have any gluten recipes that would be Great.
Thank you for your time and sharing this receipt with us.
Hi! I’ve made this as a loaf before to rave reviews, awesome recipe. I’m wondering if I can double the recipe & use either a 9×13 or 8×8 baking dish? Would it still rise & cook properly, what sort of cook time would you recommend for either of those sizes of baking dish?
Thank you!
I have converted quick breads to an 8×8 before, but not this recipe. I think it would work fine, you ‘d just need to adjust the cooking time.
Hi! I’ve made this as a loaf before to rave reviews, awesome recipe! I’m wondering, if I were to double the recipe & use a 9×13 baking dish, would that work instead of 2 loaf pans? What kind of cook time would you think would you recommend?
Thanks!
Hi April, I’ve used an 8×8 pan to make quick bread, just not with this recipe so I can’t specifically say how this one will turn out. However, I think it would be fine, you just need to bake it for about 20-30 minutes. Check the center until it’s finished.
Hi ?,
I love this recipe and I made it many many times.
For some reasons the middle of my cake always always sinks .
Any idea why ? ( I don’t open the oven door, I follow the recipe, )
Hi Edith, There are a variety of reasons that could happen. Maybe this post could help: https://delishably.com/desserts/Baking-Tips-Why-a-Cake-Sinks-in-the-Middle-and-How-to-Stop-It
I’ve been having the same exact issue! I’ve baked this in the past and it never has been giving me issue, until recently. I have researched why it’s sinking too but cannot find a cause for the sinking.
I haven’t made this yet but am going to I’m wondering what everyone perfects And how the lemon extract made a difference and sour cream/ buttermilk which ones work best
Hi! I want to make this a lot but…. here where I live I don’t have buttermilk or sourcream. Do you know how can I make those? Or how can I substitute them? Thanks!
Hi Anto, Try this post: How to Make Buttermilk. You need milk and vinegar or lemon juice. Good luck!
I baked this yesterday and it came out so amazing! It was the first bread recipe I have done in quite sometime and it was so simple to make with all the common ingredients. I posted a photo on my Instagram @csteuwer
That’s awesome Chelsea! Thanks for stopping by.
Can I use less sugar? If so how less can I go without it making a big difference?
You could try cutting the sugar a little bit, but I’m not sure how much it will alter the taste. It’s not overly sweet as it is.
I made this last week and it turned out so good! And my brother loved this cake so much that he asked me for the recipe and he is in the kitchen right now making it himself! 😀
NICE!! Thank you so much Hiba for the awesome feedback.
I only have powdered buttermilk with me. Could I use it for this recipe and how? Thanks!
I googled it and it sounds like you could. It’s not something I’ve tried though.
Fabulous! So easy and so moist!
Thank you Laura!
So I’m in quarantine because I have COVID and I tried this recipe because I love the loaf cakes and haven’t been able to get one and this taste so good almost the same. I will definitely be making this again
Hi Miranda, Thanks for your feedback, glad you enjoyed the lemon loaf! Sorry to hear about your illness and I hope you’re on the mend very soon!
I tried out this recipe because my dad loves the starbucks loaf and, knowing i’m a baker, was wondering if I could make something similar at home!
I think this recipe was great but the one thing I would change would be the amount of lemon. I’ve found that increasing the zest by 1 more lemon and the extract by 1/2 a teaspoon really did the trick!
Hi Navya Sharma, Thanks for the awesome feed back.
This was delicious! Even my picky teenager told me I needed to make this again, soon. I did not have the lemon extract and just added a little extra lemon juice and it was great. I will definitely make this again!
That’s awesome Kristina! Thanks for stopping by.
Will the Starbucks Copycat Lemon Loaf come out just as good if you MILK instead of BUTTERMILK?
Buttermilk has acid that reacts with the other ingredients. It would alter the flavor and possibly the texture. I’d recommend using sour cream instead of milk. Or make buttermilk using these instructions: How to Make Buttermilk
Do you think it can be doubled for a bundt cake?
Yes it would work. Not sure if you’d need to double the recipe though. Measure your bundt pan and measure the loaf pan by filling the loaf pan 3/4 with water and then pour that into the bundt pan. If it fill at least halfway you’re good with one batch.
