Iced Lemon Loaf is made with fresh lemon, sour cream, olive oil & sugar for a perfectly moist lemon bread! It’s sure to bring you a little bit of sunshine with every bite!
It’s about this time of year where I just begin craving lemony foods. Something bright and sunny to combat the fact that it’s anything but bright or sunny outside. Ha! Is it just me?! With yet another storm rolling in here in Utah, I give you a lovely lemon loaf cake recipe. Or is it bread with a nice thick layer of icing? I say it’s whatever you need it to be at the moment!
Made with fresh lemons, this sensational lemon loaf cake is a perfect anytime treat. This iced lemon loaf recipe is buttery, rich, perfectly zesty, and so addictingly good.
Iced Lemon Pound Cake
This simple pound cake recipe is sure to be the highlight of your day, and it is not hard to see why. Made from scratch with simple ingredients, this loaf cake recipe is anything but ordinary. Packed with so much great flavor in every velvety smooth slice, this is a treat you will want to keep repeating. Depending on your palate for sweet treats in the morning, this makes a delightful breakfast with a side of fresh fruit. Or even a mid-day snack to ease a sweet craving. I have also been known to have this as an after dinner dessert too, really there is no wrong time to enjoy this amazing lemon loaf!
Why we think you should try this recipe soon!
We have so many reasons to love this recipe, but here are 3 reasons why we think this recipe is worthy of making soon.
- Minimal ingredients: If you use fresh lemons for your juice and zest, you will only need 10 ingredients from start to finish. Over half of them are basic pantry staples and could be in your kitchen already.
- Simple process steps. The instructions for making this recipe are incredibly simple and easy. From measuring to whisking, pouring, and baking, there are no steps too difficult or time-consuming.
- You can adapt the recipe. Add in a cup of fresh raspberries, blueberries, and strawberry slices for a fresh fruity loaf, or add in up to 2 tablespoons of poppy seeds for another unique variation that you are sure to love!
Iced Lemon Loaf Cake Ingredients
For the loaf, you will need:
Sugar: You will need 1 cup of granulated sugar to help make this loaf tender and sweet.
Lemon zest: Use the zest of 1 lemon to really help bring that fresh lemon flavor into every slice.
Lemon juice: Adding in 1/2 cup of lemon juice will make this loaf cake taste incredible. I find it easier to zest the lemon first, then extract the juice. For this recipe you need 2 lemons, for the juice in the batter and the icing.
Sour cream: By adding in ½ cup of sour cream it helps the loaf cake taste richer in every bite.
Olive oil: This loaf will need fats to stay moist, so add in ¼ cup of olive oil.
Milk: Use ¼ cup of milk to help the batter to be the desired consistency.
Eggs: Using 2 large eggs will bind the cake together perfectly.
Flour: The base of this loaf cake is 2 cups of all-purpose flour.
Leavening agents: You will need 1 teaspoon of baking soda and ½ teaspoon of baking powder to make this cake rise up wonderfully as it bakes.
Salt: Add ¼ teaspoon of salt to help bring out and enhance the flavors in this loaf.
For the icing, you will need:
Butter: ½ cup of softened unsalted butter (one stick) will make our icing taste nice and rich.
Powder Sugar: Use 2 cups of powder sugar to make the icing smooth and sweet.
Milk: 1-2 tablespoons of milk will get our icing to the right consistency, amount depends on how thick you want this icing.
Lemon juice: Use 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to make the icing well flavored.
How to make an Iced Lemon Loaf
For the cake:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease the inside of one loaf pan. Set it aside.
Then, zest your lemon and set aside the needed amount.
Extract the juice from the lemon as well, you need 1 cup for the batter and 1 tablespoon for the icing.
Lemon batter
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour.
Then, make a well in the center of the dry mixed ingredients and then set it aside.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon zest, and sugar until well blended. Set aside.
Using a third small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, olive oil, lemon juice, and milk.
Proceed to pour the sour cream mixture into the egg mixture and then whisk them together well.
After that, add the wet ingredients to the well you made in the dry ingredients, adding it all at once.
Gently fold the dry and wet ingredients together until combined, be careful not over mix. Just enough to combine the ingredients together.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Bake
Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.
Allow the loaf to cool for 15-20 minutes before turning the loaf out onto a cooling rack.
Let cool completely before icing.
Make the icing
Prepare the icing by creaming together the butter, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of milk until smooth and creamy.
Add in additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed, until you have reached your desired consistency.
Once the loaf has cooled, spread or drizzle the icing over the top.
Slice, serve and enjoy.
When to serve a lemon loaf
This yummy quick bread is a perfect treat for any occasion. From a simple Sunday brunch to mothers day or even a weeknight after-dinner treat. Serving it up in the morning with a nice cup of coffee or tea is also a welcomed experience. No matter the occasion, I am sure you’ll find many reasons to whip up a tasty loaf soon!
Iced Lemon Loaf
Ingredients
Lemon Bread
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 TBSP lemon zest from 1 lemon
- ½ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- ½ tsp Baking powder
- ¼ tsp Salt
Icing
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups icing sugar
- 1-2 TBSP Milk
- 1 TBSP Lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease the inside of one loaf pan. Set it aside.
- Zest your lemon and set aside the 1 TBSP zest. Extract the juice from the lemon as well, you need 1/2 cup for the batter and 1 tablespoon for the icing.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour. Make a well in the center of the dry mixed ingredients and set it aside.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon zest, and sugar until well blended. Set aside.
- Using a third small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, olive oil, lemon juice, and milk.
- Proceed to pour the sour cream mixture into the egg mixture and then whisk them together well.
- After that, add the wet ingredients to the well you made in the dry ingredients, adding it all at once. Gently fold the dry and wet ingredients together until combined, be careful not over mix. Just enough to combine the ingredients together.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean. Allow the loaf to cool for 15-20 minutes before turning the loaf out onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely before icing.
- Lemon Icing: Prepare the icing by creaming together the butter, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of milk until smooth and creamy. Add in additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed, until you have reached your desired consistency.
- Once the loaf has cooled, spread or drizzle the icing over the top. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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How long is iced lemon loaf recipe good for?
This loaf can be kept stored well covered in an airtight container for up to 3 days. This should be no issue because you’ll most likely want to consume it within a day (I know I always do.)
Can I freeze this iced lemon loaf cake recipe?
Yes, this loaf freezes quite well! I do recommend not adding any icing to the cake until after it has been thawed, though (for appearance reasons). You can freeze your unfrosted loaf for up to a month in an airtight container. Thaw and add icing before serving. Enjoy!
More lemon dessert recipes you’ll love trying soon
- LEMON BLUEBERRY POUND CAKE
- LAYERED LEMON CHIFFON CAKE
- LEMON CAKE MIX COOKIES
- LEMON BAR CHEESECAKE
- EASY LEMON CAKE
- LEMON STRAWBERRY POKE CAKE
- BANANA CUPCAKES with LEMON BUTTERCREAM
- MINI LEMON DROP CUPCAKES
- LEMON CAKE TRUFFLES
- LEMON RASPBERRY BUNDT CAKE
- EASY LEMON CHEESECAKE BARS
- LEMON POKE CAKE RECIPE
Iced Lemon Loaf is so delectable and is perfect for breakfast, as a snack, or as a simple dessert! This lemon loaf is a great recipe and is sure to bring you a little bit of sunshine with every bite!
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