Famous Starbucks Lemon Loaf

Ah, lemon loaf. A classic Starbucks recipe that never loses its appeal. Paired with your favorite coffee, it’s a winning snack. And Starbucks certainly has a lot of different coffee options to choose from, along with non-coffee options of course. But what it you are in the mood for lemon loaf and you don’t want to drive all the way to your nearest Starbucks? In that case, it pays to know a great copycat recipe, so you can prepare your own.

It’s also a cost-saving exercise since Starbucks cakes aren’t exactly cheap.

This light, moist lemon loaf offers an unmistakable taste of lemons and you can tweak the recipe if you want, perhaps making it in mini loaf pans for individual desserts (don’t forget to adjust the cooking time) or using gluten-free flour in place of regular flour.

You can even tweak the recipe, since you’re making your own, adding some raspberries, blueberries or sliced strawberries to the batter or swapping some of the lemon juice for lime juice or even orange or grapefruit.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and whip up a loaf (or two) of this classic treat today.

Scroll to Bottom for Printable Recipe Card.

Why do I love this recipe?

This incredible lemon loaf is every bit as good as the original Starbucks version. In fact, you might just consider it to be better. It’s tangy, moist and full of citrusy appeal. It’s also much more economical that the coffee shop version.

How to Serve It:

A slice of this homemade copycat lemon loaf is complemented by any kind of beverage you want, from a cappuccino or espresso to iced tea, cola or anything else.

Can You Make It Ahead?

Yes, make this in advance if you wish. It keeps for several days.

Try out my lemon cookies for all you who enjoy lemon desserts. This is a chewy cookie recipe.

Variations

• Add blueberries or raspberries to the batter for a fruity twist
• Replace some of the lemon juice with orange or lime juice for a different flavor
• Add a lemon glaze on top of the bread for a sweet and tangy finish
• Add a streusel topping for a crunchy texture.

Ingredients:

• Butter
• All-purpose flour
• Vanilla
• Baking powder
• Cake flour
• Sour cream
• Baking soda
• Lemon zest
• Lemon extract
• Granulated sugar
• Large eggs
• Salt

For the lemon glaze:

• Powdered sugar
• Lemon juice

For the lemon syrup: 

• Granulated sugar
• Fresh lemon juice

How to make this Famous Starbucks Lemon Loaf?

Step 1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Step 2. Mix together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl. 

Step 3. Blend together the eggs, lemon extract, and lemon zest in a separate bowl. 

Step 4. Mix the butter, sour cream, and vanilla into the bowl with the egg mixture, and blend until smooth. 

Step 5. Pour the dry ingredients in, and blend until well combined. Do not overmix. 

Step 6. Spread the mixture evenly into two well-greased loaf pans. 

Step 7. Bake for 20 minutes. 

Step 8. Lower the heat to 325 degrees, and bake for another 30 minutes. 

Step 9. Remove the loaf pans from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes. 

Step 10. Add the syrup ingredients to a pot over medium heat, and stir for 3 minutes. 

Step 11. Turn the loaves out onto a wire rack to cool the rest of the way. 

Step 12. Poke holes in the top of the loaves with a toothpick.

Then, pour the syrup over the top. 

Step 13. Blend together the ingredients for the glaze, and pour over the loaves. 

Step 14. Let the glaze harden and then serve.

There’s no longer any need to head to Starbucks if you have a lemon loaf craving, not when it’s this easy to make your own. It’s sweet, moist, tangy, and delicious. This easy recipe is well worth making and you’ll love how tasty it is.

PIN FOR LATER 🙂

Storage Instructions:

Keep the loaf in an airtight container. It will keep for 3-4 days at room temperature or up to a week if refrigerated.

Variations and Substitutions:

Although you can sub-bottled lemon juice, nothing is as good as the real thing, especially since that’s one of the key components of the recipe.

Here is a copycat Starbucks peanut butter and jelly sandwich recipe as well to try out.

Copycat Starbucks PB&J Sandwich – Almond Butter, Strawberries and Jam – The perfect light lunch to get you through the day.

Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf – The tastiest treat you bake this holiday season!