I’m not an experienced baker but the Starbucks iced lemon pound cake is one of my favorites so I had to try this recipe. It turned out pretty well! I checked it at 55 minutes and it was completely done, if not a tad over. It also did brown quickly on top so thanks for the tip. I put a little tin foil hat on at about 30 minutes in. I used milk and vinegar to make buttermilk and wonder if that would have had an impact on the baking time? My oven doesn’t usually run hot. Thanks! Will definitely make it again.
The vinegar/milk shouldn’t cause a difference in the baking time. I think some ovens are just different. Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi! How much lemon juice did you add to the milk to make buttermilk?
Hi Sophia, we have a whole post on how to make buttermilk here: https://www.yellowblissroad.com/how-to-make-buttermilk/
The used 1/3 cup 1% milk and 1/3 tablespoon vinegar to make the buttermilk
I have two teenage girls who love Starbucks Lemon loaf so I made this on the weekend and it was a huge hit. Both my girls thought it was delicious, better than Starbucks. My only disappointment was that I only have 9×5 loaf pans so my loaf wasn’t as high as the Starbucks version.
Thanks for a great recipe, I’ll definitely make again
You are so welcome Melanie! Thanks for stopping by.
This cake was fabulous!
Thank you Vivian!
Hi! This lemon cake was fabulous!
I made this for the first time last night and took it to our first dinner party since we have been released from a 2 month lockdown in Spain. Everyone loved it and raved about it! It came out perfect. The only thing i really changed is, we dont get sour cream here so I used my homemade kefir instead. I added just a little more than the recipe because some people said it was on the dry side. I served it with plain natural yogurt which was a great addition and helped even out the sugar. Thank you, this will be one of my favorites.
You are so welcome Julie! thank you for your feedback.
Do you think it will turn out without the lemon zest?
It will, but the lemon zest add more intense lemon flavor than just the juice.
I made this for my son’s graduation “party” (the family-only COVID-19 version), and it was fantastic!! My son loves the Starbucks version and said this one was WAY better! My mother and husband couldn’t stop raving about it. Absolutely outstanding recipe. I will definitely be making this one again!
That is so awesome Rebecca! Thank you for stopping by.
Making your Lemon loaf as we speak. Wish me luck
I made this and turned out so good my husband wants to take it to work to share. I want to make 2 loaves. Can I double the recipe or should I make 2 separate?
Yes you can double the recipe. Glad you enjoyed it!
Omg I made this last night and it is to DIE for, I’m a fairly new baker and it turned out amazing. One trick I tried was that I poked holes in the loaf when it was cooling and poured the icing over top so it trickled down. Also thanks to anyone who read this huge comment
That’s awesome Laurel! Thank you so much for sharing your positive feedback.
Thank you for the recipe! This was absolutely incredible! I used the zest of 3 large lemons instead of the essence and it came out perfect. Definitely tastes a lot better once it rests for a few hours. Can’t wait to make this again!!
That’s so awesome Meghan! Thanks for stopping by.
Great addition to my quarantine baking! I did not have lemon extract or buttermilk, so I used substitutes for those- plus I didn’t have any baking soda so I went without. Still turned out amazing! Baked perfectly, nice flavor and texture. One thing I would suggest is to make the icing just before the cake is done, as it will harden in the bowl if you make it too early. Thanks so much Kristin for this recipe!
You are so welcome Melanie! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your feedback.
Hi, I LOVED this recipe! I think the cake is amazing, I think it’s easy enough that anyone can make and I personally loved the recommended recipe for the icing because I’m not a fan of thick, fake icing the original Starbucks recipe has. I didn’t use lemon extract and I loved how it turned out, it doesn’t have that fake flavor that just tastes somewhat good but doesn’t quite hit the stop, so for me this is like a homemade lemon loaf, I was inclined to make it again and add poppy seeds because its so delicious and everything I look for in a poundcake type loaf. I would say mine came out a little crumbly an duo really imitate the Starbucks recipe, I’d say I need a moister cake. Any suggestions? Thank you for reading this long comment, perfect recipe for lemon loaf lovers like myself 🙂
Hi Laura, thanks for your feedback. I’m glad you liked that cake! We really enjoy this recipes as is. Poppy seeds would be a fun addition. Unfortunately unless we have Starbucks exact recipe it won’t taste exactly like theirs, but we think it comes close!
I don’t understand the negative reviews either… I made it for my husband who LOVES lemon anything and it was great. I did add a lot more lemon zest (because we like strong flavor) and made sure all ingredients were at room temperature.
Nice! I loved your feedback, thanks for stopping by Emily.
A great recipe. I made this today and plan to make again for family get togethers.
Thank you Pat!
Delicious recipe! It’s nice and moist but not too heavy. For anyone having issues with the glaze, it’s easily thickened or thinned out to your liking, as stated in the recipe. I added a bit more powdered sugar so my glaze would be a bit thicker and stick to the sides a bit more. I’ll definitely be making this recipe and passing it along!
Hi Nikki, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such positive feedback.
This recipe is so fantastic!! I am making it for the second time in a week. I make mine gluten free with cup-4-cup flour. One thing I do with gluten free baking is use room temperature eggs and buttercream.
Thank you so much Donna for the awesome feedback.
This is an awesome replica. I increased my lemon zest to 2 whole lemons. I EXCLUDED the lemon extract. It was superb!!! The negative comments are a shame. First because its UNNECESSARY and second, because the recipe is wonderful! I am also an AVID Starbucks girl. Also…for anyone who has an issue with sinking in the middle….MAKE SURE to use UNbleached AP flour. Makes a dramatic difference because of the gluten difference. Guarantee it will be a huge difference with no sinking!
Thanks for the tip and for sharing your positive review Teresa!
This recipe is delicious! I’m considering making a second loaf in a week! One issue I found was that it was a little dense and got a little dry the second day, I’m thinking I may have over mixed the batter. But other than that it was fabulous!!!
I just made it for my roommates, yes the gaze could have been thicker, but other than that the lemon flavor was there and bold, and i’d say it was really yummy!
Mine came out beautifully! The only thing that I would say is the icing could use a bit more lemon juice just to hit that tartness. I found the thickness was really good- I was worried it would be super watery but I found it was thick enough. I also added a tad more lemon zest since I didn’t have the lemon extract. Seemed to up the lemon content!
If your icing is too watery, just add a bit more powdered sugar. I ended up using almost 2 cups- also make sure your adding it in gradually. Mine turned out amazing!
Yay! Thanks for sharing your top Melanie.
Mine fell terribly in the middle. Any suggestions for a high altitude change?
Can I make this in a bundt pan? And will doubling the recipe be enough?
I haven’t made this recipe in a bundt pan so I can’t say how it would turn out. I do have a Lemon Bundt Cake that you might want to check out, and also a Lemon Pound Cake that’s made in a bundt pan.
This did not turn out as well as I had hoped. I love Starbucks Lemon Loaf and wanted so desperately to be able to make one at home. Like others have commented; The loaf did not have a deep lemon flavor; it is not moist, and the icing is not very thick. It was a thin glaze mess.
The loaf went straight to the trash can after I tasted it. What a waste of time and money on this one for me.
I’m sorry it didn’t turn out for you. For the glaze, the recipe says to add more powdered sugar until you like the consistency, so perhaps that would have helped?
It’s okay. I would say it needs more lemon, everything. Also, it wasn’t as moist as I hoped it to be. Maybe more buttercream or not to be baked as long. Also the icing was way too loose. I had to keep adding more powdered sugar and it never thickened.
Loaf wasn’t as thick as Starbucks. Glaze isn’t as thick and white as the original either.
This was by far the most unhelpful, critical review. It’s a copycat recipe, not the actual recipe. Cut your slices thicker, and make a different frosting if you’re not happy 🙂
If using sour cream instead of buttermilk, what is the recommended amount?
1/3 cup of sour cream
I just tried this at home. Two thumbs up!
Thank you Samantha!
Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Awesome recipe
Thank you! Glad you liked it.
I made this for a coffee date. I substituted the sour cream for buttermilk, and a stevia blend for half the sugar and baked for 45 minutes. The flavor was great but it seemed a bit dry, even after being glazed. Suggestions?
When you substitute any of the ingredients it can cause an adverse outcome. I always recommend making the recipe as it’s called for in the instructions.
Perfectly delicious! Just the right amount of everything! Thank you for sharing!!
You are so welcome Cindy, thank you so much for taking the time to leave some positive feedback.
Absolutely amazing!! Don’t change a thing
Thanks Jenn!
I made this today and it’s amazing!! I didn’t have buttermilk and my sour cream expired so I substituted with plain Greek yogurt. Wasn’t sure how it would turned out, But it was delish. I can’t wait for my friend to try it. I’ll be make more tomorrow. ?
That’s awesome Kim! Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback.
What kind of cream or milk should I use for the icing ?
You can use heavy cream, half and half or regular milk (any fat content).
Want to divide into four smaller loaf pans but I’m not sure about the baking times and if this is even a good idea..Don’t want to mess with the ratio. Thanks
You can divide into loaf pans, but I don’t know that you will be able to get 4. They will take about half the time to bake.
I want to make this ahead and then freeze (except for the glaze) Will that work with this recipe??
Yes you can freeze the lemon loaf. Once it’s cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil then place in a freezer bag.
Can this be frozen and then later frosted?? Want to make it ahead.
Hello,
I am elated at finding this recipe. I love ANYTHING citrus-y as I crave the bright and clean flavor. Will be making this soon and may or may not add poppy seeds (i love them as well).
Seems like a winner. Thank you for sharing!
You’re so welcome I Faith! thank you so much for stopping by.
I assume this recipe uses US cup sizes? I bravely want to make this for the first time for a birthday and therefore want to make sure I have my quantities right. Could you confirm ml/cup? Thank you.
Yes it uses standard US measurements.
I have made this recipe several times as gifts and for myself and its a hit every time. Highly recommend!!
That’s so awesome Adrienne! and thank you for sharing your positive experience.
can you add poppy seeds in the lemon loaf bay any chance thanks please reply back soon
Hi Bonnie, yes you could add 1-2 tablespoons of poppy seeds.
The recipe has a mistake, need liquid 2 tanle spoon a lemon juice it’s no enough.
I’m not sure I understand your comment.
Thank you for this recipe! It was easy to follow and I will definitely make it again! As a Starbucks barista it was nice to have the lemon loaf without the steep price tag! I used gluten free flour since my mum is gluten intolerant. It was a little denser but still delicious! I would also recommend tenting the foil regardless of your oven temp. Mine got a little brown. (Just means I know what to do next time).
You’re so welcome Meg! thank you so much for stopping by!
Do I cool it completely in the pan?
Yes, cool it completely in the pan.
Loved this lemon loaf! Since I did’t have buttermilk, I used a 1/2 cup of yogurt and 1/2 cup of milk as an alternative. It still tasted amazing! I would definitely make this a second time. Thank you for this recipe!
Thanks Erin! and thanks for sharing your experience!
Mine fell as well, looked cooked on the out side pulled out of the pan, big hole in the middle and gooie.
Sounds like it should have baked longer. Sorry you had that experience.
This recipe is perfect match to Starbucks,I love it my family crazy about it.
I’ve made this lemon pound cake 3 times now and it has turned out perfect each and every time! Tastes and looks just like the Starbucks. It is super easy to whip up and looks so impressive sliced on a platter! Thank you for this amazing recipe!
Thanks Sandie! Thanks for sharing your positive experience!
Made this yesterday and used yogurt. Turned out great and will make it again.
That’s awesome Karen! Thanks for stopping by.
I also made it yesterday was thought it lacked lemon flavor even after I added more than called for in the recipe. It was a bit dry.
Hi Tracey, Sorry the recipe didn’t work out for you, but thanks for sharing your feedback.
I made this yesterday. I was a bit skeptical from the picture on the site because there are so many air pockets in the cake which means it could be a bit dry. I did taste the batter before baking and decided to add more lemon extract, and even with the added extract and zest it lacked lemon flavor. other than that I measured everything according to the recipe. The cake baked up nice, however, the taste is nothing like the Starbucks lemon loaf and the texture was spongy. Not even close. The icing doesn’t taste anything like Starbucks icing either, but it’s tasty and tart. Starbucks lemon loaf is more of a pound cake and this recipe is more like a regular lemon cake that’s baked in a loaf pan. Not bad, but I wouldn’t call it a copycat of the lemon loaf. I am a professional baker and this one didn’t work for me.
I made this cake today. It is ok but was disappointed as far as lemon taste. Also little dry
Hi Kristin!
I was wondering wether or not one can make this recipe without a mixer?
Looks great either way!
Thanks
Maya
Yes, you could just beat this with a wooden spoon if you don’t have a mixer.
The best cake ever!! Easy recipe to follow & the batter is so good! I made my glaze a bit heavier but it was a perfect compliment to the lemon flavor of the cake! Great recipe?
I’ve got it in the oven right now, and the house smells amazing! The raw batter tasted delicious so I can’t wait to taste the final product! If I wanted to make it in a bundt pan, would you double or triple the recipe?
Make the batter as it – it may be slightly shorter, but doubling the recipe would be too much batter.
I would add a 1/4 cup more sugar.
It is still very good.
If I could post a photo you could see how great it turned out.
this recipe seems easy…… I haven’t started yet but your recipe looks very promising… ill try it and let you know about how it went.
Yes please!
I made this using Bob’s Old Mill Gluten Free flour. Be careful to measure exactly it your loaf will be dry. I also made my own buttermilk by adding lemon to whole milk but was not satisfied with the taste or texture. So I added more lemon to the milk and let it sit. I ended up with thick and tasty buttermilk. Definitely use lemon zest. My kids asked for a little less sweetness and a little more lemony. But the pate was clean immediately.
I love to bake and decided to try this as I really enjoy Starbucks baked goods too! I used both Vanilla and Lemon extract, fresh lemon juice and zest. After reading the reviews, I made sure that my baking soda and baking powder were very fresh. I baked it for a full hour and tented it at 45 minutes so it wasn’t too brown. Very happy with the results!
The recipe calls for lemon extract, but I don’t see it used in the instructions?
Yes, the notes seems to have disappeared – sorry for that. You can use lemon extract in place of the vanilla.
A great recipe! I made it twice and both times it turned out great. I find the quantity to be too much for the pan, but don’t want to tamper with the quantities and ratios, so I just make a few cupcakes with the left over batter 🙂 Everyone loves this lemon loaf and it keeps well for a few days.
Thank you Ivana!
Disappointing. My cake sunk in middle as well. Taste did not burst of lemon flavor. I even used extra lemon zest per recipe. Iced cake after letting it cool for over 3 hours. Icing was thin, transparent…did not look like photo online.
Sorry the recipe didn’t work out for you, but thanks for sharing your feedback.
My bread caved in the middle, please don’t put recipes out if they don’t work or give better directions. Possibly a different oven temp could help.
Hi Jane,
I’m really sorry that this recipe didn’t turn out for you. I always test and retest recipes to ensure that I’m as confident as possible of the results. However, unfortunately, there are sometimes things that can differ from kitchen to kitchen or baker to baker. Often if a loaf sinks in the middle it can be from a few things – either not being baked for long enough, baking powder or baking soda that’s expired, or the wrong size of loaf pan (this recipe is made with a 8×4 inch pan as opposed to a 9×5 inch pan). Thank you for leaving your feedback
I tried this recipe and found the loaf itself did not have the same lemon tartness as Starbucks. The icing was delicious but didn’t find the cake part comparable to Starbucks but it was good.
Thanks for sharing your feedback Darlene!
Bread was so good! Except mine caved in the middle. How to fix this? Also, what did you do to make sure the glaze didn’t absorb into the bread like a poke cake?
The sunken middle tends to happen if the cake was overmixed, so I’d recommend proceeding with caution if you try this recipe again (and I hope you do!). The bread should be completely cooled when you pour the glaze on.
Mine sank in the middle, too. And I was curious to not overmix since I read the comments before starting. At what stage specifically should you be careful to not over mix? I even turned off the mixer at the end of the flour stage and hand mixed the last bit in. Thanks!
Hi Shelby & Megan,
If your loaf sank in the middle – it can also be due to it not being baked for long enough. If it’s not baked for long enough the middle can still be a little gooey and therefore not support the top (and therefore causing it to sink). As well, using a different sized loaf pan or expired baking powder or baking soda could also be the case. Thanks for leaving your feedback and reporting back!
This one took a little bit of time to make, but it was really worth it in the end! Thx for making me want to get out of bed and eat some of this heaven.
Thank you Michael! and thanks for sharing your experience!
It’s a keeper! So delicious and I like that it uses butter and not oil.
Thanks Jeri for sharing your positive feedback.
This lemon cake looks amazing! So soft, rich and moist! YUM!